Star safety Eric Berry has finally ended his holdout. He will return to camp and sign his franchise tag. Berry has been sitting out as he was unable to agree with the Chiefs on a new contract. Berry’s play has warranted the franchise tag, as he is highly regarded as one of the best safeties in the league. The Chiefs gave the former Tennessee Volunteer standout the franchise tag designation on March 2nd.
Eric Berry Re-Signs With Kansas City Chiefs
Back in June, Harrison Smith inked a five-year, $51.25 million deal to remain with the Minnesota Vikings. This deal increased the market value for top safeties. Berry has looked at the lucrative deal as a comparable for his own play.
Berry is one of the main pieces on a defense that has been one of the best in the league for the past few years. The Chiefs struggled to find a solid replacement for him in 2014 when he was out with his cancer diagnosis. In getting Berry back in the fold, the Chiefs have solidified the secondary, with Marcus Peters and Berry now coming back for sure. The Chiefs secondary needs Berry’s veteran presence more than ever now after Sean Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders in free agency.
The Chiefs selected Berry fifth overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Since he has been in the NFL, Berry has been one of the top safeties in the league. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins’s lymphoma on December 8th, 2014. He was able to come back just nine months later, putting on a spectacular performance and earning an All-Pro selection in 2015. Berry has been voted to the Pro Bowl in every season that he has appeared in at least 15 games. In addition to his First-Team All-Pro selection in 2015, he earned the same honor in 2013.
Berry was voted Pro Football Focus Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 after his miraculous comeback. Throughout his career, he has recorded 353 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, 41 pass deflections, and three defensive touchdowns. The Chiefs worked hard to ensure that Berry would stay in Kansas City for years to come.
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