The Kansas City Chiefs have reached a significant agreement with Creed Humphrey, making him the highest-paid center in NFL history with a four-year, $72 million extension. An anonymous source revealed that Humphrey’s contract includes $50 million in guaranteed money, surpassing the previous records set by Erik McCoy and Frank Ragnow in terms of total value and guarantees, respectively. Humphrey, who was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 draft, quickly established himself as a key player in the team’s offensive line, forming a strong connection with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. During his three seasons with the team, Humphrey has started all 51 regular-season games and earned Pro Bowl honors in the last two years, opting to skip the event to support the Chiefs’ Super Bowl efforts.
With Humphrey’s extension secured, the Chiefs face the challenge of retaining other key players from their 2021 draft class, including Nick Bolton and Trey Smith. Bolton, a talented linebacker, is also a priority for the team, although financial constraints may make it difficult to keep all three players due to salary cap limitations. The Chiefs opted to rest most of their starters, including Humphrey, during the preseason finale against the Bears as they prepare to open the regular season against the Ravens on Sept. 5 in a highly anticipated rematch of the AFC championship game.