Veach trying to keep Trey Smith- Update: Franchise Tagged
 

Have said many times that I feared this would happen

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Kansas City is making it a priority to try to keep Trey Smith.<br><br>... long term deal. Making every effort.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/DMRussini?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DMRussini</a> <a href="https://t.co/webgjLp2Sq">https://t.co/webgjLp2Sq</a></p>&mdash; Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/1894389574295519336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FWIW I don’t like Dianna. Ya’ll hate on Nate Taylor for his info but this dumb bitch guaranteed we were getting a 1st for Sneed last year.

We’ll see

Dianna is always wrong about us. So.... yeah IDK.

And what about Joe then?

The only thing that kinda raised my antenna all along on this being a possibility is Verderame has taken the stance they need to keep Smith at all costs, and as plugged in as he is, makes me wonder if he also heard that was their intent.

I assume that Joe is gone after next year anyway...

Said this before but Verderame has reported several times, including right before the season opener last year, that Veach was trying his best to get a deal done with Trey last summer and they were fairly close.

Made it seem like Trey wanted to hold off bc he could get more money (shocker he did).

Also mentioned that they tried to speak to Bolton and he didn’t want to do a deal.

The most concerning thing about this is IMO it backs us into a corner re: LT

Basically have to draft the player unless it's DJ Humphries and you can't have any assurances about a draft when you're slotted at 31.

This reads to me like the Chiefs are leaking for PR; so they can say they tried when he of course prices himself out.

This would be an epically dumb decision for a lot of reasons.

We would be sacrificing other things for this move. DON'T DO IT VEACH! We have a couple of young tackles on the roster right now that can fill in as capable RG's.

In the last 2 years we've spent two Day 2 (Kingsley & Wanya) picks on O-Lineman. It's time for one of these guys to step up and take a starting job. And RG being open is the perfect opportunity.

Hopefully this is just a false flag. I mean, I'm sure they are 'talking' to Trey and his agent, but if the conversation is approaching $22 mil.+ per then talking is where it needs to stay.

Not what I would do but oh well.

Yeah I guess I'll just believe it when I see it, not even gonna share this reporting. Like I said, Dianna has never once been right about us. It's as if they leak false info to her.

This is the last year of Thuney’s deal and they can easily cut Jawaan after 2025 for $20 million in cap and only $7 million in dead money.

Signing a LT in FA wouldn’t be a problem

That would be egregiously dumb. Type of move that ends dynasties instead of prolonging them.

CP worries way to much about money and the cap.

Joe can't come back on a $27M hit, so something's gonna have to give there if we are signing two other starters on the OL

We already have a ton of money at LG, C and RT and we have a huge glaring need at LT. I’d be really surprised if they’re able to give Trey a big contract.

Depends if we are giving a short term deal to a LT.

If we sign Trey for 4-5 years, that cap money is low now and will inflate in future years.

That would free up a LT contract for 2-3 years

Not to mention that patricks contract is oddly frontloaded so that the money can move around. He is due 60+ million each of the next three years against the cap, but that falls to 32m in 2028, 34m in 2029 then its in the 40m range after that. They have alot of stuff they could do to be rich in cap space this year if clark wants to write big old checks.


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LMAO Aren't you the one constantly bloviating about the Mahomes contract and how it hamstrings the team?

The more Trey is offered, the less flack Veach gets if he goes

I think they’re going to re-sign Trey and Hollywood and start Kingsley, to the protest of CP.

Im not advocating for signing trey with this post either, i think that money is best spent elsewhere. We have 4 young offensive linemen that need to step tf up and start earning their 2nd to 5th round salaries


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When he looks at the rush and plays shitty, yeah it does.

That's the way I see it. There's no way Veach matches the market-resetting numbers that Trey Smith is sure to be offered.

IIRC, Smith spoke freely in an interview about free agency and interior OL being paid record-setting numbers. I wish I had a link but he seemed pretty cognizant of the business aspect of it all and what he could potentially earn.

Trey Smith 2024 was not a $20’M quality player especially at his position

So that fits squarely into your take here

This x eleventybillion.

I agree.

But all we've heard is the Chiefs can't keep getting Mahomes killed, so they're gonna spend on an OL. Seems like a good idea.

completely fine with it assuming thuney is the odd man out. makes sense to pay the younger asset here and not the guy that will eventually decline into his mid 30s

Again they are in a great place with the cap. They can absolutely afford a high priced FA if they want to. Most of us preferred paying a guy like Chase Young instead of Trey but this still applies.

