Chiefs' Trey Smith, George Karlaftis reflect on new contracts

Smith, Karlaftis reaction and notes from first training camp practice

ST. JOSEPH, Mo – Chiefs right guard Trey Smith didn’t hold back when discussing what it meant to him to sign a four-year, $92 million extension with the Chiefs on July 15.

Smith, now the highest-paid guard in the NFL, took approximately 10 seconds to reflect on the significance of the event before allowing raw emotion to flow in his first public comments with the Chiefs media corps since signing the deal.

“I lost my mom when I was 15 and I made two promises to her – that I would get my degree, play in the NFL,” Smith said as he wiped away tears. “I didn’t promise her I would be the highest paid, but I made a promise, and my parents sacrificed so much for me to be here, so much.

“And to have that moment with them is special and it’s something I won’t take for granted.”

The 6-foot-6, 321-pound Smith has emerged as one of the NFL’s top guards since entering the league in 2021 as a sixth-round pick. He seized the starting job during his rookie season, and has appeared in 67 regular-season games, all starts.

The Chiefs designated Smith as a franchise player during the offseason, a move which provided general manager Brett Veach time to work out a long-term deal by the July 15 deadline.

Smith expressed gratitude that everything worked out after receiving the franchise tag.

“Getting the tag is a tremendous sense of honor in a way that the organization has that much faith and confidence in your ability as a player,” he said. “So, for me, I looked at it as a blessing at the time and ultimately we got the deal done, and that’s a great blessing again and something I’ve got to go earn.”

With Smith secured for the next four years, the Chiefs have two key pieces of the interior line under contract for the long haul after taking care of center Creed Humphrey with a four-year extension in August 2024.

But the Chiefs weren’t done addressing their core, young players ahead of training camp.

The Chiefs also locked in defensive end George Karlaftis to a four-year, $93 million deal just days before the first camp practice, and Karlaftis conveyed excitement on the new contract.

“It was awesome,” Karlaftis said with a smile. “It was a great process; very respectful – I feel like – on both sides. It went good. I knew something was probably going to be done before camp and I’m glad it did.”

The 6-foot-4, 263-pound Karlaftis did his part to earn the large contract since entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, totaling 24.5 total sacks and 56 quarterback hits over the past three regular seasons.

The Chiefs in late April exercised fifth-year options on Karlaftis and cornerback Trent McDuffie, with a view to buying time and working out long-term deals for the duo.

Veach can now remove Karlaftis from his to-do list, and focus should fall on McDuffie, who garnered first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and has become one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks.

Meanwhile, the importance of having Smith and Karlaftis, two young starters, under contract for the long haul isn’t lost on coach Andy Reid.

“It’s great to have, great from a coach's standpoint to have that,” Reid said. “The tough job is with each, having to juggle the financial part of it, but we love having that. Continuity is a big thing, with your good, young players, and Veach has done a real nice job with his group in the drafts.

“So, to sort all of that out, (assistant general manager) Chris Shea and the guys, they have to work through all of that, the money part of it, and they do a heck of a job with it. So, it’s an ongoing thing, as you go, you got to really have a good feel and a good plan for the future as you do it.”

SIMMONS WORKS WITH FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

The Chiefs didn’t waste time on the first training camp practice to work in rookie Josh Simmons with the starting offense.

Simmons, the team’s first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, lined up at left tackle, while Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year deal during free agency, was at right tackle. Jawaan Taylor (knee), who usually lines up at right tackle, is currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

While the Chiefs went through a brief practice, which lasted just a little more than an hour as the team goes through an acclimation period, Simmons did his part to draw some praise from his head coach.

“He did some good things,” Reid said, “He worked in there with the ones and did a nice job, I thought. He’s got things he’s got to work on, but he’ll keep doing that.”

PARTICIPATION

Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee), cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee) and tight end Tre Watson (undisclosed) remain on the PUP list and did not participate in practice.

Rookie wide receiver Hal Presley, whom the Chiefs recently signed, was on the field and is wearing No. 13.