The Chiefs’ points blocking a dialed-in Eagles go rush in Tremendous Bowl LIX determine to additionally work towards them in free company. Philadelphia’s dominant victory highlighted the significance of high quality offensive linemen, and one in every of Kansas Metropolis’s three Professional Bowlers will probably be paid as such quickly.
An expectation that the Chiefs would lose Trey Smith, their four-year proper guard, in free agency emerged soon after the Eagles’ conquest, however the AFC champions may forestall this by unholstering the franchise tag. Guards are not often tagged, because the CBA teams inside O-linemen and tackles collectively, and Kansas Metropolis just isn’t anticipated to make an exception right here. No Smith franchise or transition tag is predicted, The Athletic’s Nate Taylor notes.
Though the 2025 wage cap has not but produced a quantity, OverTheCap initiatives the O-line tag to surpass $25M. That may be a tricky ask for a Chiefs group, though the luxurious Patrick Mahomes‘ through-2031 contract has offered on the restructuring entrance is projected to come back in lower than $1M below the 2025 cap as of Wednesday. A $25M-plus cap maintain for a Smith tag would tremendously hinder the Chiefs from bettering.
As a result of sort out salaries balloon the tag numbers for different O-linemen, guards commonly rating large in free company, and groups’ reluctance to guard them through the tag has seen solely two gamers (Brandon Scherff, Joe Thuney) be tagged at the position over the past 15 years. The Patriots’ 2020 Thuney tag proved a rental, as a 2021 Chiefs O-line overhaul quickly included a then-record cost for the standard LG. One yr stays on Thuney’s five-year, $80M contract.
Smith departing in free company would create a proper guard want, however the Chiefs already carry a deficiency at left sort out. The very best-profile O-line spot would require rapid consideration, because the Chiefs will certainly slide Thuney again to LG after he served as a patchwork answer for a group that has struggled to employees its LT put up since not re-tagging Orlando Brown Jr. Whereas Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia stay below contract, neither must be anticipated to move into the offseason program because the Chiefs’ projected LT starter. Thus, that can doubtless require the addition of a free company. Luckily for the Chiefs, a number of choices — Ronnie Stanley, Cam Robinson and Alaric Jackson — may quickly be out there. Although, a notable left sort out addition might price the Chiefs a confirmed inside blocker.
Throughout his age-26 season, Smith must be considered as prone to reset the guard market, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Eagles LG Landon Dickerson moved that bar to $21M per year in 2024, and this afternoon’s replace on the wage cap — which is now set to land between $277.5M and $281.5M — will probably be welcome information for this yr’s prime free brokers. Regardless of not accumulating Dickerson’s accolades, Smith — who made his first Professional Bowl this previous season — will profit primarily based on place and groups’ curiosity in securing a high-end blocker with out an harm historical past. The previous sixth-round decide has missed one profession sport.
After the Chiefs gave Creed Humphrey a record-shattering center extension, they nonetheless expressed interest in a Smith deal. The group carried that interest into the regular season, and as not too long ago because the midseason level, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs notes the expectation across the league was the Chiefs would discover a option to preserve Smith on a second contract. That sentiment has since shifted, pointing towards the Chiefs standing down and being resigned to dropping the previous Day 3 discover.
Kansas Metropolis has three blockers (Humphrey, Thuney, Jawaan Taylor) signed to big-ticket contracts. Whereas Taylor has been extra downside than answer at proper sort out, the penalty maven’s 2023 market produced a player-friendly deal that assured his 2025 wage ($19.5M) in March 2024. The Chiefs might have to stay with the disappointing free agent signing for yet another season, as no cap aid would come through even a post-June 1st reduce.
Because the three-time reigning AFC champs decide a left sort out answer, their proper guard is on the doorstep of a monumental payday. With the March 4 tag deadline not showing to use right here, Kansas Metropolis has till March 10 to barter solely with Smith.
