Chiefs expected to lose key 2025 free agent to Bears: Insider

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The Kansas City Chiefs could lose a solid starter in the 2025 NFL free agency.

Every year it becomes increasingly difficult for the Kansas City Chiefs to retain all of their top free agents. That’s the cost of sustained success in an industry like the NFL.

According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, discussions around the league suggest starting right guard Trey Smith could be the key departure in 2025. Fowler submitted “predictions” from various anonymous executives and talent evaluators on Jan. 21, and one of them involved Smith and the Chiefs.

“(The Chicago) Bears will sign Trey Smith as a free agent,” the prediction said. Along with the following statement from Fowler:

Chicago is doing everything it can to improve its offense by hiring Ben Johnson as head coach. At the top of general manager Ryan Poles’ list of improvements will be an underperforming offensive line. Trey Smith, the Chiefs’ free-agent guard, could fit right away.

“They need help at guard after the Nate Davis fiasco, and Trey is by far the best option,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “And they probably need more than him.”

Johnson’s offense is well positioned at the skill positions with tight end Cole Kmet, running back D’Andre Swift and wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. But the offensive line has been a major issue and is being addressed.

Fowler didn’t mention the connection between the Poles and the KC organization, but many die-hard fans will remember that the former Chiefs front office executive has been in Kansas since the beginning of Scott Pioli’s tenure as general manager in 2009 City worked its way up – and then continued throughout John Dorsey’s time as GM and part of Brett Veach’s current regime.

Poles was most recently with the Chiefs in 2021 and served as executive director of player personnel under Veach.

Chiefs RG Trey Smith is expected to restart the market at guard

It’s been known for some time that Smith will be paid in 2025 – and paid well.

On January 17, former sports agent Joel Corry expressed his opinion on how much Smith could make when asked about some of the Chiefs’ impending free agents.

“I expect Trey Smith to reset the OG market, which Landon Dickerson currently leads at $21 million per year,” Corry replied confidently.

He also noted that veteran safety Justin Reid “could be close to the salary level of his current contract” and that linebacker Nick Bolton “likely takes note of Patrick Queen’s three-year, $41 million (contract). took”. Although Corry added that “off-ball LBs (like Bolton) are hit or miss as UFAs.”

In any case, his thoughts on Smith are a bit concerning.

According to Over the Cap, the Chiefs are estimated to have just over $11.5 million in available cap space in 2025. That means that in order to re-sign Smith for, let’s say, $22 million per year, Veach may have to make drastic moves, and then you have to weigh whether it’s even worth keeping the 25-year-old guard.

NFL writer suggests Chiefs cut LG/LT Joe Thuney to keep Trey Smith

In 2024, the Chiefs traded cornerback L’Jarius Sneed so they could re-sign superstar defenseman Chris Jones. Could a similar compromise happen in 2025?

On January 20, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggested the idea of ​​releasing starting left guard and part-time left tackle Joe Thuney in order to extend Smith.

“Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Joe Thuney are among the most respected players at their positions,” Ballentine wrote. “But it’s hard to imagine the team keeping all three after this offseason.”

“The team has already given Humphrey a lucrative extension, Smith is about to hit free agency, and Thuney currently has the fourth-highest cap hit on the team,” the analyst continued. “One possible solution is to part ways with Thuney to free up the space they need to sign Smith. Thuney only has one year left on his contract, and if they release him before June 1, they can clear $16 million in cap space through 2025 with a dead cap charge of $10.9 million .”

Ballentine concluded that this would “allow the Chiefs to keep the Smith and Humphrey duo together for a long time.” But on the other hand, you sacrifice the always reliable Thuney.

Of course, if Kansas City feels like Thuney might retire in the coming seasons, this trade could be worth it. Or maybe there’s a lucrative way to lower Thuney’s cap number as he plays out his final years in the NFL.

Another route could be superstar tight end Travis Kelce — who could offer cap relief through an extension or retirement.

At the very least, Chiefs fans should have confidence that Veach is looking at this situation from all angles, considering his regime’s emphasis on strengthening and maintaining the offensive line.

Michael Obermüller He covers the NFL and NHL for Heavy.com, where he began writing in 2021. His focus includes the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins as well as the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. The New York native and Quinnipiac graduate’s previous credits include FanDuel’s The Duel, King Fantasy Sports and Pro Football Mania. More about Michael Obermüller