Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that there’s a “reasonable chance” Chiefs S Eric Berry ends up being the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
- According to Fowler, Berry has his eyes set on a big contract that could top the five-year, $51.25-million deal signed by Vikings S Harrison Smith a few weeks ago.
- Fowler adds that of all the franchise players, Berry’s path to a long-term deal could be the smoothest.
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt mentioned at the owners meetings several months ago that he’s “hopeful” they would be able to reach a long-term agreement in place for Berry before the July 15 deadline.
“Well, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to get a long-term deal with him done here in the next several months,” Hunt said, via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “He’s certainly somebody that we would like to be a Chief for a very, very long time.”
According to Hunt, Berry has given them the impression that he would like to be a part of their franchise for the foreseeable future.
“In my conversations with him, I have the sense that he also likes the organization and believes in the direction that we’re going, and would like to be a part of the program for the foreseeable future,” Hunt said.
Berry, 27, 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 a few week ago.
The franchise tag will run the Chiefs $10.806 million fully guaranteed for the 2016 season, but won’t prevent them from negotiating a long-term deal that would reduce this figure and offer them some additional cap space.
In 2015, Berry appeared in all 16 games and recorded 61 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 pass defenses for the Chiefs. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 4 safety out of 88 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding a new contract for Berry as the news is available.
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