Rams To Retain Matthew Stafford
Speculation about Matthew Stafford‘s future is now over. The decorated quarterback will remain with the Rams for at least one more season. 
A new, restructured deal was first reported to be agreed upon by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since announced the news that Stafford is staying put. He will play a fifth season with the Rams.
Financial details have not yet emerged, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes this new Rams deal will be worth less than Stafford could have landed on a pact with a new team. A trade remained a distinct possibility once his camp received permission to find a trade partner, a development which came about amidst challenges with respect to working out another short-term arrangement. Team and player avoided a training camp holdout last year by increasing Stafford’s 2024 pay without adding new years (or future guarantees) to his pact.
As a result, the Super Bowl winner approached the new league year with $27MM in base pay scheduled, including a $4MM roster bonus due next month. Finding a resolution before that point represented a logical goal for all involved, and an agreement has in fact been made. The most recent reporting on this storyline – the dominant topic of conversation at the Combine – noted Stafford was set to speak with the Rams today.
To say the least, that summit has gone over quite well. Stafford will continue his tenure in Los Angeles, which has included a Super Bowl win and one of his two career Pro Bowls. He has continued to deal with a number of ailments during the second chapter of his NFL tenure, however, and in 2022 he was limited to only nine games played. The Georgia product has remained generally durable since then, but questions of availability will remain moving forward.
In the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss, Stafford took time to contemplate his future. He quickly made it known he intended to continue playing in 2025, and Sean McVay and the Rams have repeatedly stated their desire to keep him in the fold. That will be the case in spite of numerous conversations taking place between Stafford’s camp and interested teams. In particular, the Raiders and Giants made pitches to work out a contract agreement in the hopes of then attempting to generate a suitable package of draft capital to send to Los Angeles.
Both Las Vegas and New York were believed to be prepared to make a two-year offer including between $90MM and $100MM in guarantees. That comes as little surprise considering Stafford was known to be angling for an AAV of $50MM on his next pact. The Rams were reportedly unwilling to meet that asking price, so it will be interesting to see how this new arrangement takes shape. If additional void years are included as part of today’s arrangement, Stafford’s 2025 cap hit ($49.67MM) could be reduced.
The Raiders and Giants will now be forced to look elsewhere at the QB position. Stafford represented a massive offseason domino at the position, and the effect today’s news has on the other experienced passer set to reach the market will be notable. With an underwhelming draft class looming, teams could move with urgency in March to secure short-term fixes under center.
Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a pending free agent, and his departure could lead to the Rams leaning on 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett (who has yet to play in the regular season) to handle QB2 duties. A Stafford successor is not in place in the organization, and his regression in statistical output from 2024 offers a warning sign that more could be coming in that regard moving forward. Nevertheless, McVay and the Rams will enjoy continuity atop the depth chart next season.
Commanders, Texans Aggressively Pursuing Deebo Samuel Trade
Deebo Samuel is known to be on the trade market, and the 49ers are prepared to honor his request to be moved. A pair of serious serious suitors have emerged. 
The Commanders and Texans have shown “significant interest” in acquiring Samuel in recent days, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. He adds that talks have progressed at the Combine, meaning an agreement could soon be in place. While other teams could find themselves in play, Washington and Houston have been the most aggressive to date, per Schultz.
Both teams represent logical suitors for a veteran receiver addition. Washington has 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels attached to his initial NFL contract through at least 2027, giving the team a window of opportunity to make a strong push in terms of acquisitions this offseason. Bringing in a secondary option to complement Terry McLaurin is known to be on the Commanders’ radar.
McLaurin is only on the books for one more year, and none of his 2025 base salary ($15.5MM) is guaranteed. An extension could be on tap as a result, and Washington could stand to make a number of additions on the defensive side of the ball during free agency and the draft this spring. Still, adding a wideout with a stronger track record than the likes of Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey or Noah Brown – the latter of whom wants to re-sign – would be feasible.
Just like the Commanders, the Texans have the benefit of an affordable high-end quarterback under team control for years to come in the former of C.J. Stroud. Houston assembled a strong trio atop the WR depth chart last year, acquiring Stefon Diggs via trade from the Bills. Given his presence, along with that of Nico Collins and Tank Dell, expectations were high in 2024. The team’s offense did not preform as hoped, though, and both Diggs and Dell wound up suffering ACL tears.
