Report: Chiefs' Trey Smith Could Become NFL's Highest-Paid Guard in 2024 Free Agency

Having been a staple of the dominant interior of the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line for four seasons, Trey Smith is likely going to cash in after this season when he can become a free agent.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, there is an expectation around the NFL that Smith could become the highest-paid guard in the league when he hits the open market.

Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles has the highest average annual salary among guards at $21 million per season. Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons has the highest total salary with a five-year, $102.5 million deal.

Smith has become one of the most important members of Kansas City's offense over the past four seasons.

When the Chiefs prioritized improving the protection for Patrick Mahomes after their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55, Smith emerged as a crucial part of that plan.

Kansas City selected Smith in the sixth round of the 2021 draft after he earned back-to-back first-team All-SEC selections in 2019 and 2020 at Tennessee.

Despite being a late-round selection, Smith earned the starting job at right guard as a rookie. He played every offensive snap in his first season between the regular season and playoffs.

Injuries limited Smith for a couple of games early in the 2022 season, but he has been an iron man since Week 6 of his sophomore campaign. The 25-year-old has played every offensive snap in 41 of his last 43 games across the regular season and postseason.

Smith is more effective as a run blocker than in pass protection, but he's more than capable in the latter category to warrant being paid like a premium player. He ranks seventh among interior linemen in ESPN's run-block win rate with a 77 percent success rate this season.

The expected price tag to sign Smith could price him out of Kansas City. Fowler noted the Chiefs would "love" to keep him, but they are "at least bracing" for the possibility that he leaves if the cost gets too high.

Center Creed Humphrey is the other high-profile free agent the team will likely try to re-sign this offseason. Given the amount of financial resources the Chiefs have already invested in their offensive line, they might have to pick between either Smith or Humphrey.

Kansas City currently projects to have just $20.5 million in cap space available this offseason.