The Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason this year hasn’t been nearly as chaotic in terms of contract disputes as it was in 2024 with Chris Jones. The only unresolved situation remains with guard Trey Smith, who signed the franchise tag but is still looking for a long-term deal, raising questions about whether he would report to the team’s mandatory minicamp.
With little drama, Smith showed up despite the ongoing contract negotiations. Chris Jones reacted in a playful and self-deprecating way, drawing a parallel to how he handled a similar situation last season.
Chris Jones Compares Trey Smith’s Contract Approach To His in 2024
The offseason for a team coming off a Super Bowl loss usually has a more somber tone, but that’s not exactly the case with the Chiefs. Of course, no one wants to lose a Super Bowl, and for the younger players who only experienced last season, the winning culture may not have fully sunk in yet. However, for the veterans who were part of the previous championships, the mindset is clear, and the work continues.
Smith was a key piece in keeping the Chiefs’ offensive line steady last season, holding things together for a unit that struggled with inconsistency, especially at left tackle. The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him, which he signed, meaning he’s under contract for this season, but he’s still looking for a long-term deal.
Rumors suggested that Smith might skip minicamp, which would have resulted in a fine. Instead, he chose to show up while negotiations continued, and his teammates supported his decision. Jones, who went through a similar contract saga last offseason, even joked about it, comparing Smith’s approach to his own during his negotiation process.
Chris Jones with a hilarious mic drop moment on Trey Smith, who’s at camp but wanting a new contract: “It’s good he didn’t take my approach.” pic.twitter.com/CTROZZg8In
— Mick Shaffer (@mickshaffer) June 17, 2025
“It’s good he didn’t take my approach,” Jones said, in a joking way. “Trey is doing the right thing. Don’t take no advice from me. I did things a little different, don’t take no advice from me. Trey, you’re in a good place. You know, the franchise tag is like $25 million, right? That’s the big bucks.”
In 2024, contract talks between Jones and Kansas City dragged on so long that the star defensive tackle missed the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He eventually signed a five-year, $158.75 million deal, finally putting an end to the saga.
However, Jones has since admitted that he wishes things had been handled earlier and that he may have approached it with the same professionalism and team-first mindset that Smith has shown. He now jokes about the situation, but whenever a player can avoid entering into a dispute with the franchise, the whole team benefits from it.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones joked that it’s good that Trey Smith didn’t take his approach to the contract situation, then asked a follow up and says: “Did I do it differently when I was in his situation?”
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) June 17, 2025
Either way, Smith is expected to be an anchor on the Chiefs’ offensive line in 2025 and eventually sign a long-term extension. He’s not only viewed as one of the best at his position but also as a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ offensive line, proving himself reliable when the unit faced challenges throughout last season.
The Chiefs’ offensive line ranks 12th in the PFSN OL+ metric, and with Joe Thuney’s departure, the interior now relies even more on Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith to maintain solid protection for Patrick Mahomes.
