Kion Smith

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Kion Smith's one-year, $1.1M deal with Miami earns a solid C+ CVI — a fair-value contract that reflects the reality of backup guard economics in today's NFL. At just over $1M annually, the Dolphins are paying near-minimum wage for interior line depth, which aligns perfectly with Smith's role as organizational depth rather than a projected starter. The short-term structure carries minimal financial risk while giving Miami flexibility to evaluate whether Smith can develop into something more substantial, or simply serve as reliable insurance behind their established starters. For a guard position where even serviceable backups command $2-3M annually, this represents smart roster construction at the margins. The Dolphins get a developmental piece without significant commitment, while Smith secures his foothold in the league with an opportunity to prove he belongs at a higher compensation tier moving forward.

Performance Analysis

Kion Smith sits at the bottom tier of NFL guards based on available performance data, drawing an F grade that reflects an inability to distinguish himself among position peers at this stage of his career. The lone concrete data point from his current season — 14 games played — at least speaks to his availability, but durability alone cannot carry a performance evaluation when production indicators are absent from the record. The most glaring weakness here is the complete void of statistical impact: there is simply no on-field output to point to as a strength, which is a damning statement for a fourth-year player who should be approaching some level of defined role by now. At 27, on a $1.1M contract, Smith occupies the profile of a depth piece or rotational body rather than a legitimate starter commanding real snap share, and the mediaFraming around him reinforces that assessment — he operates almost entirely outside the national and local spotlight, generating neither praise nor criticism. That kind of quiet anonymity is occasionally a sign of quiet competence, but combined with an F performance grade, it reads more as organizational indifference than under-the-radar reliability. Miami's offseason activity has been focused on adding bodies at linebacker, tight end, and along the offensive line, which does nothing to clarify Smith's standing but does suggest the front office is actively reshaping the roster around him. With the regular season still 132 days away, Smith has time to change the narrative, but as a fourth-year player trending toward roster-bubble territory, the window to prove he belongs beyond a depth designation is narrowing fast.

Current Sentiment

Kion Smith operates largely outside the mainstream media spotlight heading into 2026, with minimal recent coverage generating public perception data. As a third-year guard on a modest $1.1M annual contract, he appears to occupy a depth or reserve role rather than commanding starter-level attention from beat writers or national analysts. The absence of significant news—whether positive accolades or negative controversies—suggests he is neither a focal point of fan enthusiasm nor a subject of organizational concern. His contract size and experience level indicate a developmental or situational contributor rather than a core building block, which typically correlates with neutral-to-muted fan and media interest. Without recent performance metrics, injury updates, or roster movement headlines to shift narrative, Smith's standing remains in quiet transition ahead of the 2026 season.