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Chiefs Reportedly Make Franchise Tag Decision On Top Free Agent

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 11:05 AM ET

The NFL franchise tag is one of the most common mechanisms for retaining an NFL player that a team struggles to reach a contract extension with before they hit free agency.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, the most likely recipient of their franchise tag is Pro Bowl offensive lineman Trey Smith. In four seasons, Smith has been a rock at right guard for the Chiefs, starting 67 regular season games and 13 playoff games while winning two Super Bowls.

However, with Smith heading into free agency in a few weeks, it appears that the team won't be giving him the tag.

According to Nate Taylor of The Athletic, the Chiefs are not planning on using either the franchise tag or the transition tag to keep Smith with the team.

"Smith is expected to be the most coveted offensive lineman this year in free agency. The Chiefs are not expected to place the franchise tag or the transition tag on Smith, according to a league source."

The main holdup on using the franchise tag on an offensive guard is usually the sticker price. The franchise tag factors in the average of all top salaries of the entire offensive line - including the far more expensive offensive tackle rates.

Smith would have to be a guard in the vein of Bruce Matthews or the late-great Gene Upshaw to be worth the kind of money that a top offensive guard would make.

That isn't to say that a team out there won't give him that kind of money. A Pro Bowl guard hitting free agency is bound to command a princely sum, especially one who is still in his mid-20s and with no recent injuries to speak of.

The far more concerning situation will come if the Chiefs can't bring Smith back. Offensive line was a huge problem in the Super Bowl and if they fail to get him back on the line in 2025, that's going to be yet another hole on an already porous line.

Should the Chiefs do everything in their power to bring Smith back, or is it safe to let him test the market?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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