Working out a new, long-term contract for either player at this point is going to be difficult. Still, the Chiefs should focus their attention towards Poe and work to get a deal done with him before Berry. While we all love Berry, fan favorite and great story, the availability of men the size of Poe is difficult to find and not easily replaceable.
Another factor in working in favor of Poe is that the Chiefs, despite their youth and relative inexperience, are fairly deep with defensive backs. Three safeties are set to return in improving Daniel Sorensen, the ever-versatile Ron Parker and rookie Eric Murray. Parker has experience playing both safety and cornerback, and Murray was a cornerback in college at Minnesota before the transition to safety here in Kansas City.
On the defensive line, you have the returning Jaye Howard who is under contract through 2017, there is emerging second-rounder Chris Jones, Allen Bailey, Kendell Reyes, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and David King. While the Chiefs have plenty of options on the outside, there is currently no player that fits the bill of a 3-4 defense the Chiefs implement.
I do expect the Chiefs to, at a minimum, find more depth at both positions in the upcoming draft, though I’d be somewhat surprised if either position was addressed early. Either way, I would not expect Berry to return, and we’ll see what happens with Poe.