Kansas City Chiefs starting right guard Trey Smith has not been seen or heard from at OTAs as he negotiates a long-term contract, and reporters asked head coach Andy Reid if he expects Smith to be in attendance at mandatory minicamp next week.

Reid’s response? “We’ll see.”

“I don’t know that, to be honest with you,” the Chiefs’ head coach added during a press conference on June 12, fueling the uncertainty surrounding Smith’s notable absence throughout the spring. “These things are— we’ll see where it goes.”

Although Reid’s answer doesn’t inspire much confidence, it was honest. It’s not a head coach’s job to worry about an ongoing contract negotiation, especially when the player has yet to miss a mandatory practice.

Chiefs minicamp, however, is no longer voluntary. And if Smith were to miss minicamp next week, he’d be subject to fines — assuming Kansas City doesn’t choose to waive those punishments as they work out a deal.

Smith was retained in free agency using a franchise tag. That tactical contract device will pay Smith exactly $23.402 million guaranteed, but it does not provide the Pro Bowl guard with any long-term assurances.

More likely than not — unless Smith reverses course and shows up at practice next week — that’s what he’s hoping to receive by staying away from Chiefs OTAs. Of course, the two-time Super Bowl champion could still attend minicamp and watch from the sidelines, as we’ve seen other players do in similar situations.

On the opposite side of center, Creed Humphrey, there will be a new left guard who will pair with Smith in 2025. The expectation is that 2024 draft pick Kingsley Suamataia will eventually be that offensive lineman.

Reid discussed why he and the coaching staff feel Suamataia has a better chance of succeeding at guard than he did at left tackle.

“First of all, he’s got experience [now],” Reid began, while discussing Suamataia’s year two outlook. “And then, he looks more comfortable there. He seems to be picking it up pretty well.”

The Chiefs’ head coach also pointed out that going up against Chris Jones throughout OTAs, and then again during minicamp and training camp, will be good for Suamataia as he learns the position. Which makes sense, considering Jones is one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL.

“It looked like he learned as he went,” Reid noted later, after a follow-up question on Suamataia’s rookie experience. “It was rough, obviously, early. [The] expectations are high, you come into a championship-caliber team and get thrown in there at left tackle, it’s not always the easiest thing for a young guy.”

He added that he thinks Suamataia’s rookie season was still “a great experience” that will help him as he progresses as a player.

Pro Football Network named Suamataia as the Chiefs’ “breakout player to watch” at minicamp within a document that was shared with Heavy. And the spotlight will certainly be on the young left guard, especially if Smith is missing on the right-hand side.

“Kingsley Suamataia’s rookie year at left tackle wasn’t as good as the Kansas City Chiefs likely anticipated,” Pro Football Network wrote. Reasoning: “That said, he has a significant opportunity to bounce back in 2025.”

“The Chiefs kicked Suamataia inside to left guard after trading away Joe Thuney this offseason. [And] playing along the interior could better mask the BYU product’s deficiencies and help him live up to his potential.”