CELEBRITIES
NFL Rumors: Massive $105M Payout for Trey Smith as Chiefs Predicted to Move On From O-Lineman
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Pressure is a privilege,” Trey Smith once said, grinning like a guy who’d just found out his grandma’s secret cookie recipe. Fast-forward to 2024, and that privilege might soon come with a paycheck. Yep, you read that right. The Kansas City Chiefs’ iron-willed right guard—a two-time Super Bowl champ, Pro Bowler, and human brick wall—Smith is staring down a life-changing payday. But here’s the twist: the team that helped him become a star might not be footing the bill. Let’s unpack this gridiron drama.
With a whopping predicted $105 million paycheck, let’s start with the numbers. Because, honey, they’re spicy. In 2024, Smith played 1,115 snaps, didn’t allow a single sack, and snagged a Pro Bowl nod while committing just two penalties all season. For context, that’s like ordering a latte every day for a year and only spilling a drop twice. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded him at 78.8 overall (14th among 135 guards), and his durability? Chef’s kiss. He’s missed one game in four seasons. “Building those good habits I had at the beginning of the season is paying off,” Smith told reporters, sounding like a guy who’d just unlocked the NFL’s cheat codes.
But let’s rewind. Smith entered the league in 2021 as a sixth-round pick—football’s version of a thrift-store gem. Health concerns (blood clots in college) scared teams off, but the Chiefs took a flier. Fast-forward three Lombardi trophies later, and he’s the NFL’s ultimate glow-up story. His rookie contract? A humble $3.6 million over four years. His next deal? Try $21 million annually. Cha-ching.
So why might KC bail? The Chiefs are tighter on cap space than your skinny jeans after Thanksgiving. With stars like Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones eating up budgets, tough calls loom. Bleacher Report predicts Smith will walk, leaving fans to sob into their BBQ. “Our mental focus has to be extremely sharp,” Smith once said. It’s too bad the front office’s calculators might be sharper.
Suitors line up for Smith like it’s black Friday
Enter the bidding war. The Patriots (4-13 in 2024) could use Smith to protect Drake Maye—their shiny new QB. The Bears (5-12) have cap space and a desperation to keep Caleb Williams upright. The Titans (3-14)? Smith’s a Tennessee legend—imagine him homecoming-king-ing it in Nashville. But the Texans (10-7) are the dark horse. With rookie QB C.J. Stroud already slinging magic, adding Smith would be like giving Picasso a new brush.
If Smith’s Chiefs tenure were a movie, it’d be Rocky meets The Avengers. Take Super Bowl LVII: facing an Eagles defense that racked up 70 sacks that year, Smith’s O-line didn’t let Mahomes get touched. Not. Once. Cue confetti. Then there’s 2023’s Week 11 mic’d-up gem against Philly: “I’ma clear you a path right here now,” he growled before bulldozing defenders like they owed him money. The result? A highlight reel play and a viral soundbite.
But even heroes outgrow their capes. The Chiefs’ O-line rebuild feels inevitable, and Smith’s price tag? Let’s just say KC’s wallet’s sweating harder than a Peloton instructor. “Our team culture is so unique… They let us be ourselves in that building,” Smith mused. Translation: Kansas City’s loss will be someone else’s jackpot.
Smith’s free agency isn’t just a contract chase—it’s a legacy play. “Why you play ball, right here,” he once said, grinning after a playoff win. Whether he’s pancaking defenders in Houston or reviving the Patriots’ line, one thing’s clear: wherever Trey goes, wins (and paydays) will follow. Chiefs Kingdom might need therapy but for Smith? The future’s brighter than Andy Reid’s headset. 🏈💸