Jason Cole of B/R reports that the Chiefs are hoping to sign either free agent S Eric Berry or DT Dontari Poe to a long-term extension before the start of free agency and use their franchise tag on whoever they don’t re-sign.
However, Cole says that neither player is expected to budge on in terms of their asking price to get a deal done with Kansas City.
On Thursday, Chiefs GM John Dorsey told reporters that they’ve had “very positive” conversations with the representatives for Berry and Poe.
However, Berry’s agent, Chad Speck, later responded to Dorsey’s comments, saying that he would not characterize conversations with the Chiefs as “positive.”
Speck did, however, add that the two sides are discussing a contract but there is still “a long ways to go.”
The idea of the Chiefs franchising either Berry or Poe has been discussed for a few months now.
Although, Berry said during an appearance on NFL Network last week that he’s “definitely not” playing out another season under the franchise tag.
“I’m definitely not going to play under the franchise tag this year,” Berry said, via NFL.com. “I want to end my career in Kansas City. I want to play there. I love the city, I love the vibe, I love my teammates. I really look at them more than teammates. We’ve been through a lot and they supported me a lot. And the organization. But I don’t feel comfortable playing under the franchise tag this year.”
It would cost the Chiefs around $13.15 million to tag him for a second straight season while franchising Poe would be $13.5 million or so.
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 cost the Chiefs $10.806 million fully guaranteed for the 2016 season.
In 2016, Berry appeared in all 16 games and recorded 77 tackles, four interceptions with two being returned for touchdowns, a forced fumble and nine pass defenses for the Chiefs. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 8 safety out of 92 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.
In 2016, Poe has appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs and recorded 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 46 interior defensive lineman out of 126 qualifying players.
We have both of them featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.
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