The Kansas City Chiefs have signed starting center Creed Humphrey to a huge contract extension , ensuring he'll remain protecting Patrick Mahomes for the foreseeable future.
Arguably the best player of his position in the league, Humphrey will continue snapping the ball for Mahomes the next four years, signing a $72 million deal that will see him make $18 million per season - making him the highest-paid player at his position in the league.
Humphrey has made the Pro Bowl the past two seasons and was second-team All-Pro in 2022, while never missing a game in his career after the Chiefs selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Ever since joining the Chiefs after winning the job in his rookie season, Humphrey has been a huge upgrade at the position and ensuring the interior of the team's offensive line.
In the same offseason, the Chiefs brought in not only Humphrey at center, but also right guard Trey Smith in the same draft class, as well as signing left guard Joe Thuney to a deal - bringing him in after winning two Super Bowl's with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots - while going on to win two with Mahomes.
With the three aforementioned players, Kansas City has arguably the most dominant interior offensive line in the league - being able to keep Mahomes upright and putting him in the best possible position to avoid big hits and potential injuries for the foreseeable future.
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Kansas will hope to allocate salary cap to Smith, who is the only offensive lineman who will become a free agent next offseason, and likely to be asking for a significant contract offer himself.
While not exactly seen as a sexy position, the interior of the offensive line has been key in protecting pocket passers, with Bill Belichick previously prioritizing the position to protect Brady with the Patriots through their historic run.
Mahomes is under contract for the next seven years, with the team planning to build their long-term future around protecting him from pressure - perhaps even to the detriment of losing key receiving players.
The Chiefs were not fazed in letting Tyreek Hill leave in 2022, a decision which was roundly criticized at the time, with the team going on to win two consecutive Super Bowl's without him, despite their obvious struggles at the position. This has been addressed this past offseason, with the team signing Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown and drafting NFL combine 40-yard dash record breaker Xavier Worthy in the first round.
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