Once the confetti finished falling on the team that defeated them in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs knew changes were coming.
Kansas City traded Joe Thuney to Chicago, but only after they'd ensured they wouldn't lose both of their top-tier guards by franchise tagging Trey Smith.
Months later, Smith is still without a long-term deal. The two sides have until July 15 (4 p.m. ET) to sign a multiyear extension, but the 26-year-old isn't sweating the fast-approaching deadline.
"I leave it to the hands of my agents," Smith said during an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up and Adams" show. "Obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs are elite, and you know, at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player and being prepared for training camp because St. Joe's is around the corner."
Smith will earn $23.4 million on the tag unless a long-term deal is done by early next week.
With one Pro Bowl selection to his name after four NFL seasons, Smith is in a prime window to cash in. With a top-15 ranking among all guards in the NFL last season, per Pro Football Focus, Smith is deserving of a lucrative, multi-year deal and should be prioritized by a Chiefs team that in 2024 learned the harsh lesson of how important a quality offensive line is to their title-winning chances.
His quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is already well aware of how important Smith is to the Chiefs, recently calling him one of the best protectors in the business.
"For him to say that means a lot to me," Smith said. "Like I said, I lose sleep thinking about protecting Patrick. I know the things that I need to get better in my game to be the best protector that I can and just be an asset for my team and help my team out."
The Chiefs are likely also well aware of how effective Smith is. He was once one third of a fantastic interior trio comprised of Thuney, Smith and center Creed Humphrey. With Thuney now in Chicago, the Chiefs have one less dependable interior blocker.
The other guard job will be determined by a camp competition between Mike Caliendo and former tackle Kingsley Suamataia. If neither work out, a handful of others might get a crack at the opportunity, but it's also a reality that would remind the Chiefs of the mess they endured last season.
They have time to sort out the left side because they already know they can count on Humphrey and Smith. With this in mind, don't be surprised if general manager Brett Veach finds a way to sign Smith to a long-term deal.
