Chiefs OL addresses his extension talks

“I leave it to the hands of my agents,” Smith said during a recent appearance on Up and Adams (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “Obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs are elite, and you know, at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player and being prepared for training camp because St. Joe’s is around the corner.”

The former sixth-round pick finished his rookie contract in 2024 and was subsequently slapped with the franchise tag. That means the offensive guard is temporarily attached to a $23.4M salary for the upcoming season, an AAV that would easily make him the highest-paid player at his position. That probably explains why Smith isn’t sweating his lack of an extension, and assuming he can stay healthy next season, he may be happy to face a similar situation next year. The two sides have until July 15 to agree to an extension. Otherwise, Smith will play the upcoming season on the tag.

Still, it seems pretty clear that Smith is destined to ink a long-term deal with Kansas City. The Chiefs moved on from fellow guard Joe Thuney this offseason, opening a potential hole on one side of the offensive line. That competition will likely come down to Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia, who have combined for five career NFL starts.

Alongside center Creed Humphrey, Smith provides some stability on the interior. Smith has only missed a single regular season game since entering the NFL, and he’s consistently finished in the top-20 in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. With a Pro Bowl nod and two Super Bowl rings on his resume, Smith is surely eyeing a lucrative pay day, and the Chiefs have plenty of reasons to hand him that next pact.