KANSAS City will hold onto a key member of their offence after a late U-turn.

The Chiefs have been plagued by offensive line problems all season, which was never more evident than in the Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times by the Philadelphia Eagles in a 40-22 hammering.

And Kansas City has made addressing his protection one of their off-season priorities.

Guard Trey Smith, 25, was predicted to leave the team instead of signing a new deal.

A new contract over five years would’ve been in the region of $105 million.

Kansas City doesn’t have a lot of cap space to play with.

And ESPN analyst Kevin Clark said he thinks Smith could leave.

“I just think they have so many holes. It’s hard for me to guess, but I’m gonna guess Trey Smith walks,” Clark said.

“He’s gonna be so expensive.”

But ESPN reported late Thursday that the Chiefs have made a decision regarding Smith.

Adam Schefter claimed that Smith was informed Kansas City will use a franchise tag on him.

That would mean a one-year contract that pays him $23.4 million.

And it would keep the 25-year-old off the free agent market.

Smith is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the franchise having joined in 2021.

He was taken in the sixth round out of Tennessee that year.

Smith was named to the Pro Bowl this season.

Head coach Andy Reid said at the Scouting Combine this week that he believes this year’s NFL Draft is more defensive.

“It looks like the defense is fully loaded here, ” Reid said.

“It looks like a strong defensive draft.

“Not there won’t be some great offensive guys.

“But it really looks like it’s strong on the defensive side.”