Creed Humphrey Becomes NFL's Highest-Paid Center

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have finalized a landmark four-year, $72 million contract extension with center Creed Humphrey, making him the highest-paid center in NFL history. According to a source familiar with the agreement, who requested anonymity due to the contract not being signed yet, Humphrey's deal includes $50 million in guaranteed money. This surpasses the previous records held by Erik McCoy and Frank Ragnow, highlighting the Chiefs' commitment to their young talent. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach expressed enthusiasm about the extension during a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, indicating that discussions had been productive and that a formal signing was imminent. Veach emphasized Humphrey's significant contributions to the team and the importance of retaining young players as the organization looks to build on its recent successes. Drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Humphrey quickly established himself as a key player, starting all 51 regular-season games over the past three seasons. His strong performance has earned him two Pro Bowl selections, although he opted to skip the events to focus on helping the Chiefs secure back-to-back Super Bowl victories. As the Chiefs prepare for the upcoming season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, they face challenges in managing their salary cap, particularly with other key players from the 2021 draft class, including linebacker Nick Bolton and guard Trey Smith, also approaching free agency.