KCKingdom
Fansided

Chiefs Facing Crossroads With Beloved Player's Contract

By Joe Summers

Mar 1, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansa City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach speaks to the media during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansa City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach speaks to the media during the 2018 NFL Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

The Chiefs have perhaps the NFL's best interior offensive line, with Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith all ranking among the league's elite at their respective positions. Unfortunately, the bill will soon come due.

Humphrey and Smith are among several critical Chiefs entering contract years, and it's unlikely the team can keep everyone. That being said, Nate Taylor of The Athletic called Smith the Chiefs' contract extension candidate most worth watching.

He's never made a Pro Bowl or received an All-Pro nomination, though Smith's talent and production are well-regarded around the league. Can Kansas City afford to keep both him and Humphrey?

Trey Smith Called Chiefs' Top Contract Negotiation to Watch

A beloved member of the community who has played at least 16 games in all three years of his career, Smith is a tone-setter whose mauling physicality punishes defenses and makes life easy for Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco.

"The Chiefs have one of the best trios of interior offensive linemen in the league with center Creed Humphrey, All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and Smith," explains Taylor. "But this upcoming season could be their final season together...The Chiefs, understandably, could prioritize retaining Humphrey and linebacker Nick Bolton over Smith, similar to the team re-signing pass rusher Chris Jones over cornerback L'Jarius Sneed."

Bolton is the vocal leader of the defense and Steve Spagnuolo's de facto defensive quarterback, so it wouldn't stun me to see the Chiefs prefer keeping him long-term over Smith. The highest-paid guards in the NFL make $20 million annually, a hefty price tag given the other large contracts already on the books.

If Smith excels this season, with consistent production while limiting his penalties," Taylor continues, "he could be the top free agent at his position next season, potentially earning an annual average of more than $20 million."

Brett Veach has to be intentional and careful about how he allocates funds to keep the team under the salary cap. Smith has earned a huge extension but unfortunately, it may not come from the Chiefs.

More Kansas City Chiefs News:

feed

Home/Kansas City Chiefs