It's no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs are facing a critical offseason with numerous key free agents. After falling short in the Super Bowl, the bill is due on several of the most recognizable players on the roster.
They've already signed Creed Humphrey to an extension, but Nick Bolton, Trey Smith, and Justin Reid, among others, are not under contract. With major questions to answer on the offensive line and at wide receiver alongside limited cap space, it's a tricky spot for general manager Brett Veach to keep this dynasty rolling.
Well, the team just got one step closer to losing Smith, as they've decided not to put the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl guard. This was expected considering the outsized salary the tag would've demanded on a non-premium position, yet it's still the biggest indication thus far that Smith might be on a new team in 2025.
Breaking: The Kansas City Chiefs are not expected to place the franchise or transition tag on free agent G Trey Smith league sources tell @ByNateTaylor. He will hit the free agent market.
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) February 19, 2025
Chiefs Not Expected to Use Franchise Tag on G Trey Smith
According to Nate Taylor of The Athletic, the Chiefs are not planning to use either the franchise or transition tag on Smith. He'll officially enter the open market, with some projections seeing him land a four-year deal worth $84 million.
That'd be a smaller annual value than the roughly $25 million he would've made on the franchise tag, but it remains to be seen if Kansas City wants to commit $21 million a year for a guard. Of course, Joe Thuney has just one year left on his deal as well.
For as great as Smith has been, Thuney's a five-time All-Pro with more versatility, displayed by his sliding over to left tackle in the most important stretch of the year.
It feels unlikely that the Chiefs would give both Thuney and Smith long-term contracts without some kind of creative restructuring elsewhere. If Kansas City intends to extend Thuney, letting Smith walk is a probable outcome.
The team will allow Smith to test his value and see what kind of contract he's offered, with teams like the Chicago Bears lurking, and then make an ultimate decision. There's no question how important Smith has been to the offensive line and based on the Super Bowl, it'd hurt to lose one of the best interior linemen in the league.
That's what makes this decision so hard. It's not impossible to keep both of the star players, though it'd require sacrificing someone else in another key position. Unfortunately, it appears more likely by the day that Smith has already played his final down as a Chief.