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.Smith, a Pro Bowl selection at right guard in 2024, would be guaranteed around $23.4 million for the 2025 season under terms of the franchise tender. The Chiefs and Smith would have until July 15 to come to a long-term contract extension to override the one-year deal.A sixth-round pick in 2021, Smith has started 80 games — 13 in the playoffs — and is only 25 years old.The tender is higher than the average salary of the NFL’s current highest-paid guard — Landon Dickerson (Eagles) makes $21 million per season. The Chiefs made Creed Humphrey the highest-paid center in the NFL last August with a four-year, $72 million deal.