NFL insider offers a positive perspective on the contract situation of former Tennessee Vols OL Trey Smith with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith, a former Tennessee Vols standout, will be a free agent when the new league year begins in March.
For the last several months, the assumption has been that Kansas City won’t be able to afford to bring Smith back due to the fact that he’s likely going to command a contract that makes him the highest paid guard in the NFL.
Smith was a sixth round selection by the Chiefs in the 2021 NFL Draft and he’s started 79 games (including the playoffs) for Kansas City over the last four seasons.
The former Vol has been one of the biggest bargains in pro sports during that time frame as his career earnings (per Spotrac) are just $6.5 million.
The ideal situation for Smith would be to stay in Kansas City (because winning is fun), but that could be difficult due to salary cap constraints.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano, however, suggested on Friday that the Chiefs might be able to afford a deal that will provide Smith with plenty of guaranteed money.
“The Eagles’ Landon Dickerson is at the top of the guard market, earning $21 million per year,” wrote Graziano. “Based on what I’m hearing, it shouldn’t be a problem for the Chiefs to give Smith a deal that at least matches that in terms of annual value and tops the $63 million in guarantees that Robert Hunt got from the Panthers.”
Graziano projects that Smith will receive a five-year deal worth $105 million with $65 million in guaranteed money (which would tie for first among guards in average annual value according to Graziano).
Only Smith and his agent know exactly what kind of deal the former Tennessee standout will be looking for in free agency. But based on what we know about Smith (his desire to win and his loyalty), I think it’s fair to surmise that his preference would be to remain in Kansas City. Smith deserves to get paid, but I could certainly see him giving the Chiefs a slight discount in negotiations.
