qq BREAKING UPDATE: After being informed he was no longer part of the Chiefs’ long-term plans, a veteran starter responded not with frustration, but with loyalty…
KANSAS CITY — As the Kansas City Chiefs head into an offseason defined by difficult financial choices, one of the team’s most reliable offensive pillars has made his position clear.
Once Trey Smith learned that he might no longer be firmly embedded in the Chiefs’ long-term plans, the veteran guard didn’t wait for the situation to escalate. Instead, he moved quickly — offering to restructure his contract in an effort to help the organization navigate a tightening cap landscape and keep the roster competitive.
According to league cap projections, Kansas City is facing a significant salary-cap shortfall entering the 2026 season. Smith’s current deal places his 2026 cap hit at roughly $19.75 million, an unusually high figure for a right guard, even one with his résumé. By converting a portion of that base salary into a signing bonus and spreading it over additional years, a restructure could free up approximately $11.4 million in 2026 cap space.
The gesture speaks volumes about Smith’s priorities.
“Money isn’t the issue for me right now,” Smith said. “I love Kansas City. I believe in this locker room and what we’re still building. If restructuring my contract helps us stay competitive and gives me a chance to keep wearing this uniform, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
From a football standpoint, Smith is not an easy piece to replace. A full-time starter since his rookie season, he has been a stabilizing force on the interior offensive line, consistently grading among the league’s better guards and providing critical protection for Patrick Mahomes. With offensive line inconsistency cited internally as a factor in the Chiefs’ offensive regression during the 2025 season, keeping Smith in place carries real on-field value.
Smith is also approaching a pivotal point in his career. After the 2025 season, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent, entering a market where elite guards routinely command $15–20 million annually. For a cap-strained Chiefs team, a short-term restructure offers a realistic bridge — preserving a core starter now while buying time to sort out a longer-term solution.
Inside the organization, the reaction to Smith’s proposal has been described as respectful but measured. The Chiefs appreciate the willingness to sacrifice, but any restructure would still need to align with broader roster and cap planning.
Still, in an offseason filled with tough conversations, Smith’s stance delivers a clear message: if there’s a path to stay in Kansas City, he’s ready to take it — even if it means giving something up along the way.