Diggs is a pending free agent as a result of the restructure he worked out upon arrival in Houston. The team is open to bringing him back, but the injury could complicate his market value. Dell, meanwhile, is in danger of missing most (potentially all) of the 2025 campaign. An experienced pass-catcher would therefore be welcomed, particularly if veteran Robert Woods – who handled a small workload this past campaign – departs in free agency.
One year remains on Samuel’s pact, part of the reason he has long been seen as a trade candidate. That become true to an even larger extent last offseason when the 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the draft and (eventually) worked out a big-ticket extension with Brandon Aiyuk. Samuel, 29, could soon see his San Francisco tenure come to an amicable end.
The former second-rounder earned All-Pro acclaim in 2021, the year in which he best highlighted his unique skillset. Samuel led the NFL in yards per reception (18.2) with a 77-1,405-6 statline. Toward the end of the campaign, he increasingly handled ‘wide back’ duties and racked up eight rushing touchdowns. On the back of that success, he secured a three-year, $71.55MM extension (the end result of a process which included a trade request at one point). 
Samuel has missed multiple games each year since signing his pact, though, and only once in that span has he eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards. The 49ers could be equipped to move forward with Aiyuk and Pearsall leading the way at the receiver spot, with Jauan Jennings in the fold in a notable complementary role as well. Samuel, if healthy, would nevertheless add a distinct element to any number of offenses.
Schultz’s report also names the Steelers and Broncos as teams which have shown some level of interest. Pittsburgh was linked to many receiver additions last offseason, including extensive trade talks and extension negotiations related to Aiyuk. Denver aims to keep Courtland Sutton in the fold, but the team is not believed to have serious interest in adding a pricey veteran such as Samuel or Cooper Kupp.
A Day 3 pick was recently mentioned as the potential trade price in a Samuel deal. The Commanders are on track to own seven selections, including four on the draft’s final day. The Texans only have six picks at the moment, but they own one in each of the fourth and fifth rounds. It will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached with either team in the near future.
Rams To Re-Sign LT Alaric Jackson
Alaric Jackson will indeed be avoiding a trip to free agency. The fourth-year left tackle was known to be making progress on a new deal, and one is now in place. 
Jackson and the Rams have agreed to a three-year contract, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. This will be a $57MM pact including $35MM in guarantees. Instead of hitting free agency, Jackson will now be on the books through the 2027 campaign.
The former UDFA took over from Joe Noteboom as the Rams’ preferred left tackle ahead of the 2023 campaign. Noteboom’s efforts to serve as Andrew Whitworth‘s long-term successor did not go according to plan, opening the door for Jackson to step in. The latter has started all 29 of his appearances across the past two campaigns.
Jackson earned a PFF grade of 66.6 during his first full campaign atop the depth chart. That left plenty of room for improvement, but the Rams made a short-term commitment to him via the second-round RFA tender last offseason. That move allowed him to collect $4.89MM during the 2024 campaign; the 26-year-old’s play certainly allowed him to command a much more lucrative pact this time around.
Showing improvement in pass protection in particular, Jackson graded out as PFF’s 18th-best tackle in 2024. It thus comes as no surprise he represented a key offseason priority for the Rams. Shortly after an agreement was reached which will keep quarterback Matthew Stafford in the fold for at least 2025, the team has additional cost certainty on offense.
12 offensive tackles are currently attached to an AAV of at least $20MM. Jackson’s deal checks in at $19MM per season, confirmation that he does not have the track record of many of the blockers ahead of him in the financial pecking order but also a strong commitment on the part of the Rams that he will continue developing over the life of the deal. Details on Stafford’s new pact are not yet known, but it is safe to assume Jackson will remain in place through the team’s transition to a new starting QB.
The right tackle spot could be a question mark in the future for the Rams since Rob Havenstein‘s $11.5MM-per-year deal will expire after the 2025 campaign. Regardless of whether or not the 32-year-old is retained past the coming season, though, Jackson’s medium-term future is now secure. The Windsor, Ontario native will look to justify this lucrative investment while remaining a key figure up front for Los Angeles.
The Rams can now turn their attention to sorting out their interior O-line situation. 2024 free agent signing Jonah Jackson has been given permission to seek a trade, having been benched midway though his debut Los Angeles season. A parting of ways could be on tap in that situation, but Alaric Jackson will remain a mainstay on the blindside for years to come.
