Chiefs facing key deadline on $23.4 million contract conflict

The Kansas City Chiefs are running out of time. 

If they want to extend offensive lineman Trey Smith, the deal has to get done soon.

The deadline to give a long-term deal to a franchise-tagged player is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The offensive guard Smith is currently looking at a season played on the franchise tag, which checks in at a fully guaranteed $23.4 million for him.

Only Patrick Mahomes, Jawaan Taylor and Chris Jones will make more than that on the Chiefs this season. 

If the Chiefs can't get a deal done this year, they'll be looking at a higher number next year. Pro Football Talk writes that a second franchise tag for Smith would cost $28 million for 2026.

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If Kansas City didn't go for that next year, Smith would likely get a huge contract from somebody in free agency.

Smith has played in all but one of the Chiefs' games in the past four seasons. He's consistently available and consistently excellent.

Kansas City surely wants to keep him around, but a contract negotiation of this level isn't easy. It remains to be seen whether anything will get done.

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