If Trey is paid, it’s gonna be a 4 or 5 year deal that is backloaded and his cap hit will be small in the first year.

Thuney is in the final year of his deal. If they don’t touch it, he is completely off the books after 2025 with no dead money. That alone would shift $26 million we were paying to Trey in 2026-2028.

Jawaan is in his last year in 2025. We will cut him this time next year and save $20 million to only 1 year of dead cap of $7 million.

They can get rid of both Thuney and Jawaan’s huge deals by the time Trey really gets paid starting in 2026.

The problem there is Trey Smith just isn't that good, at least relative to Thuney.

If it's true, the reports that Kingsley is moving to G full time are absolute bullshit. Granted, they always seemed a bit stupid but this should put the nail in the coffin.

We all know that Veach isn't going to hamstring us with a deal, so I'm not worried about the money. He'll get a semi-friendly deal out of Trey or he'll let him walk.

If this is accurate, the thinking is likely keeping DJ and having him compete with Kingsley. I can't imagine they are going to give up on him after one season.

This year's cap hit would be minimal for Trey, and Thuney and Taylor are off the books when the hit increases.

At least then your interior is rock solid, and if DJ/Kingsley don't work out you address it. Otherwise they don't work out and you have 4/5 OL spots to figure out in 2026.

This, especially in regards to this current team. This organization is absolutely swimming in cash and we have next to no dead money or void years hits, we can keep Trey and sign a LT if we really want to and it would have zero long term impact on our ability to do anything.

Whoever gets Trey gets their fans riled up. We weakened the Chiefs! So pay more

If true it sure says a lot about Veach’s concerns over all the OL he’s drafted in the last few drafts that haven’t amounted to much aside from Creed and Trey. Which will say a lot about his inability to draft OL, among other areas.

Hope this isn’t the case.

I'm fine with it, even though I don't prefer it, you just better get a solid LT on a rookie/cheap deal then...

She’s the equivalent of those rumor aggregators… almost everything she reports are rumors she hears from other sources, regardless of credibility.

"Veach can't draft OL" is the new "Veach can't draft WRs"

You people are ****ing exhausting.

Kingsley was a 21 year old rookie.

Morris and Niang were taken in the late 3rd.

The problem is OT, and its investment and draft position, not an inability to draft one altogether.

The only reason we are talking about Trey Smith is because he's about to get paid a record-setting contract. I think Veach is okay when it comes to drafting linemen.

I’m less worried about the cap vs Smith regressing the last couple seasons. Dude gets handled too much for a large contract with KC. Guess Nourzad, and Kingsley, and Morris, and Hanson are all just like Kinnard? That’s a lot of whiffs!

Show me the numbers. Since the Creed draft we’ve drafted 5 OL. If we’re planning on keeping Trey that’s 5 picks completely wasted.

Are you really going to be this disingenuous. 2, almost half, of those guys were late round rookies this year. All but one came outside of the top 75 picks

So basically he’s wasting picks drafting OL past the second round is what you’re saying? Why can’t Morris or any of the 5 players (4 because Kinnard was never in consideration) he’s drafted make the lineup? Other teams seem to hit on OL beyond round 2.

Hopefully you’re right and this is just lip service.

The problem is that other than the 2 late round rookies that you're disingenuously counting, the majority of those investments have been to find a franchise LT, and no, franchise LTs are rarely found outside of the 2nd round. If Morris can even be a swing T, that would be a great pick. That's where expectations need to be for a late 3rd.

This team has zero issues finding starting IOL on day 3. Just look at Trey Smith and Allegreti for recent examples that easily disprove your BS narrative about the entire OL. Again, the issue has been OT, no need to paint an entire narrative about the OL.

He’s drafted a C that is on pace to be one of the best Cs of all-time and a very good guard.

“He can’t draft OT” would be more accurate, although that’s hard to when you’re picking 32 every year

Exactly. I disagree with that narrative too, but at least there's some logic to it.

