The Kansas City Chiefs have placed the franchise tag on right guard Trey Smith in hopes of signing him to a long-term extension, sources confirmed to The Star on Thursday afternoon.

It was a change from previous expectations.

Smith, projected to make between $23.403 million under the franchise tag on a one-year deal per OverTheCap, was not previously seen as a likely franchise tag candidate. That’s because the Chiefs, with limited salary-cap room, must now reserve that entire amount in their budget for Smith, which limits their other options in free agency.

Still, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has frequently expressed his admiration for Smith, including in a conversation with reporters this week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

When asked by The Star on Tuesday whether Smith was the team’s top free-agent priority, Veach confirmed he was.

“You guys see what’s out there in free agency,” Veach said. “As far as (Smith) checking off the boxes of young guy, great guy and position that we want to say strong at ... we’ve been solid in the interior.”

If nothing else, this takes one of the most high-profile potential free agents off the board.

Smith ranked second on Pro Football Focus’ top free agents list this offseason, with a projected contract of four years for $86 million, with $52.5 million guaranteed.

KC’s thoughts on Smith likely changed with recent news on the salary cap.

Veach said the team went into the offseason believing the cap would rise to $270 million. However, that number grew higher than expected, as the NFL informed teams Thursday that the number would be $279.2 million.

When asked about the unexpected salary-cap rise Tuesday, Veach — unprompted — spoke about Smith.

“That,” Veach told a small group of reporters, “could put Trey back into play.”

Evidently in more ways than previously thought.

If Smith doesn’t agree to a long-term deal with the Chiefs, he will be the highest-paid right guard in football this season. However, the Chiefs’ ultimate goal will be to lock the 25-year-old to a long-term deal.

Per NFL rules, KC has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract with Smith. If the two sides don’t reach an agreement, he is obligated to play under the franchise tag’s one-year deal.

There remains an option to trade Smith as well. The Chiefs had a similar scenario play out last season with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed; they franchise tagged him before trading him three weeks later to the Tennessee Titans for a third-round pick.

The Chiefs initially selected Smith in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s started every regular-season game for them in the last four years while earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2024.

Veach said just before the Super Bowl that if the team was going to take a “big swing” in free agency, it would be to retain one of its own guys. He also said this week that KC valued knowing what Smith was about from his time with the team.

“When you look out there, it’s like, ‘Are we gonna invest in a couple average guys (in free agency), or we have a guy right here?’” Veach said of Smith. “So I think that might come back into play now, just because of what’s out there, and what’s best long-term for the team.”

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