During a recent appearance on NFL Network’s ‘The Insiders’, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith opened up about the importance of protecting Patrick Mahomes better this upcoming season.
“As an offensive lineman, you always feel the responsibility to keep your quarterback calm, protected, and allowing him to operate,” said Smith, “You have the best quarterback in the game right now, so you want just to give him any opportunity to do what he does best.”
Mahomes is expected to be in attendance during OTAs, but will still be working his way back from knee surgery in rehab.
“Patrick Mahomes is the best competitor I have ever been around” – @treysmith@judybattista | @TomPelissero | @Chiefspic.twitter.com/XMMxmogL04
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 22, 2026
Once he’s back in the lineup, the offensive line, led by Smith, will focus on keeping him healthy.
“At the end of the day, I think the pressure is on us just as a team, and individually, what we can do to get better every single day,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, Patrick Mahomes is the best competitor I’ve ever been around.”
Smith is a two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, and has remained an emerging veteran leader since being selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs Pro Bowler discusses the impact of protecting Patrick Mahomes