The Kansas City Chiefs could be in a situation where they will have to overpay linebacker Nick Bolton to keep continuity with their defense for the 2024 season. Fans are worried about overpaying Bolton.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a few decisions to make on defense
The Chiefs have several contracts on the defense they need to figure out in an offseason where they don’t have much money to play with (about $15 million, per Over The Cap). The biggest contract is for defensive tackle Chris Jones, who could hit free agency next month if a long-term deal is signed before the start of the league’s new year.
LB Nick Bolton could be extended for defensive stability
Per Nate Taylor with The Athletic, the Chiefs must consider extending Bolton this offseason because Willie Gay is headed to free agency:
“A major subplot once free agency and the draft conclude is whether the Chiefs can extend their top 2021 draft pick before he starts the final year of his rookie contract. Bolton is the Chiefs’ green-dot defender — the one who communicates with the sideline through his helmet — and he recorded the franchise’s most tackles in a single season in 2022 with 180. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has also called Bolton one of the most intelligent defenders he has coached in his 25 years in the NFL.
Even before free agency starts, the Chiefs appear to be losing starting linebacker Willie Gay, who said goodbye to fans through his X (formerly Twitter) account.
“Love you FOREVER Kansas City!!!” Gay wrote. “JUICEMAN OUT.”
Drue Tranquill, a five-year veteran, wants to return to the Chiefs in his do-everything role opposite of linebacker Leo Chenal. If that occurs, the Chiefs will still have a talented trio of linebackers. But they should still try to sign Bolton to an extension to ensure they are not in the same situation with him they are in now with Sneed.”
Chiefs fans react to the thought of extending Bolton
Bolton’s name trended on X Thursday afternoon. Many fans are worried about overpaying Bolton to stay with the Chiefs, especially if that means they lose L’Jarius Sneed. Here are the best takes on Chiefs fans reacting to Taylor’s suggestion.
Nate Taylor hinting at an early big money extension for Nick Bolton at Fred Warner type money pic.twitter.com/N517G8UbCW
— Fat White (@NFLbadtakes) February 21, 2024
I say this all as a big Nick fan from Mizzou and owner of a SB57 Nick Bolton jersey.
He's a solid player with clear limitations who should not be sniffing the top of the LB market.
Paying him a bit of a premium to be the Green Dot? Whatever.
FRED WARNER MONEY???
— Conner Christopherson (@Conner_DKC) February 21, 2024
Ppl will complain about Nick Bolton pff grades and what they see on the field but spags trust that guy more than anyone else he’s asked to do so much more than 54,23,50 and that’s not a knock on any of them. 32 is spags qb after honey badger left
— dy(nasty) (@INKcredible5) February 22, 2024
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SOMEBODY TELL VEACH NICK BOLTON GETS YOU A BETTER COMP PICK IF YOU LET HIM WALK INSTEAD OF SNEED.
🚨THIS IS AN EMERGENCY🚨#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/BZnf3ynqd1
— Cødy (@TheAvilaAnswer) February 21, 2024
The #Chiefs need Nick Bolton.
He is the QB of this defense and the smartest defensive player in the NFL.
Spags knows this. Reid knows this. Veach knows this.
He means so much more to this team than the average #Chiefs fan realizes.
We need Bolton more than Jones and Sneed. 💯 pic.twitter.com/AgUUD8ziKi
— TOLAN (@thetolan87) February 22, 2024
I like nick bolton but there’s levels to this. Fred Warner is undisputed the best linebacker in football followed by roquan smith. Bolton is good in the run game. But his ability in coverage is lacking. He can’t get that money that Fred Warner got.
— johm (@jsharpe2023) February 22, 2024
I mean if KC picks paying Bolton over Sneed pic.twitter.com/q0nfpIpVjT
— Fat White (@NFLbadtakes) February 21, 2024
If nick bolton was Fred warner id be all for it. But we’ve got guys that are better and at much more important positions to worry about. And then we can’t also forget about karlaftis too if he takes another leap up in his production
— johm (@jsharpe2023) February 22, 2024
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