Chiefs Near Trey Smith Contract Deadline Ahead 2025 Franchise Tag

The Kansas City Chiefs face a crucial deadline to sign star guard Trey Smith to a long-term contract extension before the 2025 season, with talks still ongoing but unresolved. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, Smith will play the 2025 season on the fully guaranteed $23.4 million franchise tag, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL for that year, though the team cannot negotiate a multi-year deal until after the season. Projections estimate Smith's market value at a four-year, $88 million deal with $54.5 million guaranteed, which could strain the Chiefs' salary cap as they are currently projected to be over by $37.2 million in 2026, necessitating cap management and restructuring. Smith's heavy workload, including his participation in numerous playoff games beyond the regular season, has sparked discussions about fair compensation, with arguments for enhanced playoff incentives due to his high snap counts and durability. The Chiefs have made other roster moves, such as re-signing Marquise Brown and trading Joe Thuney, to manage cap space, but retaining Smith long-term remains a complex challenge balancing financial constraints and the need to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Both parties seem to prefer a long-term deal, but with the deadline approaching, the Chiefs must decide whether to commit now or let Smith play under the franchise tag for 2025 and revisit negotiations later.