Chiefs reward Creed Humphrey with record-setting contract extension

The Chiefs are reportedly set to make Creed Humphrey the highest-paid center in the game.

In a move that surprises no one, the Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly set to give a new contract extension to starting center Creed Humphrey. The signing will make Humphrey the highest-paid center in the National Football League, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

ESPN's Adam Schefter had terms of the new deal, which will keep Humphrey in Kansas City for an additional four seasons. The deal is worth up to $72 million with $50 million of that guaranteed.

Humphrey was entering his contract season with the Chiefs in 2024, the last year of a four-year contract automatically handed out to every rookie in the 2021 NFL Draft. It was then that the Chiefs made Humphrey their second-round choice—the latter of two such picks that year—to upgrade the role after a couple of seasons with Austin Reiter in the heart of the line.

Humphrey was advertised as a highly intelligent and obviously gifted player at the University of Oklahoma who had a wealth of high-level starting experience. That made him about as pro ready as a player could be, and the Sooners' history of coaching up offensive linemen didn't hurt either (Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Orlando Brown Jr.). Even then, no one could have predicted how quickly he'd master the next level.

Humphrey was such a hit early in the NFL that he finished third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Let that sink in for a minute. A center earned enough respect to set aside every flash of potential at the skill positions save for two. (Ja'Marr Chase won the award.) From there, Humphrey has gone on to earn All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl nods in his next two seasons.

Any list of the game's best players will reference Humphrey as the best center in the AFC and the second best in the game other than Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles. Following Kelce's retirement, the role is now Humphrey's to claim, making his new paycheck feel rather appropriate for the moment.

In recent years, the Chiefs have been fairly stingy with contract extensions, especially given the team's draft acumen under Brett Veach to replace performers with more cost-effective options and maintain a decent amount of financial flexibility (Tyreek Hill, Charvarius Ward, L'Jarius Sneed). However, Humphrey proves that the team will always find a way to keep a foundational player around.

With the way his career has started, Humphrey has a trajectory to be an all-time franchise great—and perhaps even more.