Chiefs' Rumored Contract Plans Don't Include One Key Star
By Joe Summers
The Chiefs' rumored contract plans for this impressive class of pending free agents comes with some surprises and would mean a reshuffling of the defense after the 2024-25 season.
Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported that Kansas City hopes to agree to multiyear extensions with Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Nick Bolton, and Harrison Butker, notably leaving out veteran safety Justin Reid and defensive end Charles Omenihu from his reporting.
It's certainly possible that Brett Veach still wants to keep those players, though Reid's exclusion in particular sheds some insight into the organization's post-2024 plans.
Chiefs Rumored Contract Plans Leave Justin Reid Looking for New Team
New story. In the next month, the Chiefs hope to extend Creed Humphrey & Trey Smith, keeping a major part of the roster's core intact.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) August 5, 2024
“It’s been fun to be able to do this with him throughout the past 3 years & hopefully many more.” https://t.co/bGFD0GurgV
Taylor wrote about the Chiefs' desire to keep Humphrey and Smith together as one of the best interior offensive line duos in the NFL. However, Smith in particular could prove to be quite costy. The highest-paid guards in the league make over $20 million annually, a stark figure given how much the team already has committed to over key players.
If Kansas City signs Smith, it's hard to see how Reid fits into future plans. He has a $14.25 million cap hit this year and is only 27 years old, so he'll likely command a hefty payday on the open market. Veach has notably never re-signed a player in the secondary to a big extension, increasing the chances this is Reid's final season with the franchise.
"Along with Humphrey and Smith, the Chiefs also want to sign linebacker Nick Bolton (entering the last year of his rookie contract) and kicker Harrison Butker (entering the final year of his contract) to multiyear extensions," writes Taylor."
There's no mention of Reid and that's telling. The organization did a great job finding Bryan Cook, Nazeeh Johnson, Chamarri Conner, and incoming rookie Jaden Hicks, giving the secondary a strong foundation with which to replace Reid if necessary.
Omenihu's exclusion is noteworthy as well. However, it's generally expected that he'll be on a new team after this year given the presence of players like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah in addition to Omenihu's injury history.
These reports aren't a set-in-stone indication of the Chiefs' plans though the rumors still show insight into what they could be. Multiple important players won't be on the roster after this year and it's becoming more clear exactly how the organization prioritizes its pending free agents.
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