Patriots To Explore WR Trade Market; Team Out On Tee Higgins?
Tee Higgins was long known to be the top option at the receiver position in the 2025 free agent class. As the Bengals aim to keep him in place on a long-term pact, they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row, however. 
Before it was learned Cincinnati would take that route, the Patriots were named on more than one occasion as a strong suitor. New England has ample cap space and the need to upgrade at the receiver position, so a lucrative offer would have come as no surprise. Now, the only way Higgins could be acquired would be through a tag-and-trade.
Even if the Bengals were to entertain such a move, though, New England may not be a suitor. Chad Graff of The Athletic reports the Patriots’ offseason plan “does not include” an attempt to trade for Higgins (subscription required). That marks a departure from the team’s previous stance, but a consensus does not appear to exist on this front. The Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi writes New England should in fact still be counted among the teams willing to pursue Higgins should a trade become feasible.
Regardless of how things shake out in that respect, Graff confirms to no surprise the Patriots intend to focus on making additions on the line of scrimmage this offseason. Upgrading multiple O-line spots represents an obvious priority given the way 2024 played out. If Davon Godchaux ends up being traded, meanwhile, adding at the defensive tackle spot will increasingly become important.
Still, Graff’s report states the Patriots intend to be active on the trade market as it pertains to wideouts. Two high-profile names – Cooper Kupp (Rams) and Deebo Samuel (49ers) – are known to be available. The former was informed by Los Angeles the team (which is willing to retain money in a deal) will be moving on, while the latter has seen San Francisco’s front office confirm it will honor his trade request. Early Samuel suitors have emerged, but the Patriots are not believed to be among them.
On that note, Giardi reports Samuel’s play against man coverage has been raised as a concern by teams at the Combine. The 29-year-old’s skillset makes him one of the more unique players in the league, but injuries in addition to his age could give suitors pause when contemplating a trade. Given their league-leading cap space (nearly $128MM), however, the Patriots are better equipped than many to absorb a notable contract in a deal and/or work out an extension with a new wideout upon arrival.
New head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear earlier this week he expects the Patriots to be aggressive in free agency. It will be interesting to see if the new league year also brings about movement on the trade front as the team looks to improve from its last-place finish in passing offense from 2024.
Rams, LT Alaric Jackson Making Progress On Extension Talks
The Rams have already sorted out their quarterback situation for 2025. Questions remain at the left tackle spot, but that may not be the case for much longer. 
Progress is being made on a long-term extension as it pertains to left tackle Alaric Jackson, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. No deal is in place at this point, but Fowler notes one can be expected to be finalized in the near future. At the moment, Jackson is on track for unrestricted free agency.
[RELATED: Rams Grant Jonah Jackson Permission To Seek Trade]
The 26-year-old has been with Los Angeles for all four years of his career. Jackson played sparingly during his debut campaign, then split his time between left tackle and right guard in 2022. The former UDFA then handled full-time blindside duties beginning the following year, grading out as the 43rd-best tackle in terms of PFF evaluation.
Without a replacement in place, it came as little surprise the Rams placed a second-round RFA tender on Jackson last offseason to prevent a potential departure. That move allowed the Windsor, Ontario native to collect $4.89MM last season. Upon serving a two-game suspension at the start of the campaign, Jackson resumed his place atop the depth chart at the left tackle spot.
In the wake of Andrew Whitworth‘s retirement, Joe Noteboom was tapped as the team’s successor on the blindside. The latter signed a three-year, $40MM deal with the expectation of handling a full-time starting role. Jackson has supplanted him in that capacity, though, and he will be in place for years to come if he and the Rams can reach agreement on a deal.
In 2024, Jackson registered a 78.4 PFF grade – by far the best of his career and a mark good for 18th amongst tackles. He allowed fewer quarterback hits, hurries and pressures than the previous campaign, and expectations will thus remain high with respect to pass protection in particular moving toward. Provided Jackson inks a Rams deal soon, one of the top pending free agent linemen (at tackle or any other spot) will come off the market. Jourdan Rodrigue recently noted strong interest will exist in the event he becomes available (subscription required).
Given today’s update, though, it is increasingly unlikely that will be the case. A raise compared to 2024 will no doubt be in order for Jackson on a long-term pact, one which will provide the Rams with clarity on the blindside if and when it is finalized.
