The Kansas City Chiefs have already thrown their hat in Trey Smith’s ring.

Earlier this offseason, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach cast aside any questions or even leverage when it comes to future negotiations on a long-term contract with Smith, the team’s starting right guard for the last four seasons. Now, it’s just a matter of hoping a deal can be officially reached.

Veach has already done all he can to make that happen on his end. He’s traded away the big money owed to Joe Thuney after trading the All-Pro left guard to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round selection. Then he placed the franchise tag on Smith, a move that not only secured Smith’s services for the coming season but put the Chiefs’ finances in a bit of a chokehold for 2025.

If you want Trey Smith around the long term, you should know the Chiefs do as well.

The goal, of course, is to lessen that financial demand as both the Chiefs and Smith’s agents come to agreement on an extension. For now, however, that has yet to happen.

On Thursday, Veach spoke with Chiefs reporters to provide some offseason updates before the 2025 NFL Draft and he spoke openly about his continued hopes to reach a long-term deal.

“Hopefully, we get that done,” said Veach. “I mean, there’s no lack of interest or will or desire on our end. We did have a ton of talk with Tori and Jimmy, his agents, at the combine. Those conversations continued on to the owners’ meetings.”

The issue before Veach right now is the urgency of the draft. As Smith is represented by Creative Artists Agency, it means that Smith is hardly the only client they have to worry about right now. As big as they are, the draft is a demanding time.

“Now, also, CAA has a ton of draft prospects and they have a ton going on. So, you know, we’ve exchanged multiple phone calls, multiple emails,” Veach continued. “My guess is once the draft’s over and our focus is back on taking care of the players that are here and trying to get those guys locked up and CAA on their end. I mean, again, they’re one of the leading agencies in regards to the players they produce every year.

“So I’m sure once things settle down on both ends, we’ll be in a position to continue this dialogue and hopefully make some progress there, but there’s no secret there. We’d like to get Trey locked up.”

Smith, who is still only 25 years old, made his first Pro Bowl last season, and has proven himself to be a very reliable performer on the right side of the Chiefs line. Together with Thuney and Creed Humphrey, the Chiefs have employed the best offensive interior for the last few seasons. Now Smith will be asked to take on a greater leadership role with Thuney’s departure.

Fortunately, it sounds as if Smith is up for it and the Chiefs believe he can handle it, which is why they’re going to spend plenty of Clark Hunt’s money to make it happen. While things might not be official until the late spring or even summer, Chiefs Kingdom shouldn’t worry at all about a hiccup in the negotiations. It sounds as if Trey Smith’s deal is just a matter of time.