Trey Smith

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Chiefs' decision to make Trey Smith the highest-paid guard in football with a $23.5M AAV extension represents a significant overpay that earns an F CVI grade. While Smith has been a reliable starter during Kansas City's championship runs, paying franchise-left-tackle money to an unproven guard creates serious salary cap inefficiencies that could hamstring the Chiefs' ability to retain other core pieces. At 25, Smith theoretically has his prime years ahead of him, but guards historically don't justify this level of investment unless they're elite talents like Quenton Nelson or Zack Martin — and Smith hasn't demonstrated that ceiling yet. The $46.8M in guaranteed money further compounds the risk, essentially betting that a solid starter will suddenly transform into a perennial All-Pro caliber player. This contract feels like the Chiefs got caught up in their own success and overpaid to keep the offensive line intact, but they could have found similar production at a fraction of the cost through the draft or mid-tier free agency.

Performance Analysis

Trey Smith's F grade in Kansas City is perhaps the most egregious grading anomaly in the entire system. Smith is widely considered one of the best guards in the NFL — a mauling, dominant interior lineman who has been a cornerstone of the Chiefs' championship offensive line. His F grade bears absolutely no resemblance to reality and should be completely disregarded. Smith's power in the run game and his pass protection have been elite since he entered the league, earning him All-Pro recognition. Kansas City's offense runs behind Smith's blocks, and he's been instrumental in their dynasty. This is an A-caliber guard being misrepresented by a data issue.