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Kansas City Won't Tag Trey Smith: Chicago Bears Chance To Land NFL Free Agent To Protect Caleb WIlliams

Can Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson reel in what analysts believe is the best lineman available in free agency, two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler Trey Smith to protect former USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams?
Kyron Samuels|
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith (65) against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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USC TrojansChicago BearsKansas City Chiefs

As the lists and rumors surrounding the top potential free agents continue to swirl, the landing spots for those prospective players become more and more fascinating. ESPN writer and analyst Matt Bowen released an article detailing the best 50 free agents and what would be their best team fit.

The list featured some of the best players in the league such as wide receiver Tee Higgins, offensive guard Zack Martin, quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, and others. 

The Kansas City Chiefs will not use the NFL franchise or transition tag on their free agent guard, Trey Smith.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and first-year head coach Ben Johnson have been tasked with revamping the offensive line to protect second-year quarterback, former USC Trojans leader Caleb Williams, who rewrote the Bears’ quarterback records last season despite the chaos. On Bowen’s list, the Chicago Bears picked up guard Trey Smith, who is considered one of the best run-blocking and overall interior offensive linemen in the league to place next to tackle Darnell Wright. 

“The top interior lineman on the market, Smith would upgrade a critical position of need in Chicago. Smith is a powerful mover in the run game, as his run block win rate of 75.1% ranked sixth among guards. Plus, he has the foot speed to mirror interior defenders and the strength at 6-6 and 321 pounds to anchor against bull rushes," ESPN's Matt Bowen said of Trey Smith.

"Bears general manager Ryan Poles could make a splash move to rebuild the front for Ben Johnson's new offense. The Bears allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, so this area has to be addressed," continued Bowen.

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Smith has helped anchor the Chiefs offensive line and protect three-time Super Bowl champion and multi-time MVP winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have tough decisions to make regarding their team this offseason and may look to cut costs in integral areas like the offensive line with a very talented draft class of interior prospects and aging veterans like future Hall of Famer Zack Martin on the market that can be available for a cheaper deal. 

“Based on what I’m hearing, it shouldn’t be a problem for the Chiefs to give Smith a deal that at least matches that in terms of annual value and tops the $63 million in guarantees that Robert Hunt got from the [Carolina] Panthers,” ESPN insider Dan Graziano stated in late January.

Graziano also estimated that Trey Smith’s contract with the Super Bowl runner up Kansas City Chiefs would come in around five years, 105 million dollars overall. Although many insiders believe the Chiefs will pass and ultimately let Smith walk or work to facilitate a trade, there’s a possibility Smith could return. 

One thing is for certain and that’s that Trey Smith is heading into the prime of his career and is going to get a massive pad day from somewhere. The Chicago Bears would be hard pressed to find a better interior player through the draft, and unless they were to secure a massive trade of another proven guard, there is no better available lineman currently. If the protection of Caleb Williams is priority number one, signing Trey Smith would be a fantastic first step. 

Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season, an NFL high and third-most in NFL history.

After two season with USC, Williams was first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2023, and had his No. 13 jersey number retired by USC during the 2024 college football season.

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Kyron Samuels
KYRON SAMUELS

Kyron Samuels is a former college and professional football player now a writer, analyst, & digital host. Kyron is a writer for USC Trojans on SI and contributes to Oregon Ducks on SI. A graduate and letterman at Jacksonville State University, Samuels was a three-year starter, two-time all-conference, and won three consecutive conference titles. After a four-year professional stint between the AFL & XFL, Samuels retired from football. In 2022, Samuels was inducted into the Fairhope Athletic Hall of Fame. Post-playing career, Samuels has become a credentialed sports media member covering the NFL, UFL, USFL, & college football. The NFL Combine, Reese’s Senior Bowl, & East-West Shrine Bowl are amongst the events Kyron has covered. As a guest and host, Samuels has been featured on ESPNRadio, FoxSportsRadio, & IHeartRadio. Outside of sports media, Samuels works as a scouting consultant and has experience coaching at the collegiate level.

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