Chiefs Could Franchise DT Dontari Poe & Focus On Long-Term Deal For S Eric Berry?

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the Chiefs may have to franchise DT Dontari Poe next year and focus on signing S Eric Berry to a long-term extension.

The Chiefs weren’t able to reach an agreement with Berry on a contract extension this summer, so Berry is playing out the season under the franchise tag and is in line to test the free agent market again next year. However, it appears as though his asking price is only going up, as he’s put together another very impressive season since overcoming cancer in 2015.

Joel Corry recently posted some projected franchise tag totals for the 2017 season and it would cost the Chiefs close to $13.5 million to franchise Poe or $13.15 million to tag Berry for a second straight season.

Previous reports said that Berry likely has his eyes set on a big contract that could top the five-year, $51.25-million deal signed by Vikings S Harrison Smith.

Berry, 28, worked his way back from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and managed to produce an impressive 2015 season. if a former first-round pick of the Chiefs back in 2010. He played out his rookie contract with the team before receiving the team’s franchise tag back in February.

The franchise tag will run the Chiefs $10.806 million fully guaranteed for the 2016 season.

In 2016, Berry appeared in all 13 games and recorded 62 tackles, three interceptions with tow being returned for touchdowns and eight pass defenses for the Chiefs. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 6 safety out of 88 qualifying players.

Poe, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Chiefs back in 2012. He played out his four-year, $11,320,006 contract but the Chiefs picked up his fifth-year option last year that will cost them $6.15 million for the 2106 season.

This season, Poe has appeared in 13 games for the Chiefs and recorded 23 tackles, a half sack and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 46 interior defensive lineman out of 126 qualifying players.

We have both players featured in our Top 30 – 2017 Free Agents list.