Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chiefs Extend Guard Trey Smith to Record Breaking Deal – Sixth Round Picks’ Journey to the Top of the Guard Market

Trey Smith's extension a big win for the Chiefs

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs have no intention of showing postseason fatigue, having been a part of the past three Super Bowls. While the loss to the Eagles in their bid for a three-peat must have hurt, the Chiefs are looking at continuing their dynastic run in the 2025 season.

As part of that process, Kansas City has taken some key decisions during the offseason, and the latest one is probably the most important of all. The Chiefs struggled mightily last season due to their offensive line issues. Having already traded their All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Bears, it was of utmost importance to lock down their other guard, Trey Smith.

We got it done. @TreySmith stays in the Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/0YrCa0l4SK
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 15, 2025

Chiefs Extend Smith With Record Deal

Kansas City just ensured they retain the services of guard Trey Smith for another 4 years, signing him to a record-breaking extension on Tuesday. The 2024 Pro Bowler signed a new 4-year deal worth a massive $94 million, which includes a guarantee of $70 million. The new deal means Smith will now take home $23.5 million annually.

Pro-Bowl guard Trey Smith and the Chiefs reached agreement just ahead of today’s franchise-tag deadline on a four-year, $94 million deal that includes $70 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid guard in NFL history, ESPN’s sources tell me and @ByNateTaylor.

It’s the…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2025

The $23.5 million average salary now makes Smith the highest-paid guard in the league, surpassing Landon Dickerson’s 4-year, $84 million contract extension from last year. Dickerson’s average annual salary comes out to just $21 million.

That is a significant reset for the guards market, which just goes to show how highly Kansas City holds their top offensive lineman. Joining Creed Humphrey on the O-line, the Chiefs now have the highest-earning center and guard duo in the league.

Protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the number one priority for the Chiefs this offseason, and ensuring Smith to a long-term deal was surely at the top of the list of things to get done.

Earlier, Kansas City had used the franchise tag on Smith as a means of buying time to work out his extension. The franchise tag would have earned the 26-year-old $23.4 million for the upcoming season.

One happy quarterback 😁@PatrickMahomes x @TreySmith pic.twitter.com/D3qck3A4yE
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 15, 2025

Smith’s Path From Round 6 to Becoming the Highest-Paid Guard in the League

The two-time Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs was selected in the sixth round with pick number 226 in the 2021 NFL draft. There was a good possibility that he could have been selected much higher in the draft, but due to medical concerns, his draft stock took a big hit.

Smith’s tests in college revealed that he had blood clots in both of his lungs, and if that remained untreated, it could have been fatal. However, that did not deter the Tennessee alum from giving it his best on the field. If anything, it may have fueled a fire that helped him make his way to the top of the league at his position.

The Tennessee native has been an essential part of the interior O-line for the Chiefs ever since his rookie year. Last year, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod, and more recently, he has been ranked as the 4th best interior lineman in the league by ESPN.

Smith’s latest contract extension means that he will remain with the Chiefs until 2029, at which point he will be turning 30 years old. That means Kansas City should be able to get four more seasons’ worth of peak performance, provided he stays healthy.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Devavrat Kulkarni

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I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!