Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach's next order of business after Trey Smith's extension is crystal clear, but might take time

The Kansas City Chiefs got their most important business of the 2025 NFL offseason wrapped up and not a moment too late. The team officially signed franchise-tagged Trey Smith on a four-year extension that makes him the highest-paid guard in NFL history. What's the next order of business for Kansas City as they approach the 2025 NFL season now that Smith has been taken care of? 

Well, the team's 2022 NFL Draft class, headlined by Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis, is eligible for contract extensions. Both Karlaftis and McDuffie had their fifth-year options picked up by the team, but each player seeks a long-term deal with the Chiefs. McDuffie seems to be the one who's next in the pecking order for a new deal, but there are several reasons why that new deal might not happen so quickly.

The Chiefs and Trent McDuffie might be inclined to wait for a long-term deal

While fans will overwhelmingly feel that the Chiefs should now prioritize an extension for Trent McDuffie, there are reasons why both sides in this situation might seek to push negotiations. 

McDuffie's camp will likely center negotiations around Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr.'s deals, both players from the 2022 NFL Draft class. Gardner just received a four-year extension worth over $120 million. McDuffie has some cards to play here, being that he's a much more versatile player than either Gardner or Stingley Jr., on top of being a two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time All-Pro. If McDuffie wants to top Gardner, waiting until the next salary cap percentage increase in 2026 might be the smart move.

On the Chiefs' end, beyond the cash constraints of paying out another major contract extension during this point of the 2025 calendar year, they could opt to wait, knowing they have McDuffie under contract for the 2026 NFL season no matter what. Any new money likely won't kick in until 2027, just like Stingley Jr.'s deal, which also included a fifth-year option. There's also the fact that they're no longer trying to beat Gardner to the negotiating table. 

The Chiefs currently have 27 players slated for unrestricted free agency in 2026, which will decrease with the 53-man roster cuts. Still, figuring out some of the financial details surrounding those players may be necessary before the team reaches a point where extending McDuffie is a reality. It might not be a before-Week 1 type of contract extension, but rather something that is first broached before the new league year in March.