Chiefs hope to extend Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and keep roster's core intact (2024)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — They entered the NFL together, they became starters together and they became two-time champions together.

Center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith have become two of the biggest foundational players for the Kansas City Chiefs, their arrival on the roster in 2021 ushering in the second phase of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ illustrious career.

The last time Mahomes played an important game without Humphrey and Smith was Super Bowl LV, the night when the Chiefs’ makeshift offensive line — the result of multiple injuries that season — failed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ stellar collection of pass rushers. The Chiefs failed to score a touchdown and the constant pressure from the Buccaneers forced Mahomes to scramble repeatedly — running 497 yards before he released the ball, the most pre-throw and pre-sack yards run by any quarterback in any game that season, according to Next Gen Stats.

A few months later, the Chiefs, led by general manager Brett Veach, prioritized revamping the offensive line, selecting Humphrey in the second round and Smith in the sixth round.

With their rebuilt their interior protection around Mahomes, including signing left guard Joe Thuney in free agency, the Chiefs have become the league’s newest dynasty. They are the first franchise in two decades to win back-to-back championships, and they aim this season to accomplish an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory. Humphrey and Smith have been in the middle of the Chiefs’ success, each starting all 10 postseason games in the past three years.

“It’s something that we both dreamed of, and to be able to do it two years in a row, it’s almost unthinkable,” Humphrey said of celebrating the Chiefs’ comeback victory in Super Bowl LVIII with Smith, one his closest friends on the team. “It was crazy, it was awesome and we gave each other a big hug. It’s been fun to be able to do this with him throughout the past three years and hopefully many more.”

Humphrey and Smith don’t want this season to be their final one together. Both are entering the final year of their rookie contract, as Humphrey is set to earn $4.8 million this season while Smith will make $3.37 million, according to Over the Cap.

Throughout the next month — before the season opener Sept. 5 against the Baltimore Ravens — the Chiefs will attempt to sign Humphrey and Smith to lucrative contract extensions, a feat that Veach has yet to achieve this time of year in the previous six seasons during his tenure.

“Your hope is that everybody gets paid,” Mahomes said. “I tell Veach all the time: ‘You draft too well.’ It’s a good problem to have. I’m excited for those guys and it all gets handled in the right way. The hope is to keep this core together. I’ll have that flexibility in my contract to help get them some money as much as possible.”

Straight A's for the interior o-line 👏 @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/DmMJlY9BxP

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 31, 2024

Along with Humphrey and Smith, the Chiefs also want to sign linebacker Nick Bolton (entering the last year of his rookie contract) and kicker Harrison Butker (entering the final year of his contract) to multiyear extensions.

“They are three really good players and they’re fantastic people,” Veach said of Humphrey, Smith and Bolton. “Throughout this camp, hopefully, we’re able to get more than one done. It’s just going to be a systematic approach and exchange of communication. We would want nothing more than for them to be here (long term) and I’m sure they would want nothing more than to be here.”

It appears the Chiefs’ top priority is to see if they can continue to provide elite protection for Mahomes by retaining the services of Humphrey and Smith.

Most analysts, including Aaron Schatz, the chief analytics officer of FTN Network and inventor of DVOA, believe the Chiefs have the best trio of interior offensive linemen in the league. Humphrey, 25, has never missed a game in his career and is excellent in pass protection. Known for his tenacious run-blocking ability, Smith, 25, has missed only one game in his career.

“Creed and I have known each other since sophom*ore year of high school, so we’ve always been friends,” Smith said. “To be able to play with a guy and to have that continuity and chemistry together, it makes our jobs a lot easier. There’s a lot of things we don’t have to verbalize (before the ball is snapped). It’s been a huge help and it’s easy when you’re playing next to a talented player.”

Based on the market of both positions, an argument can be made that the Chiefs could target signing Humphrey to his extension first.

Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles’ former All-Pro center, had an average annual salary of $14.5 million last season before he retired. If Humphrey agrees to an extension with the Chiefs, his deal is expected to be more than Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow, who is the highest-paid player at his position based on the four-year, $54 million contract he signed in 2021.

