VFL Trey Smith Becomes Highest-Paid Guard In NFL History
Image: Reed Hoffman/AP
By Aidan Sidoti
The Kansas City Chiefs have locked in one of Patrick Mahomes’ most trusted protectors, signing right guard and former Volunteer Trey Smith to a four-year, $94 million extension that includes $70 million guaranteed.
The deal makes Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history– a remarkable milestone for the VFL, who overcame blood clots in his lungs prior to the 2018 season in Knoxville, forcing him to miss the entire season.
After falling to the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft due to those blood clots, Smith quickly cemented himself as a cornerstone on the right-side of Kansas City’s offensive line.
Smith has missed just one start since entering the league, starting 80 out of a possible 81 games while earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024 and helping anchor the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
The record extension was finalized just hours before the franchise tag deadline, spotlighting the Kansas City Chiefs’ commitment to protecting star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was sacked a career-high 36 times during the 2024-25 campaign.
With an annual average value of $23.5 million, Smith resets the guard market and solidifies his place among the NFL’s elite interior linemen.
