The Kansas City Chiefs plan to franchise-tag right guard Trey Smith this offseason, but doing so could prevent the franchise from solving a significant need.

The Chiefs made a surprising move with the franchise tag. Here’s their explanation for it — and the reverberation from the decision.

On Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs officially announced their decision to place a non-exclusive franchise tender on star OL Trey Smith.

Trey Smith was informed he will be franchise-tagged by the Chiefs, according to multiple reports, in a move that will make him the NFL's highest-paid guard while blocking a path to free agency. NFL teams have until Monday to use the franchise and transition tag designations to retain players scheduled to become free agents next month.

The Kansas City Chiefs may have lost the Super Bowl but they've already scored a big win prior to the start of NFL free agency by placing the franchise tag on offensive guard Trey Smith.

The Kansas City Chiefs don't plan on allowing pending free agent right guard Trey Smith from testing the open market this offseason. CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones reports the three-time defending AFC champions plan to use the franchise tag on their Pro Bowl guard,

Thursday brought word that the Chiefs were going to use a franchise tag to keep right guard Trey Smith from hitting the open market and Friday brought confirmation.

The odds of Trey Smith staying in Kansas City just went up thanks to an increase in salary cap. But can the Chiefs still keeping him from leaving?