Chiefs plan to use franchise tag on Trey Smith, source confirms

The move would provide time for Chiefs to hammer out long-term deal

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach on Tuesday said right guard Trey Smith was at the top of the team’s priority list ahead of free agency, which starts March 12.

Two days after his comments, Veach is set to ensure Smith remains an option in Kansas City for 2025.

The Chiefs are planning to place a non-exclusive franchise tag on Smith, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday with KC Sports Network.

The NFL Network first reported the news.

The transaction, which carries a projected $23.4 mill price tag, allows the Chiefs extra time to work on a long-term deal for Smith leading to the league’s mid-July deadline for tagged players to sign. If no long-term deal is in place by the deadline, Smith will play the 2025 regular season under the tag, provided he signs it.

The non-exclusive tag also means Smith’s agents could negotiate with other teams around the league, but the Chiefs can match the offer. In the event the Chiefs elect to not match an offer, the team signing Smith would give up two first-round picks to the Chiefs.

Nevertheless, the Chiefs are likely hoping it doesn’t come to that scenario.

Veach pointed out Tuesday that he and Smith’s agents had preliminary discussions before arriving in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, and the talks appear positive.

“Again, we’ve already had some initial dialogue and that will continue on this week and in the day to come leading up to free agency,” Veach said Tuesday. “We’ll certainly do what we can and I feel pretty optimistic about our possibilities there.”

The 6-foot-5, 321-pound Smith originally joined the Chiefs in 2021 as a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee, and then emerged during the offseason during his rookie campaign to become a starter.

Smith, who turns 26 in June, has developed as one of the league’s top guards over the past four seasons.

He comes off his first Pro Bowl campaign and has started 67 regular-season games, while contributing to two Super Bowl championships since joining the Chiefs.