KC Chiefs LB Nick Bolton Addresses Contract Year, Desire for Extension
With year No. 4 approaching, Bolton chimed in on the prospect of staying in Kansas City long-term.
This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have made a concerted effort to retain a good handful of players in advance of the 2024-25 campaign. Should the franchise's ultimate goal be accomplished, Kansas City will have ascended to all-time greatness by winning its third Super Bowl in a row.
Keeping the championship window wide open is a yearly conversation that pertains to veterans and newcomers alike. Linebacker Nick Bolton knows that all too well, especially as he enters year No. 4 on the job.
As is the nature of the business for players drafted outside of the first round, this will be a contract season for Bolton. Is he approaching things any differently with that in mind? Speaking to the media on Monday as Kansas City kicked off its offseason program, the former Missouri Tiger addressed it.
"No, not really," Bolton said. "I'm kind of just trying to focus in on myself a little bit. Just trying to make myself a better athlete [and] better football player. I've been blessed to have won the Super Bowl. I missed some games with my hand and my ankle. Just having [to be] a little bit more healthy this offseason than I was the last couple years, so I'm taking that to my advantage and trying to put my best foot forward. Just prehab, I'm trying to stay ahead of stuff."
Since entering the league in 2021, Bolton has emerged as a trusted leader in Steve Spagnuolo's defense. In 41 regular-season games, he has a whopping 352 combined tackles (21 for loss) with 10 quarterback hits, nine passes broken up, three interceptions and more. In the playoffs, his 82 tackles and two fumble recoveries have influenced the Chiefs' success in winning two championships during that span.
With that said, last season was tumultuous for Bolton. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in a Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, which saw him miss three consecutive games. In October, a dislocated wrist landed him back on the shelf for five more contests. Veteran Drue Tranquill did an admirable job replacing Bolton's production, keeping things afloat until his return in Week 14.
After finishing out the season while sporting a club on his left hand and arm, Bolton is healthy and focused. It's good news for him as he becomes extension-eligible, as well as good news for the team. When asked about his long-term future with the Chiefs, Bolton admitted he'd like to stay in Missouri.
"I've been in the state of Missouri going on seven years now, so it definitely feels like home," Bolton said. "The fans, the community, open arms since I got here as an 18-year-old. Staying here would be a blessing, it would be a dream come true if we can get that done in the foreseeable future. I'm just trying to put my best foot forward and help our defense pick up where we left off last year, not regress and try to get better than we were last year. It starts two weeks from now."
Bolton's desire for a new deal coincides with an influx of spending money for Kansas City. With cornerback L'Jarius Sneed traded to the Tennessee Titans, general manager Brett Veach has an estimated cap space figure of just under $19.3 million according to OverTheCap. If Bolton is paid, there's reason to assume his deal could possibly rival someone ranging from Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $34M) to Tremaine Edmunds (four years, $72M).
Will that contract extension come to fruition? Only time will tell. Given how valuable the Chiefs consider Bolton's blend of football IQ and leadership and how much he enjoys being in Kansas City, it's hard to not entertain that thought. As Phase One of the offseason program rolls on and things get closer to training camp, it'll be interesting to see if both sides come to the negotiating table.
