Kansas City Chiefs Exercise Fifth-Year Option On Eric Fisher
The Kansas City Chiefs have exercised the fifth-year option on former number one overall pick Eric Fisher. Fisher has an $11.9 million option and is locked up with the Chiefs through the 2017 season.
Being the number one pick in any draft is no easy task, but Eric Fisher has slowly but surely climbed his way into good graces with the KC Chiefs faithful. This fifth-year option shows that the team has faith in Fisher and that his improvements over the past few years have not gone unnoticed.
Eric Fisher has had a bumpy career in Kansas City since being the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. During his first season, he was placed at right tackle, where he experienced several injuries and was thought of to be a disappointment by the fans. The next season, he performed a little better, appearing in all 16 games, but still wasn’t considered “number one overall” good.
In 2015, the season began on a sour note for Fisher. Andy Reid announced that he’d be playing at right tackle, but Fisher didn’t end up starting the season opener against the Texans. Word began to spread that Fisher was “scared” to play because he didn’t want to face J.J. Watt. That opened up a whole can of nastiness among the fans.
Fisher played in every game in 2015 and started 14 of those games. His most memorable moment that year (and likely of his career) came during the AFC Wild Card Game in Houston (the same place where the drama ensued earlier on in the season) when Fisher completely OWNED J.J. Watt all day long.
This move makes sense for the Kansas City Chiefs for several reasons. One, it locks the former Central Michigan Chippewa up through the 2017 season and two, it could make it easier to sign him for less money later on.
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Matt Verderame of Arrowhead Addict had this to say on the financial situation with Fisher’s contract,
"Fisher knows he is under team control for two seasons with an uncertain future after that. Dorsey could offer a four or five-year deal with $30 million guaranteed, and Fisher would likely jump at that kind of cash. If Fisher was going to hit free agency after this season, he might wait it out. The Chiefs now have all the leverage."
Along with keeping Fisher in town due to financial reasons, he’s also shown a lot of improvement since his rookie year. It’s not easy being a rookie offensive lineman let alone having to switch spots on the line from what you’re used to. Fisher has taken what’s been handed to him and has shown that he’s capable of being a quality starting tackle in the NFL.
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Props to John Dorsey for getting this deal done.