It doesn’t feel like a coincidence the Chicago Bears learned the expected top guard in the 2025 free agency market would receive the franchise tag moments after the league announced they were expanding the salary cap to 279.

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs officially announced their decision to place a non-exclusive franchise tender on star OL Trey Smith.

Smith, 25, is the best offensive lineman without a contract for 2025, something the Kansas City Chiefs are hoping to do something about. On Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was asked about how high a priority Smith was for the three-time defending AFC champions. Veach didn’t mince words.

The picture has been clarified a bit for Trey Smith's future: It's extension or free agency ... Creed Humphrey at center, and Joe Thuney at left guard already playing on big-money extensions. Smith, who is only 25 years old, has started 80 games for ...