The Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL’s lone undefeated team entering Week 11, are locked in on their pursuit of a third straight Super Bowl title, though, it’s never too early to peek ahead to free agency.
ESPN conducted such an exercise on Wednesday as it unveiled its “Early top-25 ranking and predictions” for the 2025 offseason.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Kansas City front office is “bracing” for the possibility of losing one of its star offensive guards, Trey Smith, who “should reset the market at the position.”
The outlet ranked the 25-year-old Smith as the No. 2 overall free agent who could hit the open market, trailing only Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
“The Chiefs would love to re-sign Smith but know that will be tough,” Fowler wrote. “In fact, there’s an expectation that Smith could become the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
“The top of the market currently sits at $21.5 million per year, and the Chiefs are at least bracing for life without him because of that price. Smith is a top-10 interior lineman in the league, and the Panthers giving Robert Hunt a $100 million free agency deal back in March had to get Smith’s attention.”
General manager Brett Veach and the Chiefs’ front office found a gem in Smith when they selected the Tennessee product in the sixth round (No. 226 overall) in 2021. The 6-foot-6, 321-pounder slipped due to health concerns over blood clotting issues in his lungs.
Spotrac projects Smith’s market value at $18.6 million annually, but given the comparables to Landon Dickerson, Chris Lindstrom, Quenton Nelson and Hunt — all of whom earned at least $20 million AAV on their extensions — Smith has a strong chance to be the league’s highest-paid guard in short order.
