The Kansas City Chiefs have been making moves as they prepare for free agency. That started with franchise tagging Trey Smith and then shipping out Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The Chiefs are looking to make some tweaks to their roster after falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Nick Bolton Will Cash In This Free Agency
This is the second big-time LB extension that has transpired this week. The Eagles gave LB Zack Baun a three-year, $51 million deal that pays him $17 million a year. Now that Bernard is getting $12.5 million per season, Bolton may be priced out of KC.
Baun finished the 2024 season with 151 total tackles, 11 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. That landed him on the First-Team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl team.
As for Bernard, he's finished with 247 total tackles over the last seasons, including two straight seasons with 100-plus tackles.
There appears to be a great market for linebackers this year, and that will make things difficult for the Chiefs as they try to retain Bolton.
The Missouri product has racked up 458 total tackles, 32 TFLs, and 15 pass deflections in four seasons with the Chiefs. He's also supplied three campaigns with 100-plus tackles. With these contracts getting finalized before free agency rolls around, it shows teams are looking to have athletic difference-makers at the second level of the field.
That is music to Bolton's ears but could be a problem for the Chiefs' pocketbook. Kansas City has Justin Reid, Charles Omenihu, and Marquise Brown as free agents as well. They'll have some difficult decisions to make, and one of the biggest question marks will be around Bolton.
If Kansas City isn't willing to pay top dollar for Bolton, it's very likely he'll be playing elsewhere in 2025.
