Chiefs’ history says Trey Smith won’t be their only big summer deal

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely going to break some major news any minute now, with the projected signing of right guard Trey Smith to a lucrative contract extension before the imposed July 15 deadline enforced by the NFL's franchise tag rules. And there's more where that came from.

Even as Smith is first in line for a new extension, the Chiefs have several other players who should be receiving life-changing money themselves from the team in an effort to maintain a competitive core of players on both sides of the ball.

The next players up for a hefty financial commitment from Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Chiefs, are cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis, among others. It wouldn't surprise anyone for linebacker Leo Chenal or corner Jaylen Watson to find common ground with the Chiefs on a new deal as well.

Chiefs fans should expect some more big financial news from Brett Veach as the summer rolls on.

All of this is important because the Chiefs could be breaking more news than just Smith's extension soon enough.

Just one year ago, the Chiefs were handing out one extension after another in the late summer months, during the NFL's preseason. It seems that while Andy Reid and the Chiefs' coaching staff are busy making decisions about who will make the team's active roster, general manager Brett Veach stays busy behind the scenes locking up his core players for the next few seasons.

In 2024, Harrison Butker was first up among the summer re-signings, and the Chiefs' kicker received a healthy four-year, $25.6 million deal that runs through 2028. It was the second such extension for Butker since becoming the team's kicker in 2017.

That signing came in early August, and only two weeks later, the Chiefs found a way to reward center Creed Humphrey with a four-year deal as well worth up to $72M. Humphrey's signing gave the Chiefs a new anchor along the offensive front.

In early September, the Chiefs shocked everyone with the unexpected signing of Noah Gray to a three-year extension to keep around an underrated target in the passing game. The move also helped stabilize a position that could feature one of the most impactful exits from the team when Travis Kelce decides to leave.

It seems the Chiefs either operate in the days leading up to free agency with contract extensions (e.g. Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, Drue Tranquill) or in the preseason window. That means K.C. fans should keep a lookout for more financial news to hit even as they're also watching preseason roster battles play out in training camp.