A lot of wasted round 1-3 picks in recent years, not just OL. Not having FAU #1 pick, Kingsley a #2, Skyy a #2, on the field in the Superbowl really cost us. Because the Chiefs draft so late EVERY YEAR it is critical we hit on picks in rounds 1-3. Alaric Jackson for the Rams, who dominated the same Eagles defense line who demolished us, was an undrafted free agent. The talent is out there you just have to be super high IQ about it and Veach has a massive blind spot when evaluating the tackle position thru acquisition by whatever means (draft, FA,). He also massively overpaid Taylor who was supposed to be the LT of the future, not stay at RT.

This is why I wouldn't pay Smith.

Honestly, I wouldn't go about very far with Thuney, but he's a HOF all timer so that's a bit differen.t

It's not necessarily Kingsley that's hurting you now. Year 1 for a project LT happens like that.
It's the Sky Moore and FAU picks that start hurting years later.

By "a lot of", you really mean "they aren't batting a 1000" :rolleyes:

It's absolutely hilarious how clueless most of you are when it comes to the draft. It must be so easy to just sit back and bitch that every late 1st/2nd round pick isn't a HR.

I mean, the fact that you bring up Skyy Moore who was the one blemish on the best draft in franchise history just proves my point.

News flash:

The Chiefs draft as well as any team in the NFL, despite having by far the worst draft position year after year.

Going all the way back to Alegretti? I’m going back 3 drafts and not one of those 5 can take a RG spot over a guy who’s regressed? Seems to disprove what you’re saying.

"All the way back"?

Allegretti was drafted one year before Creed. You can count 2 rookies that were drafted on day 3, but I can't count Allegretti? Totally disingenuous dude, but sure!

Who the **** said that none of the guys on the Chiefs roster can replace Smith? That's all in your head based on this very unreliable report.

LMAO Wait, what? You wanted them to **** around with RG as well while LT was a revolving door all off season?

Ooh, you're talking about something that hasn't even happened yet

So we should expect from the last 2 drafts just having 3 starters, and 2 rotation players? I’ll give a pass to Wiley cuz he got injured. 14 players drafted, 3 starters, and 2 spot players?

This is why you should trade your first round picks that come at the end of the round for good players.

Do you see how we've gone from "Veach can't draft OTs" to "Veach can't draft OL" and now it seems like you jsut are trying to say "Veach can't draft".

Again, the Chiefs are one of the best drafting teams the last several years, and that's despite having it harder than any other team. If that's not good enough for you, your expectations are the problem.

I mean, the fact that you're complaining about last year's draft when Worthy was ****ing fantastic, Kingsley looks like he can at least start at G, and Hicks looked like a stud speaks volumes. The problem here is 100% YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

I would let him walk even if LT wasn't an issue. He's mediocre at best in pass protection. An adequate replacement is likely on the roster already. With LT being an issue, buh-bye for sure.

He played LG in the Denver game and was the backup LG in the SB. Very possible that if Trey is paid that Thuney will be here in 2025 and then Kingsley takes over in 2026.

That makes the most sense....because there is NO way Smith is coming back here for what we can afford.

Okay, so leave him at LT and if he doesn't develop then put him at G. Throwing him into the interior OL mix in 2025 would be really dumb if Trey Smith is extended.

If we sign Smith to an extension, that pretty much mean Kingsley can’t play G as a starter.

Just stop. It could just as easily mean that they still believe in him at LT, or they like him for Thuney's replacement after 2025.

It's so obvious that you're desperately trying to paint a narrative. No, if they re-sign Smith, it does not mean that they've given up all hope on Kingsley as a starter on the OL. That's just reeruned.

When you're picking in the top 20 it's easy to say you're going to find a way to fix LT in the draft

At 31, I just don't see it. Massive gamble, lot of teams aren't going to take their call seriously.

So IF they do retain Smith, all I can say is it probably says they still like Kingsley at LT.

This ain't Madden, my dude. It's not about raw numbers of picks, it's about when they were taken. Even getting special teams contributors on Day 3 is a success.

Nate always talks about her..

Anybody that watched week 18 says "that Nourzad looked pretty good for a day 3 rookie". At worst, he looked like solid depth on a rookie deal.

This guy: "Clearly another wasted OL pick!"

I hope so

Says the guy who thinks grooming a second round pick for OG should take 2 years and waste 2 years of rookie contract. People act like Veach is above criticism.

DeCosta just said they are optimistic about keeping Ronnie Stanley.

The LT FA class and draft class is not good folks. Neither is this FA class in general.

