Regarded as a five-star recruit, Smith was ranked as the No. 1 prospect overall in the class of 2017 by ESPN.[2] He chose Tennessee over scholarship offers from Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Alabama.[3]
College career
In his true freshman year at Tennessee, Smith started all twelve games; first at right guard, later at left tackle.[4] For his efforts in the 2017 season, he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Second Team.[5]
After starting the first seven games of this sophomore season at left tackle, Tennessee's medical staff discovered blood clots in Smith's lungs and ruled him out indefinitely.[6] The issue had originally been discovered in February 2018, before the Volunteers' spring practice but thought to have been resolved.[7] Smith missed the remainder of the 2018 season.[8]
Cleared to return for his junior season, Smith was moved to left guard as true freshman Wanya Morris took over as left tackle.[9] He was named to the All-SEC First Team. Despite some speculation that he would enter the 2020 NFL Draft, Smith announced that he would remain in Tennessee for his senior year.[10] He started all ten games and earned first-team All-SEC honors for the Volunteers in his last season.[11]
Smith was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round, 226th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.[14][15] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.[16] He was named the Chiefs starting right guard immediately as a rookie.[17] He started all 17 regular season games and three playoff games for the Chiefs as a rookie.[18] He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for the 2021 season.[19] In 2022, Smith started 16 regular season games and the Chiefs' three playoff games.[20] Smith started at right guard in Super Bowl LVII and solidified an offensive line that gave up zero sacks in the game as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35.[21][22] In the 2023 regular season, Smith started in all 17 games.[23] Smith won his second straight championship when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.[24]