The Kansas City Chiefs and tight end Demetrius Harris have agreed on a contract extension in the hours before the team takes the field for its playoff game against the Houston Texans.
The news that an extension was in the works broke on Friday morning, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
The Chiefs are closing in on a contract extension with TE Demetrius Harris. Could be done by the time they play this weekend...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 8, 2016
Then, the deal was confirmed by Buddy Baker, Harris’ agent.
Done deal. Congrats to my client @BreadWinner084 on his contract extension. From the court to the gridiron. Hard work pays off!
— Buddy Baker (@ESG_Baker) January 8, 2016
Harris has been the second tight end on the depth chart all season and racked up seven catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. So why are the CHiefs trying to extend a guy who did not have 100 receiving yards or 10 receptions? Blocking.
Harris is one of the best blocking tight ends in the National Football League and is crucial to the success of both the run game, and keeping Alex Smith healthy. Harris is also very athletic and can get on the outside, helping to spring bubble screens and plays of that nature.
At 24 years old, Harris can also continue to develop and mature in the passing game. He is scheduled to be a restricted free agent this offseason, so general manager John Dorsey is apparently hoping to tie up some loose ends before a crazy offseason begins.
Kansas City has ample players looking to cash in this spring, including cornerback Sean Smith, defensive ends Jaye Howard and Mike DeVito, safeties Tyvon Branch, Husain Abdullah and Eric Berry, linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, and guard Jeff Allen.
Other than that, should be a quiet spring for Dorsey.