The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to use the franchise tag on offensive guard Trey Smith according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

Had he hit free agency, Smith would have been viewed as the best guard on the market and one of the top players overall. For now, the Pro Bowl guard will remain with the Chiefs on the franchise tag, which would pay out $23.4 million in 2025, but the Chiefs hope to get a long-term deal done with Smith in the near future.

Smith was a sixth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2021 and has been among the league’s best guards since entering the league. Last season he earned a PFF grade of 78.8 and a run blocking grade of 80.8 — the seventh-highest grade of any guard in the league (min. 500 snaps). It wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith and the Chiefs agree to a long-term deal before the start of the season.