The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to move from their OTAs to their minicamp.
Well, most of them are, anyway.
The Chiefs, having won five of the last six AFC Championships and the last nine AFC West titles, have earned the benefit of the doubt on most everything. That includes contract talks with starting right guard Trey Smith, who has largely stayed away from work with the team he negotiates a long-term contract.
Two areas of focus for the Chiefs heading into the offseason and summer were at wide receiver and on the offensive line. There are some key updates on both fronts.
Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice, two of Patrick Mahomes' top three wide receiver targets, missed significant time in 2024 with injury. They are both back and progressing toward a full return this season.
That's the good news.
And in the offensive line?
Kansas City awaits the return of Smith to the practice field. Maybe there is no animosity here, but ...
How about anxiety?
The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Smith during free agency, making sure their top offensive lineman stayed tied her contractual. The two sides have until July 15 to agree to terms on a long-term deal.
If that doesn't happen? Smith will play out his temporary one-year, $23.4 million fully guaranteed deal with the Chiefs and can become a free agent in 2026.
The Chiefs don't want that latter scenario to unfold.
So will Smith be at Chiefs' mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 17 through 19.
Said coach Andy Reid: “We’ll see ... I don’t know that, to be honest with you. These things are ...we’ll see where it goes.”
Reid gets points for honesty, we suppose. But if KC really doesn't know? And if the Pro Bowl guard Smith really doesn't show up?
He’ll be subject to fines ... and we can imagine just a little animosity creeping in.
The Chiefs are a two-time Super Bowl champion in this era. The window is open to make another run in 2025. Somebody in the Smith dispute, with that goal in mind, is due to make a move.