What is Arrowhead Pride Premier? Arrowhead Pride Premier is our tri-weekly newsletter, one that provides analysis and exclusive insights directly from Arrowhead Stadium, delivered straight to your inbox. Below is a preview of the latest edition. Click here for the last preview.
By Pete Sweeney
Now that the initial waves of free agency have passed, we are beginning to better understand the offseason vision of Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach.
Before free agency began, our tracker listed 35 returning players under contract, but that dropped to 34 after Veach traded left guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears. Kansas City has 15 new reserve/future contracts and 24 new contracts for 2025. Currently, the Chiefs have four remaining free agents on the market.
With details of the new contracts continuing to trickle out, below, our Jared Sapp evaluates where the team’s salary cap for 2025 currently stands.
Last week, the Chiefs made many of their newly signed players available to the media. Here are five standout quotes:
Right guard Trey Smith: An honest and open interview with FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams
Smith recently spoke candidly with Adams for about 10 minutes, discussing his offseason and contract situation. As it stands, Smith has signed his franchise tag and is set to play on a one-year, $23.4 million deal unless the two sides come to a new agreement by July 15.
Smith has always been thoughtful with what he says to the media, even going as far as complimenting Kingsley Suamataia immediately after an early-season game in which he had to be replaced. With Adams, he openly shared his desire to stay in a Chiefs uniform both now and for the foreseeable future.
“I can only focus on just working out and training,” said Smith. “I love Kansas City — it’s my home. I love the Chiefs. The fans in Kansas City are some of the best people I’ve ever been around. Ultimately, I would love to stay there. That’s my plan.”
Regarding pass blocking in 2024, Smith played in nine games when he allowed one or fewer pressures. But he also had some outings he may have wanted back, allowing three or more pressures in four games (including the Divisional Round and Super Bowl).
Even as Smith is set to make quadruple the money in 2025 that he has made in his entire four-year career, he is taking that element as a true challenge to overcome.
“I think for me, the main thing is just to be consistent,” he said. “Be great — but be great consistently. That’s sort of the mission I’m trying to be on. I’m trying to not just be the best I can be but just do it week in and week out and be that same great player every single week.”
What else is in this edition?
Pete highlights four more Chiefs’ quotes from last week that matter.
Our Jared Sapp evaluates where the cap stands heading into NFL Draft month.
A link to the full hour-long episode of the “Editors Show” (preview below).
The Editors Show
Here is a preview of this week’s Editors Show featuring Pete Sweeney and John Dixon.
What else is included in a subscription?
During the offseason, we provide a weekly update on Wednesday, with additional coverage on major events, such as free agency and the NFL Draft. During the season, You can expect 3 weekly newsletters, as outlined below:
In our game preview newsletter on Thursdays, Pete shares his three thoughts heading into the game, Rocky Magaña highlights a pivotal matchup to watch — and John Dixon shares some background on one of the upcoming game’s biggest storylines.
In our post-game newsletter, Pete shares his three thoughts stemming from each performance, Ron Kopp delivers his very first look at the film — and Jared Sapp captures everything being said about the turning point of the game.
Brandon Kiley is our in-season Arrowhead Pride Premier Tuesday columnist.
How to sign up for Arrowhead Pride Premier
Subscribe today through this link for even more Chiefs coverage this season — and right now, we have a coupon code to give you 25% off for the entire year.
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