Vikings Eyeing Potential Move for $82 Million Chiefs Star, Insider Says

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell made his plea after watching Sam Darnold play panicked for the majority of a season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback [time],” O’Connell said after the Vikings allowed nine sacks, tying a 62-year record, in a 27-9 loss on Jan. 14. “We got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost. The front office got the message. In a Feb. 5 appearance on KFAN radio, Minnesota Star Tribune beat reporter Ben Goessling said that he expects the Vikings to be “aggressive” in guard free agency, naming Trey Smith as a priority if the Kansas City Chiefs guard makes it to free agency. “I think they’ll be pretty aggressive for players like that. I think they are going to be aggressive at guard. He’s probably at the top of the guard market, which will be expensive. But I think they are going to make a big priority of going after a guard,” Goessling said. “And I think they would be interested in getting a guy like [Trey Smith] in here. So I would expect they’d be involved if he makes it to the market, which he might, because the Chiefs have other guys to sign.” Pro Football Focus (PFF) projected Smith to garner a four-year, $82 million contract as the No. 2 overall free agent and top guard eligible for free agency.

A 2021 sixth-round pick, Smith was part of the Chiefs’ plans to fortify their offensive line after Patrick Mahomes was made mortal by a vaunted Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass rush in Super Bowl 55.

In Mahomes’ only Super Bowl loss, the Chiefs surrendered a 55.4% pressure rate to the Buccaneers. The offensive line allowed 30 pressures, while Mahomes was held to a 52.3 passer rating and without a touchdown in a 31-9 loss.

Kansas City invested significantly in the offensive line — and the interior, especially. They signed Joe Thuney to the largest contract to a center in NFL history and drafted second-round guard Creed Humphries and Smith to pair alongside him. Smith has been a model of consistency, missing just one game in four seasons. He allowed a career-best 31 pressures and has yet to allow a sack through 19 games entering Super Bowl Sunday.

The Vikings’ starting offensive interior line could be unrecognizable to the average fan in 2025.

Dalton Risner is poised to reach free agency and Ed Ingram entering the final year of his rookie deal. Blake Brandel signed a three-year contract last year but struggled late in the season. Center Garrett Bradbury is also a roster-cut candidate. The Vikings can save $3.6 million in cap space by cutting Bradbury, who turns 30 this year.