[jwplayer HugIpyNL-ThvAeFxT]
The Kansas City Chiefs have locked up another of their four exclusive rights free agents.
According to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, ERFA tight end Deon Yelder has been tendered a contract by the Chiefs. Earlier, we learned that OG Andrew Wylie had also been tendered a qualifying contract by the team.
If you’re unfamiliar with ERFA’s, they are veteran free agents that have yet to accrue three seasons in the NFL. An accrued season is any season in which a player was on the roster, injured reserve or the PUP list for at least six games. ERFA’s are only permitted to negotiate with their original team and if they’re tendered a contract they cannot refuse it. If they’re not tendered a contract they become unrestricted free agents.
The Chiefs have tendered a qualifying offer to ERFAs TE Deon Yelder & G Andrew Wylie, per a source.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) March 16, 2020
Yelder played in nine games for the Chiefs in 2019, starting one game. He looked primed for a breakout after catching two receptions for 43 yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 4. That breakout never came for Yelder.
He could be due for a larger role with the potential departure of TE Blake Bell in free agency. Yelder is a player that the Chiefs liked a lot ahead of the 2018 NFL draft. He was among the players that took a top-30 visit with the team ahead of the draft. He ultimately signed with the New Orleans Saints before coming to Kansas City as a free agent in 2018.