The Kansas City Chiefs made a surprising move on Saturday by giving former No. 1 pick Eric Fisher a lucrative deal that makes him one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
Chiefs give Eric Fisher a 4-year, $48 million extension
Fisher’s $63 million contract makes him one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Four years were tacked on to the remaining two years left on Fisher's deal, securing him a to six-year, $63 million deal with the Chiefs that includes $40 million in guarantees. He is now under contract with the Chiefs through the 2021 season.
The deal is especially surprising after the Chiefs struggled to negotiate with Eric Berry during the offseason after placing the franchise tag on the safety. Berry has not reported to training camp and is expected to miss much of the preseason due to his frustration with the Chiefs, and now the team has even less cap space to work with.
Fisher, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, struggled with injuries early in his time with the Chiefs and had a poor rookie season, drawing early bust prognostications. But he steadily improved and has settled in as a solid left tackle for Kansas City. He especially shined during an AFC Wild Card game against the Houston Texans when he dominated a hobbled J.J. Watt, eventually smushing the injured defensive lineman and forcing him to leave the game.
The extension for Fisher is much more about the path that the Chiefs believe he is on than the performance he has provided in his first three NFL seasons. It could mean Berry’s time with the Chiefs is coming closer to inevitably ending, though.
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