Chiefs’ Trey Smith: ‘I love Kansas City; it’s my home’

With the legwork of free company largely accomplished for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, probably the most urgent roster difficulty remaining is the standing of star proper guard Trey Smith. The Chiefs opened the offseason by unexpectedly giving Smith the franchise tag (at a one-year wage of $23.4 million). Smith formally signed the provide on March 10.

Smith joined host Kay Adams on Monday’s episode of “The Up and Adams Present” on FanDuel Sports activities Community. Talking from a exercise in Frisco, Texas, Smith appeared extra involved about internet hosting an upcoming youth soccer camp in his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee, in addition to attending this weekend’s NCAA basketball event match between his alma mater, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Kentucky Wildcats, than on his contract negotiations.

The fan favourite did reiterate his want to stay with the Chiefs, who chosen him within the sixth spherical of 2021’s NFL Draft.

“Finally,” Smith declared, “I can solely concentrate on simply understanding and coaching. I like Kansas Metropolis — it’s my dwelling. I like the Chiefs. The followers in Kansas Metropolis are a few of the greatest folks I’ve ever been round. Finally, I might love to remain there. That’s my plan.”

Smith and the Chiefs have till July 15 to comply with a long-term contract, or he’ll play the 2025 season on the franchise tag. Both situation will doubtless make him the NFL’s highest-paid guard. Nobody might have predicted such an end result as Smith fell deep into the third day of his draft class because of lacking a part of his sophomore season at Tennessee in 2018 after struggling blood clots in his lungs.

Smith shared with Adams recommendation he would give to different gamers who had been disenchanted with their draft positions.

“For me, I leaned on my religion in God delivering me out of a whole lot of unhealthy conditions,” he started. “I believe the most important factor is simply conserving your head down and dealing. Irrespective of how bleak a scenario seems, irrespective of how unhealthy it seems, not matter what the outlook is that somebody offers you — you’ve simply started working. You’ve started working each single day as a result of somebody’s on the market attempting to exchange you.

“Perceive that regardless that it’s unhealthy now, if you happen to maintain working, there’s going to be gentle on the finish of the tunnel. There’s going to be a hit. There’s going to be a breakthrough. On the finish of the day, you’ve received to place your day by day deposits in. You’ve received to have swag. It’s not going to only occur. You’ve received to go earn it.”

The guard is using that very same mindset because the Chiefs attempt to transfer on from a devastating 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX.

“It’s painful,” Smith admitted. “It’s undoubtedly one thing that you simply don’t need to expertise — getting that shut, working that onerous, and developing brief. On the finish of the day, we’ll use that as gas and motivation for subsequent season. I’ll converse personally for myself; I do know that wasn’t my greatest efficiency.

“For me, I’m hungry to point out again up subsequent season an excellent higher participant — a brand new participant — and put my first step ahead in a optimistic method to make it possible for I’m doing every little thing I can for my workforce for us to achieve success. On the finish of the day, all of us have the identical aim and goal. All of us need to win that Lombardi Trophy and carry it up on the finish of the season.

“We notice we received everyone’s greatest shot final season. On the finish of the day, we’ve received to be on our A-game week in and week out. I exploit it as gas and motivation for subsequent season, for positive.”

Smith blocks for the face of the game in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has additionally repeatedly owned as much as a disappointing Tremendous Bowl efficiency. He isn’t stunned to have seen his well-known teammate take accountability because the workforce strikes ahead.

“It simply exhibits how nice of a frontrunner Patrick is in any respect moments,” Smith famous. “Him taking the blame in conditions, him taking accountability and credit score — I do know surely there’s nobody I belief greater than Patrick Mahomes to guide a soccer workforce and get guys in the fitting course. He is aware of that we’re backing him one hundred pc each step up of the way in which.

“No matter he wants, he is aware of he has his teammates. I might simply say he’s the last word chief. Lots of people duck a whole lot of the accountability. Lots of people don’t take up for the unhealthy occasions. They solely take up for the great and solely take credit score for the good occasions.

“For him to step up in that scenario, I’m not shocked in any respect. It’s a testomony to his character. I do know I’m driving with 15 all the way in which.”

Though he’s coming off of his greatest season, which noticed him named to his first Professional Bowl, Smith remained humble whereas discussing his particular person aim for 2025 with Adams.

“I believe for me, the primary factor is simply to be constant,” he revealed. “Be nice — however be nice constantly. That’s kind of the mission I’m attempting to be on. I’m attempting to not simply be the most effective I may be however simply do it week in and week out and be that very same nice participant each single week.”