Ryan Poles, Bears can’t sign Trey Smith after Chiefs use franchise tag
INDIANAPOLIS — The Bears need an offensive guard. Actually, two.
RELATED CONTENT:
- Why Ryan Poles believes Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams relationship is ‘going to be special’
- How aggressive will Bears be in free agency?
- Ryan Poles discusses prospect of Kyler Gordon extension
- Draft or free agency? How Bears will elevate pass rush
Trey Smith won’t be one. The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on him Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple reports.
That’s bad news for the Bears, who had some connections to Smith. General manager Ryan Poles was Chiefs director of player personnel when Smith got drafted in the sixth round and became an instant starter. The Bears are also a team in need of help inside and with plenty of salary-cap space to take a big swing someone previously expected to hit the open market. He was likely to command $20-plus million in average annual salary, which the Bears could’ve afforded on a longer-term deal.
Smith’s franchise tag comes with a $23.4 million, fully-guaranteed contract for the 2025 season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport stated that the Chiefs are looking to give him a long-term deal.
The Bears have plenty of options to fill their positional need, both through the NFL draft and free agency, even with the best player no longer available. There isn’t anyone in free agency of Smith’s caliber, and they might have to gamble a bit. Detroit’s Kevin Zeitler is older but obviously a quality option who knows Ben Johnson. Indianapolis’ Will Fries offers quality, but he missed most of last season with a fractured right tibia.
Mekhi Becton is an intriguing possibility, following an excellent year in Philadelphia following a switch from tackle to guard. The move was a smart one that could make him lots of money. He’s a good run blocker with work to do in pass protection, but Bears fans should count him among quality options.
They’ve also got three picks in the top 41, including the No. 10 overall pick, to add to the guard spot. Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could be moved inside as a rookie after being taken at 10, or Alabama’s Tyler Booker could end up going high. The Bears have some Day 2 options as well, though the team will likely dip into both the draft and free agency to fill their biggest need.