The Kansas City Chiefs prematurely inked Harrison Butker to a new deal. Can he live up to the financial expectations?
Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs have grabbed attention, but this time it's not for a thrilling touchdown or a game-changing play. In a surprising move, the focus shifts to the decision to extend kicker Harrison Butker's contract for another four years, totaling $25.6 million. It is the second big-money contract Butker has secured with the Chiefs, and there is nothing wrong with a player securing the bag.
But I would be lying if I said my gut reaction was positive when I saw that notification appear on my phone. Like Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy once said, "You've just got to go with your gut feeling."
Let's lay out the facts, in case you missed it. Butker's contract is the largest ever for a kicker, while the $6.4 million annual value comfortably exceeds the former benchmark by two kickers. I agree that Butker is better than Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliot, but is he better than Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker? The latter point is debatable.
The guaranteed money is an underrated aspect of this contract, with Butker getting $17.8 million in guaranteed money. That means 69.53% of his contract is guaranteed, the second-largest percentage for any kicker's multi-year deal. The Houston Texans guaranteed 69.6% of Ka'imi Fairbairn's deal, barely edging out Butker's new percentage.
Ultimately, any extension or new contract reflects what a team believes a player will become, not just their past performance. The Chiefs obviously have high hopes in Butker, a player they once acquired for pennies on the proverbial dollar. He could retire today and go down as one of the greatest kickers in Chiefs' history. This new deal signals that Kansas City believes Butker will become one of the game's best to ever do it.
I just don't believe he will.
Since joining the Chiefs in 2017, Butker has been a big part of Kansas City's success. His career field goal percentage of 88.1% is praiseworthy, putting him among the elite kickers in the NFL. However, the 2022 season is a concerning blemish on his career that I cannot shake. Butker's field goal percentage plummeted to 78.6%, the lowest since he entered the league. His reliability from beyond 40 yards notably also took a hit.
It was that performance that had me pondering his trade potential ahead of the 2023 season. He proved me wrong, and I have never been happier to be wrong. From a perfect extra-point kicking season to scoring 18 points in Week 17, Butker shot back up in the top kicker conversation. He quickly made people forget about that injury-plagued 2022 season.
But I just cannot shake it.
Was there any urgency to this move? None that I could sense. Butker was under contract for 2024, and a kicker holding out of training camp for contractual reasons just sounds unheard of. Besides, the Chiefs are not exactly lacking prime extension candidates. When I saw the Butker news break, my gut reaction was to wonder how this affected center Creed Humphrey or linebacker Nick Bolton. Those are just two of the players Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is considering extensions for, according to The Athletic's Nate Taylor.
"'They are three really good players and they’re fantastic people,' Veach said of Humphrey, Smith, and Bolton. 'Throughout this camp, hopefully, we’re able to get more than one done. It’s just going to be a systematic approach and exchange of communication. We would want nothing more than for them to be here (long term) and I’m sure they would want nothing more than to be here.'"
When I think of this team's core, I think of those three well before Butker. Maybe that is a shortfall of mine: undervaluing Butker's importance to the team. But if Butker were to leave, I think the team would still be able to succeed without him. The possible holes left by Bolton, Smith, or Humphrey have a greater impact.
For those who are adamant that Butker is on the path to becoming a Hall of Fame kicker, I've already mapped out that journey. I stand by what I said then: that his Canton progress is "not perfect, not terrible, but good." This contract clearly shows the Chiefs' strong belief in Butker's potential, surpassing even the strength of the Independence Avenue Bridge.
Kansas City put its trust in Butker and made a historic investment in him. There are men and women with plenty of experience and knowledge.
But I cannot ignore my gut feeling.
Under Watch: The left tackle starting role
In my first Milham Minutes, there was a quality suggestion for a segment along these lines. With preseason action starting this past week, the position battles will hit a higher gear. But there are always matchups and position groups to watch each week. The debut segment focuses on a position battle that every member of the Chiefs Kingdom needs to be watching, the left tackle spot.
Fans should focus on the performances of a few unproven players rather than the result of the first preseason game. Xavier Worthy will be fun to watch, while Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson battle for that CB2 spot. My attention will be on the first-team offense, namely at left tackle.
The Chiefs have two fairly unproven options to start at left tackle, with rookie second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia having a clear edge over Wanya Morris. The rookie from Brigham Young was widely considered a project player but pushed his way onto the first-team line with a strong camp. Morris' recent injury scare highlights the importance for Kansas City to see a solid performance from their left tackles to address concerns.
Morris was palatable protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blindside last year, but he had some very ugly reps during his opportunities. The Chiefs drafted Morris' competition for a specific reason, and he is currently falling behind.
Suamataia has a chance for a good first impression, while Morris looks to remind fans why head coach Andy Reid turned to him down the stretch. Saturday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars is a great opportunity for both players to prove their worth.
Read of the Week: The Teacher by Freida McFadden
My love for sports-related books is well documented here, but even I need a nice break from that genre. Kindle Unlimited's catalog is vast and contains hidden gems amidst a sea of lackluster titles. Thankfully, I picked up a very engaging psychological thriller.
The Teacher by Freida McFadden is filled with unexpected twists and layered characters. The protagonist's journey into the dark secrets of her students and colleagues is gripping, with suspense building steadily. McFadden's writing is sharp, engaging, and perfectly paced, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers will discover The Teacher to be a compelling and easily digestible book.