In the Chiefs’ four-game postseason run, Humphrey showed exceptional blocking skills despite having a few lapses in his snap exchange with Mahomes. Humphrey played 288 snaps and didn’t commit a penalty or surrender a sack, allowing just two pressures. Smith allowed just two sacks in the regular season last year and elevated his play in the postseason, too. He didn’t surrender a sack or a quarterback hit, his lone issue being that he committed three penalties, none of which occurred in the Super Bowl.

“It’s been awesome just to continue to grow our relationship and we’re like-minded guys,” Humphrey said of Smith. “We both strive to be better and to keep working to where we’re the best that we can be. We watch so much film, we have this great understanding of what to expect that we don’t have to communicate so much.”

KC – Football season is almost here, and we’re upping the ante this year with not one but TWO of your favorite Offensive Linemen. That’s right, we’ve partnered with @creed_humphrey and @treysmith to bring you Game Day specials (and more) all season long! pic.twitter.com/KGOVHlujHp

— Jack Stack Barbecue (@jackstackbbq) August 31, 2023

The Chiefs’ game-winning, walk-off touchdown drive in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers showcased their offensive line. Even without Thuney, who missed the game with a pectoral injury, Mahomes was hit only once during the 13-play sequence. When Mahomes connected with receiver Mecole Hardman for the easy 3-yard touchdown, Humphrey and Smith didn’t see the last completion of the season. Instead, they were in the act of blocking.

“In my opinion, in watching the tape, that is the best interior in football,” defensive tackle Mike Pennel, a 10-year veteran, said after Sunday’s practice. “The run blocking that Trey, Joe and Creed offer, that’s unlike any other combo in this league. In training camp, I’m seeing the hardest run(-blocking) combinations — gap schemes and stretches and zone (blocking).

“It’s a huge advantage (for me), and I’m excited to see how that’ll play out in the regular season.”

Retaining Smith, though, could be a more expensive negotiation for the Chiefs. If the Chiefs can’t agree to an extension with Smith and he excels this season, with consistent production while limiting his penalties, he could be the top free agent at his position next spring, potentially earning an annual average of more than $20 million. The league’s highest-paid right guard is the Atlanta Falcons’ Chris Lindstrom, who has an average annual salary of $20.5 million.

“I don’t look at all that stuff, man,” Smith said. “I worry about what my coaches tell me, how they feel about me. If I do my job at a high level, everything else is going to take care of itself. I just have to keep working.”

.@Chiefs @treysmith back to back Super Bowl Champions and Trey is here @OLMasterminds teaching the next generation and learning from the veterans. Championship Mentality. #ChiefsKingdom #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/MPUVyWC7bf

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 12, 2024

Even before Chiefs camp started last month, Humphrey and Smith were together for a week in Frisco, Texas, for the annual OL Masterminds summit, which has become one of the premier training and knowledge-sharing experiences for NFL and college offensive linemen. The event featured a large group of linemen watching film of how well Humphrey and Smith worked together last season to stonewall bull rushes and stunts from defensive linemen to protect the pocket for Mahomes.

Humphrey and Smith each led a breakout session for college linemen at their respective positions to better explain and show their blocking techniques.

“I remember when I first went there, and I was just hungry to get any information,” Smith said, smiling. “I looked up to guys like Brandon Brooks. Seeing college players come up to you and asking questions and imparting your knowledge and wisdom to them to progress the game in the right direction, it was really cool. I was honored by that.”

The newest mission for Humphrey and Smith began in camp. They have spent time after practice helping rookie left tackle Kingsley Suamataia prepare for his NFL debut. The Chiefs drafted Suamataia in the second round, hoping he could do what Humphrey and Smith accomplished in 2021: Enter the league and immediately be a major contributor.

When it comes to their future, though, Humphrey and Smith understand that the best decision for each of them might be extending their partnerships in Kansas City with Mahomes.

“I want to do what’s best for me and best for him,” Humphrey said. “If we can continue going, we will. That would be great. We’ve been able to do so much over the past three years. To continue that would be really fun.”

(Photo: Mike Carlson / Getty Images)

Nate Taylor has been a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018. Before that, he covered the Indiana Pacers at The Indianapolis Star for two years. He has also been a sports features writer for The New York Times and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A Kansas City native, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri. Follow Nate on Twitter @ByNateTaylor