Chiefs C Creed Humphrey reveals mindset during contract negotiations for historic deal

Kansas City #Chiefs C Creed Humphrey reveals mindset during contract negotiations for historic deal | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs made another big splash last week contract-wise by retaining one of their star players long-term before the start of the 2024 season.

Chiefs starting center Creed Humphrey addressed the media on Monday, only days after signing a contract extension to remain in Kansas City.

“I’m in the perfect situation for me; I’m playing in a place that I get to call home. And it’s been awesome to call home the past four years, and I’ve really enjoyed it. So getting this opportunity is awesome.” said Humphrey. “The guys around (here) coaching staff, everything is top notch here, obviously, getting to play with Pat (Patrick Mahomes) things like that, the whole situation, is perfect for me, so I’m really happy to be here.”

The news broke last Thursday night before the final preseason game, with Creed becoming the topic of discussion. There is potential for a change in the market with a center being paid the same value as most guards around the league.

“I think that’s something that everybody wants to do for the sake of everybody in the NFL,” said Humphrey. “It’s good for everybody in the NFL. So, yeah, I’m excited about it again. They did a great job. I just had a great job negotiating; it was a good process. And I’m excited about the way it turned out and ready to play four more years here.”

Humphrey’s extension is worth $72 million over four years with a $50 million guarantee. He is currently the highest-paid center in the league but maintains the same mindset of helping the team win another Super Bowl title.

“Yeah, for me, I never really thought about it. I’ve just tried to stay focused on ball, and that’s how I’ve approached this whole thing, to stay focused on ball and proving what I can every day,” said Humphrey. “So, it was never really something that I was too busy straining thinking over too much.”

Humphrey will be in the lineup on September 5th when the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens in the opening game of the 2024 regular season.

Creed Humphrey becomes highest paid center in NFL history with new four-year extension

Creed Humphrey set to become highest paid center in NFL history.

Offensive linemen associated with the University of Oklahoma have had a banner week, and it looks set to end with another former Sooner making positive headlines.

Thursday evening, NFL insiders broke the news that [autotag]Creed Humphrey[/autotag] became the highest-paid center in league history with a four-year, $72 million extension.

There is no center in the NFL as good as Humphrey. That’s probably been the case since he started as a rookie anchoring the offensive line, which protects the best quarterback on the planet, Patrick Mahomes.

Humphrey has been selected for two Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2022. He is dominant at the point of attack and as cerebral as they come.

Humphrey was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Still, the Kansas City Chiefs have shown a propensity to get deals done early for their key players. They avoided contract disputes and locked Humphrey down before things could get messy.

Throughout the new deal, Humphrey will average $18 million per season, making him the highest-paid center based on average annual value. This surpasses the previous mark of Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles, who earned $14.25 million.

Humphrey has not missed a game in the NFL and has started every regular-season game and all ten possible playoff games since he was drafted.

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Chiefs GM Brett Veach discusses Creed Humphrey’s contract extension

General manager Brett Veach discussed Creed Humphrey’s contract extension during the #Chiefs’ preseason finale against the #Bears. | @EdEastonJr

The first domino has fallen regarding the Kansas City Chiefs’ upcoming free agents from the 2021 NFL Draft class. The front office made securing the core of the offensive line an immediate focal point.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach joined the broadcast team on KMCI 38 The Spot during the start of the second quarter of Thursday’s game for his annual conversation in the booth.

He immediately addressed the reported deal of center Creed Humphrey, agreeing to a contract extension to become the highest-paid center in the league.

“In the last 24-48 hours, we’ve had a lot of good dialogue, and I’m pretty sure we’ll put pen to paper soon,” Veach explained. “But, needless to say, we’re extremely excited to continue Creed’s career here; he’s been great for the organization. We’ve been very fortunate to have really a good group of young guys, and hopefully, we’re able to get a little bit more work done with some of these other young guys as well.”

Humphrey has quickly become a valuable mainstay on the Chiefs’ offensive line, and after the deal is complete, he will continue to anchor for the foreseeable future.

Details of Creed Humphrey’s contract extension with Chiefs revealed

Check out how much Creed Humphrey will be paid on his new contract with the #Chiefs

On Thursday night, news broke that the Kansas City Chiefs are set to sign star offensive lineman Creed Humphrey to a contract extension that will make him the highest-paid center in the NFL.

Humphrey, who joined the team as a second-round pick in 2021, is among the most critical pieces of Kansas City’s front five and has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant linemen in his three seasons with the Chiefs.

Shortly after his extension was announced by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, details of Humphrey’s extension were posted to Twitter by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

According to Schefter, the extension will pay Humphrey $72 million over four years with a $50 million guarantee.

