The Kansas City Chiefs and Eric Berry are running out of time to negotiate a brand new deal for the upcoming 2016 season. Berry is a free agent and will look to get paid what he is worth in what should be his last and biggest contract of his career.
Berry is 27 and returned from his bout with cancer to have a stellar 2015 season, according to Fox Sports. He played in 16 games and started in 15, recording 61 combined tackles, 10 pass defenses, and snagging two interceptions. Over his five-season career with the Chiefs, Berry has accumulated 350 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, 41 pass defenses, 10 interceptions, three defensive touchdowns and a pair of forced fumbles. Berry has been the soul of this defense since he was drafted by the Chiefs, and losing him would mean losing a big part of their identity according to the Kansas City Star.
The Chiefs have an estimated $31 million in cap space currently and are looking to not break the bank when it comes to this contract Rather, they would like to come to a mutual solution that will help the Chiefs be factors in free agency while Berry gets his big contract. In terms of re-signing free agents this season, there are only a handful of players more important than Berry, but none more important to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will also have cornerback Sean Smith, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and outside linebacker Tamba Hali set to hit free agency as well, according to Chiefs.com. This could complicate things, however. Due to Johnson and Hali's age, it is likely the Chiefs let them test the market as they attempt to re-sign Berry.
