Chiefs make Eric Berry NFL’s highest paid Safety

You always like to see players who play at a high level get paid. Eric Berry is no exception. Earlier this month he threaten to sit out the 2017 season if he was franchise tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs.

First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs are signing Berry to a six-year, $78 million extension with $40 million guaranteed. The deal makes him the highest-paid safety in the NFL at $13 million per year. Arizona Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu makes $12.5 million per year. The NFL’s premier man-coverage safety against tight ends, Berry is also a ballhawk on the back end and a dominant run stopper in the alley. He matched a career high with four interceptions, 77 tackles, and one forced fumble last season — including two pick-sixes. His versatility in all facets of the game makes him the highest paid.

Berry has spent his entire career with the Chiefs since the team made him a first-round pick in the 2010 draft. He’s been named an All-Pro three times in the last four years. Following the 2015 season, Berry was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year after beating Cancer which cost him most of the 2014 season. Berry is 28 years old. The Chiefs now have Berry signed through his age-33 season.

Signing Berry would leave the franchise tag available for defensive tackle Dontari Poe in the event the Chiefs want to use that option to keep Poe from hitting the open market.

Nick Wilcox
Entering his fourth year as a sports writer. Highlighting NFL, NBA, MLB, College Football and Basketball.

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