Trey Smith To Be Tagged, Stay In Kansas City
Image: athlonsports.com
By Jon Reed
My two-tone dream is dead… for now.
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly reversed course on their very bad decision and decided to make a good decision as they will slap the franchise tag on Trey Smith.
The VFL and Pro Bowl Guard was set to be one of the, if not the number one, most sought after free agents on the market.
The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans were thought to all be set to chase after Smith to help bolster their offensive line and protect their young quarterbacks. Instead, the defending AFC Champions will not let one of their best players hit the market.
The tag will be a 1-year, fully guaranteed, deal worth $23.4 million, making the Tennessee native the highest paid Guard in NFL history.
I’m very happy for one of the most beloved Vols of my lifetime. I’m sad for my favorite sports team, the Tennessee Titans. There was a time where it looked like the two biggest free agents were going to be from the hometown state with Smith and Tee Higgins, but it now seems like neither are changing their addresses. Neither will be Titans.
Rats.
Combine that with the news that the number one prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, Abdul Carter, is dealing a foot injury on top of his shoulder injury, and I am down bad.
But, again, I am very happy for Trey Smith. His football playing career was put into jeopardy with his blood clot issues. His draft stock was tanked by the uncertainty. He has persevered and overcame those obstacles to be one of the most consistent players in the league and a linchpin for the Chiefs.
His rookie contract paid him just over $6.5 million. He’ll be making over three times next year and in line to cash in again if he and the Chiefs are unable to strike a long-term deal.