…and you already know what it is.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz outlined one final move for each of the 32 teams in the NFL, including the Kansas City Chiefs. For the Chiefs, their final suggested move is hardly a surprise.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Extend right guard Trey Smith
The Chiefs already decided between Joe Thuney and Smith. They could pay only one of them, so Thuney was sent to Chicago and they kept the younger Smith . Right now, Smith is set to play on the franchise tag for 2025 and then become a free agent again in 2026. We know that’s not going to happen. The Chiefs need to get the extension worked out and lock one of the league’s top interior linemen down for the next few seasons.
My take
This year’s dead period — where no news is typically good news — comes with one major exception: Smith finally agreeing to a long-term contract extension. It is something that has been anticipated by fans since he signed his franchise tag in mid-March. If it happens sooner rather than later, it would open up immediate flexibility.
If Smith played on the tag, he would carry a 2025 cap hit of $23.4 million. By signing him to a long-term extension, Kansas City would lower that number and open up the possibility of long-term deals for defensive end George Karlaftis, cornerback Trent McDuffie or both. The Chiefs and Smith have July 15 (six days before the St. Joseph report date) to draw up a new contract. At the time of this writing, I still believe it gets done.
In my opinion, there are three clear starting positions to watch for training camp: left tackle, left guard and punter. In all three, Kansas City thinks it has the answer in the building, so I’m not sure adding another player is in the cards.
Extend Smith — then see whatever else you can do regarding key veterans before the regular season begins.
Around the AFC West
Here is what Schatz suggested in terms of final moves around the division:
– Denver Broncos: Extend defensive lineman Zach Allen
– Las Vegas Raiders: Extend left tackle Kolton Miller
– Los Angeles Chargers: Extend left tackle Rashawn Slater