The Jacksonville Jaguars filled their right guard vacancy last year by signing free agent Brandon Scherff to a three-year, $49.5 million contract. But that may not have been necessary if things went according to Urban Meyer’s plan at the end of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs right guard Trey Smith revealed Wednesday that he got a call from Meyer late in the draft.
“I get a call — ring ring — it’s Urban Meyer from the Jaguars,” Smith said on the Trey Wallace Podcast. “He’s like ‘Okay, we’re going to take you as an undrafted free agent guy. We’re going to fly you and your dad in tomorrow.
“That was really cool because I had a really good relationship with him when he was at Ohio State. So I was thinking in mind, ‘Boom, free agent, I’m going to Jacksonville.’ It is what it is. Can’t cry, can’t complain.”
Smith, 23, said it was only five minutes later when he got a call from Kansas City telling him he was going to be the 226th overall selection.
If Smith’s retelling of his draft story is accurate, Meyer was going out on a limb by letting players know that they were going to be added as undrafted free agents. Smith was picked before the seventh round even began, although the Jaguars didn’t have any more picks after the 209th overall selection.
Smith was recruited by Meyer at Ohio State, but opted to go to Tennessee instead. While he was a three-time All-SEC selection, Smith’s history of blood clots in his lungs is likely the reason he slipped to the tail end of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In two seasons with the Chiefs, Smith has proven to be a late-round steal. He’s been a full-time starter at right guard since Week 1 of his rookie year. This season, Smith was credited by Pro Football Focus with allowing just two sacks and three hits on over 800 pass blocking snaps.
