BREAKING: Chiefs are reportedly ‘preparing’ to lose $100m superstar Trey Smith in free agency

BREAKING: Chiefs are reportedly ‘preparing’ to lose $100m superstar Trey Smith in free agency

It’s not as though the Kansas City Chiefs needed added motivation in their pursuit of a third-straight Super Bowl title, but they may have some regardless.

The NFL is the toughest league in which to build a dynasty because it has the strictest salary cap. The Chiefs have done so well in part because they have the league’s best quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, but also due to their ability to keep restocking the roster with young talent.

One of the best bargains the Chiefs have found has been guard Trey Smith, a 6-foot-6 monster they somehow stole in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Smith is now regarded as one of the league’s best guards, period, and that could spell trouble for the Chiefs this spring.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Smith could be in line for a record-breaking, $100 million-plus contract in free agency, which the Chiefs simply may not be able to afford with all the other expensive players on their roster.

“The Chiefs would love to re-sign Smith but know that will be tough. In fact, there’s an expectation that Smith could become the highest-paid guard in the NFL,” Fowler said. “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.”

The tough thing about being in a league with 31 other teams is that there’s almost always someone willing to pay your superstars more than you can afford. Teams also love to pilfer players from their top threats around the league, and the Chiefs constantly pose a threat to all.
As much as the Chiefs love Smith, they aren’t in the position to pay him a record-breaking salary and remain on solid ground financially. He could very well be suiting up elsewhere come September.