Sportsnaut
After seeing Patrick Mahomes get sacked a career-high six times in the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss, it became obvious that the team couldn’t afford to lose pending Trey Smith to another team in free agency this past offseason. While we did see the Chiefs shake up the line by trading Joe Thuney and drafting Josh Simmons, before they could even think about roster improvements, Kansas City’s front office had another task to focus on.
Yet, instead of hammering out a long-term contract extension, the Chiefs simply placed the franchise tag on Smith, ensuring a salary of $23.4 million for the upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Chiefs ripped up that agreement with a new deal.
According to multiple outlets, the Chiefs have inked Smith to a new four-year contract worth up to $92 million. His deal reportedly includes $70 million in guarantees, which sets a record for offensive guards. He’s now the highest-paid guard in NFL history, earning an annual average value of $23 million per season.
While there was some initial concern that Smith may depart Kansas City in free agency, the Chiefs made it clear that he was a top priority from the very start. Now, as the Chiefs get ready to kick off training camp, Patrick Mahomes won’t have to worry about not having his best offensive lineman in the lineup, and Smith’s bank account just got a lot more interesting.
Related: Kansas City Chiefs’ Josh Simmons draws NFL comparison to future Hall of Famer
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