There are countless players looking to boast a bounce-back season after a poor 2025 campaign that saw the Kansas City Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. One of them is right guard Trey Smith, who not only looks to improve the technical and detailed parts of his game but also looks forward to remaining healthy throughout the entire season.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently released a piece on how many first-round picks each NFL team's best player would fetch. Naturally, Patrick Mahomes landed as the most valuable trade asset, going for a gargantuan seven first-round picks.
But under that was a little blurb of other Chiefs players who would return the team a single first-round selection. Among the heap was Trey Smith. A testament to his growth from a sixth-round dart throw to one of the best offensive linemen in the league.
Before last year, Smith had played in at least 16 regular-season games all four years of his career, made the Pro Bowl team in 2024, and helped the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2022-23. The 6'6", 320 lb, sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee has come a long way after falling in the draft due to the serious blood clot issues.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell projects the former 6th-round pick would go for a day-one selection in fake trade scenario
Smith's growth prompted the Chiefs to award him a four-year, $94 million contract, locking the 27-year-old up long-term next to his good buddy Creed Humphrey. Unfortunately, like the Chiefs, Smith had a down 2025, playing in just 12 games due to a persistent back injury and a spate of ankle ailments that ended any hopes for a late-season return.
According to PFF, Smith tallied just three penalties on 665 snaps played, allowing one sack on two hits. Elite numbers by any metric. He also ranked 10th out of 81 qualified guards in the pass blocking grade (75.1), which is even more impressive when you understand that being an absolute bulldozer in the run game is Smith's best trait. He is as talented as he is versatile.
Which is why the excitement amongst fans, as well as players and coaches inside the building, is so contagious after adding an elite running back in Kenneth Walker III. And the depth behind the reigning Super Bowl MVP in Emari Demercado and rookie fifth-rounder Emmett Johnson.
Trey Smith is an often-overlooked player on a dynastic team who've housed a bevy of big-time superstars over the years. But since his first day in Kansas City, and still to this day, Smith has been a steady force among an offensive line unit aiming to have its best year yet.
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