Chiefs Have Had “Very Positive” Talks With Reps For S Eric Berry & DT Dontari Poe

Update:

Impending free agent S Eric Berry‘s agent Chad Speck said on Thursday that he would not characterize conversations with the Chiefs as “positive“, despite GM John Dorsey‘s recent claims.

However, Speck went on to say that the two sides are, in fact, discussing a contract but there is still “a long ways to go.”

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Chiefs GM John Dorsey told reporters (BJ Kissel) on Thursday that they’ve had “very positive” conversations with free agent S Eric Berry‘s representatives.

• Dorsey said the same for fellow free agent DT Dontari Poe. (BJ Kissel)

Berry and Poe are clearly the Chiefs’ top priorities this offseason, as they’re in line to be among the most sought after free agents in this year’s market. It would be tough to lose either player, but this is at least a positive sign for talks moving forward.

Last week, Berry said during an appearance on NFL Network Thursday 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.”

There has been some talk that the Chiefs could elect to use their franchise tag on Poe and try to work out a long-term deal with Berry.

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.