KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It’s a time-honored NFL tradition for the starting quarterback to purchase gifts around the holidays for his offensive linemen. Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith delivered this week with jumbo Yeti coolers. Last year, suits were the gift.

“They’re always the underappreciated group I feel like on offense,’’ Smith said. “Those guys work really hard, take a lot of pride in what they do. They’re a tight-knit group. Just a small token here this time of year to let them know how much I appreciate them.

“I try to take care of those guys and mix it up every year, do some different stuff. It’s hard to shop for that many guys. A lot of [different tastes]. Hopefully, they’ll enjoy it.’’

Running back Kareem Hunt said he too planned to purchase some gifts for the linemen. He is second in the NFL with 1,201 rushing yards and broke the Chiefs’ single-season record for a rookie. But he said he wouldn’t try to compete with anything Smith might have bought: His base salary of $465,000 is less than 5 percent of Smith’s $10.8 million.

“You know, I’m still a rookie, in my rookie contract,” Hunt said.

In Smith’s case, his blockers have done another good job of keeping him in one piece for another season. He’s started all of the Chiefs’ 14 games and will do so again on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium. Smith played in at least 15 games in each of his first four seasons with the Chiefs.

Beyond that, Smith isn’t expecting any gifts from linemen.

“That’s not how it flows,’’ he said. “Gravity is going downhill there.’’