Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.
Until he’s traded through the franchise tag, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith is not going to change into a Minnesota Viking in 2025.
Cross One Free Agent Off the Vikings’ Checklist
Earlier than Thursday’s improvement, Smith was slated to hit open free company in 11 days, the place he would’ve fetched a contract price at the least $20 million per season. However he isn’t going wherever.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
NFL Community‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “The Chiefs are planning to franchise tag star guard Trey Smith, sources say. An intriguing move, as KC keeps one of its best players for $23.4M on a 1-year, fully guaranteed deal.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter offered extra context: “The highest-paid guard in the NFL is Philadelphia’s Landon Dickerson at $21 million per year. The franchise tag for offensive linemen, projected just under $24 million, surpasses that by a few million— making Trey Smith the highest-paid guard in football.”
So, if the Vikings had been fascinated about Smith, they’ll have to look at a Plan B or inquire about Smith’s commerce worth, which is assured to be the roof. Vikings followers can fairly cross Smith off the free-agent checklist as a 2025 resolution.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Now what? Properly, Minnesota can roll with its in-house choices, together with Blake Brandel, underneath contract for the subsequent two seasons, Ed Ingram, a rookie getting into the ultimate 12 months of his deal, or Dalton Risner, who began the season’s last eight video games in 2024.
In any other case, Smith isn’t the one free-agent guard available on the market. Normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might pursue one among these veterans:
Mekhi Becton (Guard)
Kevin Zeitler (Guard)
Will Fries (Guard)
Brandon Scherff (Guard)
Teven Jenkins (Guard)
And within the 2025 NFL Draft, the place Adofo-Mensah owns simply 4 picks, these are the choices:
Tyler Booker (Alabama)
Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)
Armand Membou (Missouri)
Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
Gray Zabel (North Dakota State)
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Earlier this month, Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling referred to as Smith a practical free-agent goal for the Vikings. KFAN’s Paul Allen requested Goessling in regards to the realism of Smith signing in Minnesota, and he replied, “I think they’ll be pretty aggressive for players like that. He’s probably at the top of the guard market, which will be expensive. But I think they are going to make a big priority of going after a guard.”
“And I think they would have a lot of interest in getting a guy like him in here. So I would expect they’d be involved if he makes it to the market, which he might, because the Chiefs have other guys to sign. I think it’s very possible that they get in the mix for him.”
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
However the dream is useless. Smith received’t be a Viking, nor will he be a part of the Chicago Bears, a staff that frequented Smith’s attainable touchdown spots within the rumor mill.
Free company is 11 days away.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.
