Reports: Chiefs to place franchise tag on offensive guard Trey Smith

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - What would have been one of the crown jewels of the 2025 NFL free agent class will stay in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to place right guard Trey Smith on a franchise tag, according to multiple reports.

Smith was originally drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 226th overall out of Tennessee. He was a five-star recruit out of high school and fell in the draft due to a medical issue that Chiefs team doctors found a way to work through during his career.

ALSO READ: NFLPA report card: Andy Reid among NFL’s best, Chiefs locker room and team hotel rated poorly

As a sixth-round pick, Smith signed a four-year, $3.6 million deal. Because of a proven performance escalator, Smith’s 2024 salary was prorated at $3.3 million, bringing his career earnings through four seasons to $6.5 million.

He gets a significant payday, likely in the neighborhood of one year for $23.4 million, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

A ranking of the top 50 free agents available this season by ESPN had Smith as the No. 2 ranked free agent this offseason. Linebacker Nick Bolton (24) and safety Justin Reid (43) were also on the list.

ALSO READ: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, an outspoken conservative voice, visits Trump at the White House

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.