5 Chiefs Leaving Kansas City in the New Year
By Joe Summers
4. Donovan Smith - LT
Smith missed the last few weeks due to injury, allowing rookie tackle Wayna Morris to prove he can hang with the starters. Considering the Chiefs spent a third-round pick on Morris and Smith is on just a one-year deal, the writing is on the wall that this is Smith's job next season.
Even when he was starting, Smith was a disappointment. He was never meant to be a long-term option, merely a stop-gap while Morris developed. Now that Smith is out of the lineup, it's difficult to imagine him in Kansas City in 2024.
A lot made of the Chiefs WR room. Not enough made of the Jawann Taylor/Donovan Smith offseason. Wanya Morris has had nice moments but you don’t want a rookie LT learning the ropes in DECEMBER.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 25, 2023
Even still, Morris struggled against Cincinnati and we'll see what comes of the playoffs. It's possible Morris isn't quite ready and the Chiefs bring Smith back on a one-year deal, but I'd wager the organization looks elsewhere to short up the offensive line depth.
Veach will soon have to start negotiations for Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith on top of a potential Joe Thuney extension. That's a lot of holes to fill and Smith seems like the odd man out.
This final Chief would be a huge blow to the defense, but similar to Chris Jones, this player might have priced himself out of Kansas City.