Brett Veach updates process for Tyrann Mathieu extension with Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke to team reporters on Tuesday and gave an outline for the offseason to come as well as his reflection on the season-ending loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship. One subject of note that came up is the looming contract extension for safety Tyrann Mathieu.

The subject of a potential contract extension between the Chiefs and Mathieu has been around for a year now as the veteran safety entered this last year of his contract. Both sides were clear that they wanted to get a deal done but nothing ever materialized and Mathieu played out his contract without any long-term security.

Heading into this offseason, Veach told reporters that he and Mathieu’s agent decided to wait since the financial landscape had shifted so much due to COVID-19 and the variables that came with it for the league.

Brett Veach insists the Chiefs are anxious to have Tyrann back in 2022 and beyond.

“There are a lot of questions largely to do with the salary cap and the restrictions. We had a successful ’19 season and then as we went into the ’20 season, we were able to get a lot of guys re-signed. Then we had the pandemic that killed the cap, so there were a lot of adjustments we had to do.”

Veach said that their decision to wait didn’t change the fact that both sides wanted a deal to get done all the same.

“Before the season, I had a chance to talk to Tyrann and his agent and we got to the point where we said once the season ends, we’ll be able to look at the landscape and where it’s going to be at once we get Ito this point in the ’22 offseason and where it’s going to be in ’23 … I know Tyrann wants to be here and play here and loves it here and we certainly feel the same way. We love him.”

That verbal stance isn’t going to pay Mathieu’s bills, and teams have said the right thing before only to have the situation change later on. However, the Chiefs have maintained a very positive public-facing message about their wishes to get a deal done with Mathieu for a year now. It feels silly that both sides wouldn’t be able to reach an agreement at some point in the near future.