Report: Chiefs’ Trey Smith Could Become NFL’s Highest-Paid Guard in 2024 Free Agency | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats and Rumors

Having been a dominant interior fixture on the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line for four seasons, Trey Smith will likely benefit after this season when he can become a free agent.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Smith is expected in the NFL to become the highest-paid guard in the league when he hits the open market.

Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles has the highest average annual salary among guards at $21 million per season. Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons has the highest total salary with a five-year, $102.5 million contract.

Smith has become one of the most important members of the Kansas City offense over the past four seasons.

When the Chiefs prioritized improving Patrick Mahomes’ protection following their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55, Smith emerged as a crucial part of that plan.

Kansas City selected Smith in the sixth round of the 2021 draft after earning back-to-back first-team All-SEC selections in 2019 and 2020 at Tennessee.

Although a late selection, Smith earned the right guard position as a rookie. He played every offensive snap in his first season between the regular season and the playoffs.

Injuries limited Smith for a few games early in the 2022 season, but he has been an iron man since Week 6 of his sophomore campaign. The 25-year-old has played every offensive shot in 41 of his last 43 games in the regular season and playoffs.

Smith is more effective as a run blocker than in pass protection, but he is more than capable in the latter category to justify being paid like a premium player. He ranks seventh among interior linemen in ESPN’s win rate with a 77 percent success rate this season.

The expected price to sign Smith could see him leave Kansas City. Fowler noted that the Chiefs “would love” to keep him, but are “at least preparing” for the possibility that he leaves if the cost becomes too high.

Center Creed Humphrey is the other high-profile free agent the team will likely attempt to re-sign this offseason. Given the amount of financial resources the Chiefs have already invested in their offensive line, they may have to choose between Smith or Humphrey.

Kansas City currently projects to have just $20.5 million in available cap space this offseason.