Trey Smith at center of $23,400,000 miscalculation as Mike Florio exposes Chiefs’ franchise tag blunder - "It could be a challenge"

Trey Smith has been one of the anchors of the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line and one of the best guards in the NFL. He is also an important name to keep an eye on over the next week of the offseason. He signed his franchise tag with the Chiefs in March and is currently approaching the July 15th deadline to potentially sign a long-term contract.

The franchise tag will pay Smith $23.4 million for the 2025 NFL season, which makes him the highest-paid offensive guard by nearly $3 million this year, according to Pro Football Talk. Mike Florio recently described how this could be an issue for the Chiefs and why the upcoming deadline is a crucial date for them.

"Given the magnitude of the tag and the realities of the guard position, it could be a challenge to get a deal done before Tuesday of next week," Florio said. "For Smith, the choice is to proceed at $23.4 million in 2025 with either $28.08 million or a trip to the open market in 2026, or to accept the team's best offer on a multi-year deal."

The franchise tag for offensive linemen is not specific to their positions, so the tackles often drive up the value. This is also why it's rare for centers and guards to receive franchise tags, which may have been a mistake for the Chiefs to use theirs on Trey Smith. He is essentially being paid like a tackle, despite being a guard.

Florio explained that Smith will be eligible for the tag again next year, so the ball is pretty much in his court when it comes to a potential extension with the Chiefs. He could decline to do so, officially locking in his tag on July 15th, and putting the franchise in a predicament next year that could include him hitting the unrestricted free agent market.

Exploring what Trey Smith's contract extension could look like with Chiefs

Trey Smith

Mike Florio broke down that most players in Trey Smith's situation on a franchise tag in the past have used a general contract structure in negotiations with their teams. He explained that they often require the first two years of the contract to be fully guaranteed, with options beyond that, and a 20% raise from one season to the next.

Using this formula, Smith could be seeking $51.48 million in fully guaranteed money across the next two seasons, potentially with player options for additional seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after that built into his potential contract. This could be an expensive proposition for a guard, but considering they already franchise tagged him, Smith seemingly has all of the leverage.