Chiefs Contract Debate: Eric Fisher vs Eric Berry
Given the choice of giving one of the two players big dollars and a six-year commitment the Chiefs made the right choice in going with Eric Fisher. It actually pains me to say that. I don’t want it to be true. The emotional fan in me wants to wake up tomorrow and realize that this was all a dream and that Berry is actually the one that is locked up and they’ll roll the dice with Fisher down the road. However, if I’m being honest with myself I believe its wiser to lock up Fisher for the long term.
I say that fully acknowledging that Eric Berry is a better safety than Eric Fisher is a left tackle. Despite that I believe there are three key reasons that locking up Fisher for the next six seasons is a better investment than locking up Berry for the same number of years.
1. Positional Value
A dependable left tackle is simply more valuable in today’s NFL than a good strong safety. I would argue that the left tackle position is essential to the success of an offense while the same isn’t true for a strong safety on defense. You can have a great defense without a Pro Bowl caliber strong safety, but you can’t have a great offense without a solid left tackle. Would you prefer to have them both?
Sure, but if given the choice of one or the other you have to make sure you have the left tackle spot taken care of. If you have a need at strong safety it is MUCH easier to find a starting caliber safety than it is to find a starting caliber left tackle.
Further more, with so much of college football running spread offenses it is becoming harder and harder to draft offensive tackles that are ready from a strength and technique standpoint to come in and play (well) right away.
The last thing KC wanted to do was patiently wait through Fisher’s developmental years only to see him play out his prime years for some other team. This contract clearly shows that they believe Fisher is coming into his own and is just beginning to come into his prime. If you have a left tackle that you’ve invested that development in and truly believe in you have to make sure you keep him. The alternative is drafting a new tackle and having to start all over again or paying a veteran that is much older and has less upside a similar amount in free agency.
Meanwhile, if Berry is gone after this season (I really hope not) it will not be as hard (or as expensive) to find a suitable starter through either the draft or free agency. Granted, they won’t be the player Berry is, but you can still win with average safeties. Off the top of your head can you name the starting safeties for Denver and Carolina in the Super Bowl last season? I personally had to look them up and I think that kind of makes my point.
Next let’s talk longevity.
Next: Who is the better long term investment?