2026 Fifth-Year Option Salaries Unveiled
Yesterday, the league informed teams of the 2025 salary cap ceiling ($279.2MM). Now, clarity has emerged regarding the fifth-year options for members of the 2022 draft class. 
All teams will need to decide by May 2 to pick up or decline the 2026 option on players selected in the first round of that year. For the fifth year in a row, option values will be broken into tiers based on playing time and performance. Since the 2020 CBA, option years have been guaranteed in full.
The top tier consists of players who have been selected to two or more Pro Bowls (on the initial ballot) during the early stages of their careers. These figures also match the 2025 franchise tag values. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, here is the position-by-position breakdown at that level:
- Quarterback: $40.24MM
- Running back: $13.64MM
- Wide receiver: $23.96MM
- Tight end: $13.83MM
- Offensive line: $20.99MM
- Defensive end: $23.4MM
- Defensive tackle: $25.12MM
- Linebacker: $25.45MM
- Cornerback: $20.19MM
- Safety: $18.6MM
- Kicker/punter: $6.31MM
The second tier applies to players who have one Pro Bowl on their resume and matches the value of 2025 transition tags. Here is how that groups shakes out financially:
- Quarterback: $35.38MM
- Running back: $11.07MM
- Wide receiver: $21.44MM
- Tight end: $11.71MM
- Offensive line: $21.27MM
- Defensive end: $19.87MM
- Defensive tackle: $20.85MM
- Linebacker: $20.86MM
- Cornerback: $17.6MM
- Safety: $15.03MM
- Kicker/punter: $5.73MM
Tier 3 consists of players who played at least 75% in two of their first three seasons, those who averaged at least a 75% snap share through three seasons or those who crossed the 50% snap barrier in each of their initial three campaigns. Those positions are broken down as such:
- Quarterback: $25.38MM
- Running back: $7.33MM
- Wide receiver: $16.82MM
- Tight end: $8.5MM
- Offensive line: $17.56MM
- Defensive end: $15.12MM
- Defensive tackle: $14.37MM
- Linebacker: $14.75MM
- Cornerback: $13.63MM
- Safety: $10.23MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.6MM
The fourth and final tier applies to players without a Pro Bowl nod and who do not meet the playing time criteria:
- Quarterback: $22.12MM
- Running back: $6.58MM
- Wide receiver: $15.49MM
- Tight end: $7.71MM
- Offensive line: $16.69MM
- Defensive end: $13.92MM
- Defensive tackle: $12.94MM
- Linebacker: $13.41MM
- Cornerback: $12.68MM
- Safety: $9.27MM
- Kicker/punter: $4.29MM
Matthew Stafford Resolution Approaching; Latest On Raiders’, Giants’ Pursuits
The top storyline around the NFL continues to be the uncertain future of Matthew Stafford. A resolution (with the Rams or otherwise) regarding the in-demand quarterback could be coming soon, though. 
An expectation exists that this situation will reach a conclusion by the end of the Combine, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link). Any potential trade cannot take place until the new league year begins in mid-March, but an agreement can of course be worked out at any time. The Raiders and Giants are the top contenders on the trade front, but another arrangement with the Rams is still possible. Stafford is believed to be seeking $50MM annually on average with his next pact, a price point Los Angeles is reportedly not prepared to meet.
Nevertheless, the Rams are still in contention to attain their stated goal of keeping the 37-year-old in place for at least 2025. Stafford is contemplating the requirement of uprooting his family after four years with Los Angeles, Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo adds; starting over at this point in his career would be notable even with a lucrative offer awaiting him on a new team. Given the fact the Rams have a young core and reached the divisional round of the playoffs in 2024, there are also football-related arguments to be made in favor of staying in place.
For that to be possible, though, it has long been clear another raise will be required. Stafford and the Rams agreed o accelerate some of his future compensation to 2024 last summer, avoiding a training camp holdout with a short-term solution. A year-to-year approach is still in play with the Rams in need of a successor at some point in the near future regardless of what happens with Stafford. The Super Bowl winner could wind up agreeing to a restructure light on years but once again featuring a notable bump in pay. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post passes on talk of a $55MM-per-year deal taking place last night at the Combine, which the Rams (like usual in recent years) have not attended. A major change in approach on Los Angeles’ part would be needed to agree to terms along those lines.
