Tag: starter

Perhaps the Kansas City Chiefs’ most hyped draft class of the Brett Veach era, fans and pundits alike expect major contributions from Kansas City’s first-year players this season.

With two all-conference prospects selected in the second round and some high-upside talent added in the middle rounds, it’s curious that the most intriguing pick was the team’s final selection. Rookie guard Trey Smith, a Tennessee product and former high school all-American, was drafted 226th overall in April.

Smith has been competing with veteran Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a fellow sixth-rounder from 2014. He’s also competing with veteran free agent Kyle Long, who has been injured since OTAs with a tibial plateau fracture. After two weeks in training camp, Smith has been the undisputed starter at the right guard position. He has been perhaps the most impressive player in St. Joe to this point, despite his inexperience in the pro game. He has shown a surprising awareness, power, and a bit of a mean streak that has translated into higher expectations than would normally befit a late-round draftee.

But for Smith, the projections and forecasts are just noise. In his comments to the media on Sunday, the rookie told reporters that he’s looking for gradual improvement and is still taking things day-to-day.

“I feel pretty good,” Smith said. “Like I always say, I try to pick out one thing and get better at it every day. You know, sort of like a one percent mentality, just trying to fix one thing and get better and better.”

The veteran’s mentality will only serve to ingratiate him to a Chiefs’ coaching staff that desperately needed more impact players at the guard position. Smith’s anticipation and excitement for the team’s first preseason game were palpable in Sunday’s presser, though. He seemed more in character with his rookie status.

“It’s definitely going to be a special event,” Smith told reporters. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to rely on my coaching and what I’ve learned here, and just apply it in the game, just use it in the live situation.”

It certainly looks like Smith will get his shot to apply what he’s learned so far in Saturday’s first preseason exhibition. Though starters traditionally only play the opening drive of the first preseason game, coaches will likely give him more snaps than would otherwise be normal to see how he fares against live competition.

Whether he plays one drive, one quarter, or a full half — Smith should be on every fan’s radar for all of the preseason games this year.

[listicle id=96043]