Star guard Trey Smith is currently preparing for Super Bowl LIX in what could be his final game with the Kansas City Chiefs. A sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tennessee product became one of the biggest steals in recent memory, immediately earning a starting job and establishing himself as one of the game’s elite guards. Paired with fellow stars Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs have had the NFL’s best interior offensive line since he arrived in the NFL.
However, all good things must come to an end, and the Chiefs probably can’t afford to pay Trey Smith. As arguably the best player set to hit unrestricted free agency, Smith will receive a massive contract and could eclipse $20 million per year. However, just because they can’t give him a long-term deal doesn’t mean they’re going to let him walk for nothing.
Brad Briggs of The Chicago Tribune reports the Bears are expected to be interested in Trey Smith and could pay top dollar for his services. While the idea of a $20 million guard could “scare” teams like Kansas City, Briggs suggests the Chiefs might use the franchise tag to trade Trey Smith, rather than let him walk for nothing.
Report: Chiefs Could Use Franchise Tag to Trade Trey Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs are no stranger to using the franchise tag to maximize their return for star players. After all, they used the same strategy to get a third-round pick from the Tennessee Titans last year. Last year at this time, Kansas City knew they didn’t have the financial capacity to sign homegrown star L’Jarius Sneed to a long-term deal. So, instead of letting him walk for the possibility of a compensatory third-round pick, the Chiefs received a guaranteed third-round pick one year earlier.
History could repeat itself with Trey Smith and the Chiefs. While guard isn’t traditionally a highly-valued position, the pass-heavy nature of the modern NFL has increased the value of the position. If any team is willing to give up $20 million per year for a guard, then they’re probably willing to give up a draft pick for his services as well. While the franchise tag isn’t supposed to be used in this manner, it happens all the time and will likely happen again in the coming months.
Will the Bears Do This?
It takes two to tango, and the Chiefs can’t trade Trey Smith if they don’t have a suitor. Briggs’ report suggests the Chicago Bears will be interested in the Pro Bowl guard, and it’s easy to see why. First-overall pick Caleb Williams entered the league with an absurd amount of hype, and while he had a promising rookie season, he didn’t live up to his pre-draft billing. Second-overall pick Jayden Daniels was the most successful rookie quarterback, and third-overall pick Drake Maye played better when accounting for his disastrous environment.
Williams has a new head coach in offensive guru Ben Johnson, but you need good players to win football games. The Bears allowed a league-worst 68 sacks last year, and while Williams deserves a share of the blame for holding on to the ball too long, the poor offensive line didn’t help. A franchise quarterback on a rookie contract is the biggest competitive advantage in the league, so the Bears can afford to spend big on a luxury position like guard. Even if it means giving up a third- or fourth-round pick, it’s worth it to keep Williams upright.
Main Photo: Jay Biggerstaff – Imagn Images
