The Kansas City Chiefs and safety Eric Berry are reportedly finalizing a six-year deal what will be worth up to $78 million, making him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
The $13 million per year is $500,000 on average higher than what the Arizona Cardinals are paying Tyrann Mathieu, and the deal comes with some huge guarantees.
Berry's deal includes a whopping $40 million guaranteed, along with a $20 million signing bonus, a source confirms. Huge, huge #s for a S
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 28, 2017
This contract represents the culmination of more than a year’s worth of contract negotiations between these two parties. Berry was handed the franchise tag last year and played magnificently in 2016, racking up 77 tackles, four interceptions and two touchdowns.
He had made it clear to the Chiefs that playing in 2017 on the franchise tag for the second straight year was out of the question, and the Chiefs were smart not to call his bluff.
Berry is undeniably one of the best overall defenders in the NFL, and he does it all on the back end for Kansas City. Elite against the run, he’s also one of the best cover strong safeties in the game today, and this contract is well deserved.