Team and player are nevertheless set to remain in communication in this case. Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay have spoken multiple times recently, per NFL Network’s Peter Schrager (video link). Conversations between the two will continue as the parties weigh their respective options. A report from Dianna Russini, Jourdan Rodrigue, Tashan Reed, Dan Duggan and Vic Tafur of The Athletic adds that Stafford will meet with the Rams at their facility today (subscription required). Should those talks fail to yield a resolution, the possibility of a trade will remain.
The Raiders – led in no small part by minority owner Tom Brady – are the top team to watch with respect to Stafford suitors. Vegas has been in contact with the two-time Pro Bowler’s camp since he was given permission by the Rams to seek out a trade. Those conversations have yielded at least the framework of an agreement on a new contract. Just like the Giants, however, the Raiders are not prepared to part with their top selection in April’s draft to swing a deal. Los Angeles has been connected to an asking price of a Day 1 pick, but a package built on other draft capital could wind up being sufficient if negotiations on a restructure fall through.
In the event the Raiders or Giants manage to work out trade compensation, new details on a Stafford investment have emerged. The Athletic piece notes both teams have held discussions on a two-year pact which would include between $90MM and $100MM in guaranteed money. Stafford – whose career earnings sit at $364MM – will be in line for significant compensation one way or the other during the waning stages of his NFL tenure. 
While New York is still in the running at this point, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports the Giants are seen as the underdogs in this three-team competition. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear veteran and rookie quarterbacks are on the team’s to-do list, but it would be interesting to see how he would pivot in the event Stafford proved to be unattainable. As Raanan adds, failing to secure the former No. 1 pick would not be for a lack of effort on the part of Schoen and Co.
The Raiders are expected to move on from Gardner Minshew after one year with the team, creating a vacancy on the QB depth chart. Per The Athletic, members of Vegas’ offensive staff prefer adding a veteran under center this offseason in lieu of adding a rookie. The 2025 class is not held in high regard at the quarterback spot, although the Raiders have been linked to trading up for Cam Ward recently.
With finances representing a major hurdle for Los Angeles, Rodrigue noted during an appearance on SumerSports that an impasse still exists between Stafford and the Rams. The financial figure on a new pact, but also structure, will need to be worked on for a new agreement to be reached. Failing that, negotiations on a trade could very well pick up with the new league year approaching.
Cam Ward Will Not Throw At Combine
Shedeur Sanders made it clear on Sunday will not participate in drills at the NFL Combine, leaving one of the two passers seen as a first-round lock to wait until his Pro Day to throw. At first, it was unclear if the other (Cam Ward) would take the same route. 
When speaking to the media on Friday, though, Ward confirmed he will not throw at the Combine either. The Miami passer noted, to no surprise, he will participate in on-field work during his Pro Day. Today’s news confirms the consensus top two passers in the 2025 class will be available only for medical checks and interviews in Indianapolis, continuing a growing trend seen in recent years.
Throughout the early portion of the pre-draft process, it was clear a gap existed between Ward and Sanders and the rest of the prospects who will be available in April. More recently, Ward has gained ground in terms of being viewed as the top option; as a result, he is a contender to hear his name called as early as first overall given the top of the order. The Titans will be in the market for a quarterback to compete with Will Levis, although they have made it clear they are open to moving down the board.
Tennessee, as expected, has already received calls about the availability of the No. 1 pick. A shortlist of teams prepared to move up the board to secure a QB exists, and the Raiders – previously linked to Sanders – were recently named as a contender to trade up with the intention of selecting Ward. Vegas’ evaluation of both signal-callers (like that of all other teams) will continue to evolve over the coming weeks with Pro Days and private workouts.
Neither Sanders nor Ward will not throw at the Combine, but that will be the case for some of the other quarterbacks in the class. The likes of Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Riley Leonard (Notre Dame) are already known to be participating, and other passers looking to boost their stock in Indianapolis will receive increased attention over the coming days.
Steelers Prefer To Re-Sign Justin Fields Over Russell Wilson?
The Steelers aim to have at least one in-house quarterback on a new deal by the time free agency starts. Further indications have emerged regarding which passer the team prefers on that front. 