And I think Veach’s thought process is that there isn’t anyone outside of Trey that they want to spend huge money on, as well as not making this OL even worse next year.

I’m not on the same page but I understand the logic behind it

Fair criticism:

Despite a lack of investment and picking late, Veach hasn't been able to find a diamond in the rough at LT like he does other positions. Of course that's because LT is hard to find, but he needs to get it right this year. It's been an issue for too long.

Unfair criticism:

Veach can't draft OL!

Do you see the difference? It's a lack of any nuance whatsoever.

The 'how bout those CHIEFS' guy said in recent video that Chiefs org insiders state that right now the plan to fix LT is bring in an LT vet and have them compete against an upcoming draft pick. That to me says the Chiefs are going to move up in the draft to select a viable LT option, they have the draft capital to do so.

I don't know who his 'Chiefs insiders' are but with about 300k subscribers I would think it would be someone somewhat close to the ground on this, could be total crapola.

That's reactive roster building. "Playing scared" so to speak.

It's an awful, awful plan.

"Well it might be hard to find a better solution at LT so lets just bring back a similar OL but make it a LOT more expensive..."

That cannot be the plan.

Because frankly, Smith in a vacuum wasn't worth the salary he'll command. He just wasn't that good this year. A top 15 guard, almost certainly. He MIGHT be one of the 20-25 best pass-blocking OGs in football.

And we couldn't run the ball for shit with him, so I'm not sure he moves the needle as much as we insist he does in the running game.

Set aside any cap considerations for a moment and just look at the player and the cost -- it's simply a bad decision. You don't pay top of the market money for a 2nd tier position and a guy who's -- generously -- top 10 there but with clear holes in his game (that happen to align really poorly with what we want to do).

The Chiefs shouldn't bring him back.

And the area where this team has gotten itself in the most trouble is with its own guys. Mostly they've been veterans they refuse to cut bait on (Sorensen, Watkins, Clark) but this would be similar. They cannot let inertia win here. If Trey Smith were a free agent from the Vikings looking for this contract, there's simply no way we'd give it to him.

And there's ZERO chance anyone here would support doing so or "see the logic in it".

This is a really bad decision.

I don't trust the reporting for that reason. That or it is little more than a PR play to lessen the sting if/when he leaves.

Kingsley back to LT. Yes!

Or they drafted and started him at LT so after two games as a starter theyre not going to pigeon hole an elite prospect into one spot. Especially when the other spot is one of the hardest to fill in the NFL.

Even the best Tackle in this draft will only be marginally better than Kingsley as a rookie. There is no Joe Alt in this draft. Move up wherever you want but still expect plenty of struggles. Joe Alt was far from perfect and he's one of the best prospects to come through in a decade. This move up for the guy just isnt that realistic. We don't have the ammo without sinking two drafts to get into the "sure fires" that still are about a 50% hit rate.

I hope you’re right. Cuz IMO, paying Smith is a bad decision.

And for the record, I love Veach. But it’s fair to point out the draft misses he’s made as we approach the draft. But remove the 22 draft and look at the picks we’ve made. Just seems a lot of wasted picks, and misses on players that would have helped. And yeah it’s hindsight, and I get it. I honestly wonder how much is on Andy Heck not being able to develop guys he’s given as far as OL goes. Just seems a lot of wasted picks on OL if not one of them can supplant Trey this upcoming season.

Please don’t do this Veach. We've already wasted a TON of money on a ****ing center and a RT who you thought could play LT but can't. We need an LT. Cant really do that when you throw the bag at Smith.

Makes me wonder if Pat is throwing his weight around a little and demanding he be re-signed.

Idk, seems like a terrible idea.

To your point -- yeah, it's REALLY hard to fix LT drafting at the back of every round.

But you know what isn't hard to fix? RG. And C. We already overpaid (IMO) to address the easiest position on the OL to address. Meanwhile the Eagles lost a guy who's considered possibly the best C of all time, replaced him with a 2nd rounder and won a SB when said replacement wasn't a notable drop-off for them.

They won't be so lucky when Lane Johnson retires.

And even if you like Kingsley at LT -- y'know what, RT is a nice little home as well and there's a decent chance that it's open for business in 2026 even if you lock in the LT with a veteran long-term.

Bringing back Smith makes so little sense to me that I just refuse to believe this is legit.