The Jacksonville Jaguars will need to address several needs this offseason if they want to compete in the AFC South in 2025. One position that could use a boost is right guard. However, the front office will have one fewer option after the Kansas City Chiefs kept Trey Smith from hitting the open market.
Smith would have had no shortage of suitors in free agency if he had been available. However, he'll remain in Kansas City for at least one more season after getting the non-exclusive franchise tag. Granted, any teams who still want him could trade for him, but aside from having to give him a new deal, they would have to compensate the Chiefs.
This is precisely what happened last year, when Kansas City used the franchise tag on L'Jarious Sneed and later traded him to the Tennesse Titans for a fourth-round pick.
Under the franchise tag, Smith will make $23.4 million in 2025. He would've surely preferred a multi-year contract as it would ensure he has protections in case he suffers an injury. Either way, it's easy to see why Kansas City wants to keep him around.
A sixth-round pick in 2021, Smith has given up just 10 career sacks and five of them came in his rookie campaign. Last season, he surrendered just one quarterback takedown and a career-best 34 total pressures.
Sure, the Chiefs can still get a deal done, but the bottom line is that barring a trade, the Jaguars will have to look for other options to upgrade the guard position.
The Jaguars have several options with Trey Smith no longer in the mix
Right guard is expected to be a need for the Jaguars because veteran Brandon Scherff is slated to hit the open market. At 33 and no longer as dominant as he was during his days with the Washington Commanders, he probably won't return to Jacksonville in 2025. There's always a chance he will, but it currently doesn't look like that will be the case.
If the Jaguars look for Scherff's replacement in free agency, Mekhi Becton will likely be the best option with Trey Smith out of the equation. After playing offensive tackle early in his NFL career, Becton switched to guard last year and played a pivotal role in helping the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl. His biggest question is whether he can stay healthy and build consistency.
Apart from Becton, the Jags could target Will Fries or James Daniels but both are coming off serious injuries. Still, new general manager James Gladstone will have options. On the other hand, he could wait until the draft to bolster the position.
There will be no shortage of intriguing alternatives in the second round. Tyler Booker and Grey Zabel could be on the team's radar but there will also be several quality options in Rounds 3 and 4.
There's no doubt that Trey Smith would've given a massive boost to the Jaguars' offensive line. That said, the team's brass should have no trouble adding reinforcements at right guard this offseason.