During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, ESPN’s Mark Kaboly noted Justin Fields is Pittsburgh’s top target as things stand. He added the team is waiting to see if the former Bears first-rounder is onboard with taking a Steelers contract, something he has expressed interest in this offseason. After spending much of the 2024 campaign as Russell Wilson‘s backup, though, Fields is looking for a path to a starter’s role in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline echoes Kaboly’s report, noting that the Steelers — who are unimpressed with the top QBs in this year’s draft and are therefore unlikely to select a passer in the first round — want to move forward with Fields. The club is believed to be targeting an offensive or defensive lineman with its top draft choice (No. 21 overall).
Moving on from their Kenny Pickett–Mason Rudolph tandem last offseason, the Steelers signed Wilson and traded for Fields. Both passers were on expiring contracts, and Wilson held onto the top spot on the QB depth chart through training camp before suffering a calf injury. Fields handled starting duties for the first six weeks of the campaign, posting a 4-2 record while posting a 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and adding five rushing scores along the way. Head coach Mike Tomlin elected to install Wilson as the starter once he was healthy, though.
That decision was not unanimous, and since the end of the campaign – which was defined in no small part by underwhelming performances from Wilson in particular and the Steelers’ offense as a whole – Fields has maintained support in the organization. Given the age difference between the passers (Fields will turn 26 next week, Wilson is 36), it would come as little surprise if an investment were to made in the younger option. Pittsburgh is unlikely to keep Fields and Wilson in place for another year.
As a result, a preference for the former would leave the latter on the move via free agency for a second straight offseason. Wilson can indeed be expected to depart, CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala noted on her own 93.7 The Fan appearance. The longtime Seahawk has expressed a desire to remain in Pittsburgh, but other options could await him in the event he were to reach free agency. A reunion with Pete Carroll on the Raiders has been floated as a possibility, although they (like the Steelers) have been linked to a Matthew Stafford pursuit.
Pittsburgh is not seen as one of the frontrunners for Stafford, who could of course remain with the Rams via a contract resolution. In that event, both Wilson and Fields could find themselves among the more attractive options on the market once the new league year begins. The Steelers have been in contact with both camps, to no surprise, but a final decision one way or the other could be coming soon. As things stands, Fields is firmly in the lead to receive a deal for at least 2025.
Chiefs Place Franchise Tag On Trey Smith
The NFL’s top pending free agent amongst offensive linemen will not reach the market. The Chiefs plan to use the franchise tag on guard Trey Smith, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
The franchise tag groups all offensive linemen together, something which often makes using it on interior blockers a cumbersome endeavor for teams. Smith has long been known to be a key priority for Kansas City, though, and this move will ensure he remains with the team for at least one more season. If no long-term deal is worked out, the Pro Bowler will earn $23.4MM next year.
The top of the guard market reached $21MM per season when Landon Dickerson inked an Eagles extension last year. Smith was in position to surpass that figure on a multi-year pact of his own in the event he reached free agency, something which at one point seemed likely given the report from last week which stated no franchise or even transition tag was expected in this case. Even if he were to play out the one-year tag in 2025, the 25-year-old would break the record for guard compensation given its value.
On Wednesday, it was learned the Chiefs were preparing a long-term Smith extension. Such a pact – should one be worked out – will represent a massive commitment up front on the team’s part, something which has already been witnessed by the free agent deals for left guard Joe Thuney and the extension for center Creed Humphrey. The latter reset his position’s market by a wide margin in August with a four-year extension averaging $18MM per season. If things go according to plan for Kansas City, the team will have the league’s highest-paid center as well as its top earner amongst guards playing alongside each other for years to come.
The tackle positions remain an issue for the Chiefs, as the Super Bowl illustrated. Smith has been a consistent presence along the interior, though, ranking between 10th and 15th in terms of PFF evaluation for guards in each of his four seasons. The Tennessee product will of course be expected on to remain a top blocker either on the tag or a new deal moving forward. Having missed only one game so far, Smith’s durability will no doubt help his case for an extension.
A number of teams in better cap shape than the Chiefs would have been in position to make a strong push for Smith on the open market; former Chiefs exec Ryan Poles and the Bears in particular may have been a suitor to watch on that front. A tag-and-trade could still be in order in the event the Chiefs cannot work out a deal (having taken that route with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed last year), but for now Smith is on track to play for the AFC champions once again.
A left tackle addition is a priority for Kansas City this offseason, so more developments can be expected up front in the near future. Regardless of what takes place on that front, though, Smith is in line to play out at least one more campaign with the team. Presuming no trade occurs, he and the Chiefs will now have until mid-July to work out a long-term extension.