Category

Sports

Category

One of Patrick Mahomes’ top protectors is staying put for the long-term.

Guard Trey Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a four-year, $94 million deal Tuesday to keep the Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the team for the foreseeable future, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Those reported figures make Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history.

Smith, 26, finished out his rookie contract in the 2024 NFL season. He was set to hit free agency but the Chiefs initially put the franchise tag on him to keep him with the team at least for the 2025 season.

This deal means they can rest assured he’ll be there for many more years.

Kansas City drafted Smith in the sixth round, No. 226 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. A standout lineman at Tennessee, Smith fell in the NFL Draft due to medical concerns. Tennessee’s medical staff discovered blood clots in his lungs during his sophomore year and he sat out part of that season.

That concern ended up helping the Chiefs as he was available late in the 2021 draft but has missed just one game in his four years in the league. He and fellow 2021 draftee Creed Humphrey at center make for one of the best young center-guard combinations in the league.

Here’s what to know about Smith’s deal with the Chiefs.

Trey Smith contract details

Smith agreed to an four-year deal worth $94 million for an average annual value (AAV) of $23.5 million and includes $70 million guaranteed. This AAV makes him the highest-paid guard in the league, per OverTheCap.

Playing on the franchise tag in 2025 would’ve given him the highest AAV of any guard in the league but for the sake of long-term stability. For a few million less per year, he’ll have security going into the future.

He’ll be lining up next to the highest-paid center in the league by AAV in Humphrey. The Chiefs signed him last offseason to a four-year extension that put him at the top of the position league-wide.

While the Chiefs are spending on Smith and Humphrey, they’re relying on free agents and draft picks to fill out the rest of the offensive line. Former second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia is slated to start at guard opposite Smith. Josh Simmons, the team’s top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is expected to start at left tackle with free agent acquisition Jaylon Moore as a backup option.

Smith is now secured long-term with Humphrey. That duo and incumbent starter Jawaan Taylor at right tackle to give the Chiefs some stability opposite the new starters on the left side in 2025.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY