The Chiefs have done some work to keep a few of their own players on Wednesday morning.
ERFAs are players on expiring contracts who have three or fewer accrued seasons. They can only negotiate with their original team ahead of the new league year, and if they’re not tendered a contract, they become unrestricted free agents.
Kicker Harrison Butker, receiver Marcus Kemp, and defensive tackle Justin Hamilton were all exclusive-rights free agents this season, and they’ll all return to the Chiefs in 2019 according to Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. The Chiefs tendered each player a one-year contract, and depending on the credited seasons the contract can range from $570K to $720K.
Harrison Butker is the most significant of these players. Butker is 62-of-69 on field goals and 93-of-97 on extra points since joining the Chiefs from the Panthers practice squad in 2017. A long-term contract extension is still on the table for Butker, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chiefs waited until the 2019 season to do it.
Marcus Kemp has quickly become a leader on special teams. He joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He’s perhaps due for an expanded role on offense with Chris Conley and De’Anthony Thomas scheduled to become free agents.
Finally Justin Hamilton is a player famously known for calling out Justin Houston this season. He’s been merely a rotational defensive line piece for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs had one other ERFA that wasn’t tendered, tight end Alex Ellis, who was training camp standout in 2018. The team hasn’t indicated their decisions on restricted free agents Jordan Lucas and Terrance Smith yet. That could be coming shortly, or they could let both players leave in free agency.
