3 Chiefs on the Chopping Block After Trey Smith Franchise Tag

The Kansas City Chiefs will reportedly franchise tag Trey Smith, which could shake up the roster in 2025.
Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) leaves the field after warm ups before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) leaves the field after warm ups before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
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2. Nick Bolton, Linebacker

Along with Reid, veteran linebacker Nick Bolton may not factor into the Chiefs’ plan for the 2025 season.

After spending the first four years of his career with the Chiefs, Bolton will be an unrestricted free agent next month. When speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, Chiefs GM Brett Veach told reporters this is a defensive draft.

“I think it's more of a defensive draft," Veach said (h/t Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com). "I think that the talent is on the defensive line and the corners, and I think it's a solid linebacking crew."

If that’s the case, Bolton could be out the door, where he could potentially land a nice deal in free agency. This past season with the Chiefs, the 24-year-old linebacker had 106 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, six pass deflections, three sacks and an interception.

It was the third time in Bolton’s career that he had 100 or more combined tackles in a season. The fourth-year linebacker wasn’t overly spectacular in run defense (67.1 grade on PFF – ranked 85th out of 189 qualified linebackers) and coverage (66.1 – ranked 40th). 

However, at his age and ability to stay relatively healthy, Bolton should have potential suitors in free agency. 

Meanwhile, the Chiefs do not have a viable backup waiting behind Bolton. That means they will have to use some draft capital to find the next Bolton, who the Chiefs got in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.