More often than not, Kansas City Chiefs fans and analysts usually talk about money when they discuss Nick Bolton. Brett Veach's decision to give him a three-year, $45 million extension was highly controversial at the time.
But now that the linebacker market has seemingly exploded, the Chiefs' general manager can certainly feel much better about himself. The Detroit Lions just gave Jack Campbell a four-year extension worth a whopping $81 million, and they may have reset the market.
In hindsight, Bolton's contract wasn't that terrible then. They can easily get out of this deal in 2027 and save roughly $15 million in cap space, per Spotrac, and while Campbell has clearly been the better player, he hasn't been $6 million-a-year better.
Nick Bolton still has to earn his keep with the Kansas City Chiefs
That said, just because another team may have also overpaid for a linebacker doesn't necessarily mean Nick Bolton has already lived up to his contract. He's left plenty to be desired, and he has to prove that he's worth keeping around through the remainder of his deal.
Bolton has always been a productive run-stopper, but his limitations in coverage make him a one-dimensional player. Beyond that, he's been mostly healthy, outside of the 2023 season, and the Chiefs already know what they're going to get from him on a yearly basis: 100+ solo tackles with double digits in tackles for loss and roughly three passes defensed.
That said, the bar is higher in Steve Spagnuolo's defense, especially now. The Chiefs have bent over backward to revamp that unit this offseason, so they're clearly not satisfied with their current performances and may have everyone on a shorter leash in 2026, regardless of how much money they're making or how many years are left on their deals.
There's no reason to believe they're eager to part ways with Bolton, and Campbell's deal will certainly make a lot of people feel much differently about his $30 million guaranteed and how much money he's costing the Chiefs. However, this team is entering the season with a Super Bowl-or-bust mentality, and everybody will have to be at their peak and push toward the same goal.
Whatever the case, this is yet another example of why overreacting to big-money deals is often futile in this line of business. Two years from now, Campbell's astronomical deal might also look like a bargain for the Lions.
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