Humphrey is set to be a major part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl defense campaign in 2024 and should be expected to play with an extra edge after securing this monster extension.

Keep your eye on the former Oklahoma Sooner when Kansas City faces the Baltimore Ravens to kick off the regular season on September 5.

Chiefs to extend Creed Humphrey, make him NFL’s highest-paid center

According to a report, the #Chiefs are set to extend Creed Humphrey on a contract that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid center.

According to a report from NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to extend the contract of star offensive lineman Creed Humphrey in a deal that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid center.

News of Humphrey’s extension broke just before the Chiefs’ preseason finale against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Though the former Oklahoma Sooner isn’t expected to see action in the exhibition matchup, his new agreement with Kansas City dominated headlines as the game kicked off.

Humphrey joined the Chiefs as a second-round pick in 2021 and has become a key part of Kansas City’s offensive line while playing on his rookie contract.

While the numbers on Humphrey’s new deal weren’t part of Rapoport’s report on Thursday night, the fine details of his agreement with the Chiefs will almost certainly shake up the market for other centers around the NFL.

Expect to see Humphrey back in action when Kansas City faces the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.

Consensus 2025 five-star OT Michael Fasusi picks Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma earns a commitment from 2025 five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi.

Oklahoma has its big fish for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Since Brent Venables took over, five-star prospects [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], Peyton Bowen and David Stone highlighted their recruiting classes. For 2025, it’s [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag].

Fasusi is a five-star offensive tackle prospect from Texas who hails from the same high school that produced Sooners four-star defensive back Jaydan Hardy last year. Lewisville High School, located just under 45 minutes from Dallas, has been kind to the Sooners in recent years, and on Tuesday, the Sooners reaped the benefits again.

Fasusi’s recruitment has been national since he was a sophomore when it was apparent he was heading for five-star status. The Sooners offered Fasusi in January 2023, and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been relentless in his efforts to land Fasusi. Even with the rise of other highly sought offensive tackle prospects in this class, Bedenbuagh and OU remained in hot pursuit.

Their relationship was an integral part of the Sooners winning out.  Bedenbaugh’s track record is second to none in developing talent along the offensive line.

 

Fasusi is an incredible asset to the Sooners, and beating out Texas and Texas A&M is nothing to scoff at. Texas has been a major player in this recruitment, and at times this year, it felt as if the Sooners were in second place. Oklahoma weathered the highs and lows of the recruitment and advances from other challengers.

In April, predictions heavily favored the Texas Longhorns, but over the last week, insiders that cover the Longhorns began to flip their predictions to the Sooners. National recruiting figures such as Tom Loy, Matt Zenitz and Steve Wiltfong reinforced the shift.

Kyle Flood is a well-respected name in offensive line recruiting, so beating him and Texas, especially with Texas’ recruiting ability on the offensive line of late, is worthy of even more praise for Bedenbaugh and the Sooners as the dust settles.

On the field, Fasusi is a dynamic prospect. Gabe Brooks, a scouting analyst for 247Sports, compared Fasusi to a former Sooner.

Gifted O-lineman with true book-end tackle potential. Possesses excellent physical tools and promising athletic context in track and field and combine testing categories. Legitimately 6-foot-5 with long arms and a big reach. Wears mass well and owns space to add more bulk. Multi-sport athlete with 50+ shot put and 150+ discus prowess. Grew up playing soccer and is young for the 2025 cycle. Similarly explosive metrics in vertical and broad jump relative to OT projection. Shows foot quickness and agility to live on an island in pass protection. Nimbleness translates to movement ability in the run game. Flashes some punch power that should become more consistent with continued development. Improved phone-booth strength from sophomore to junior year. Length and athleticism help in recovery vs. twitchy edge speed, but will need to continue technical development to match P4-caliber foes at point of attack. Somewhat high-cut build and plays upright at times. Getting more comfortable as a convicted block-finishing presence, but can still unleash more mean streak. Entering senior year, looks like one of the nation’s top 2025 offensive tackle prospects. Projects as a high-major multi-year starter with physical and athletic specs that suggest early-round NFL Draft upside. – Brooks, 247Sports

As for the Sooner, Brooks had in mind as a comparison for Fasusi? Wanya Morris. Morris transferred to Oklahoma and spent two years as a Sooner before being drafted last year by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he is a starter on the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champs alongside another Bedenbaugh product, All-Pro center Creed Humphrey.

Oklahoma had to land Fasusi after missing on [autotag]Lamont Rogers[/autotag] and [autotag]Ty Haywood[/autotag] and trailing in the race for [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag]. It was a non-negotiable as all four prospects were top 100 players.

Fortunately, the Sooners have their left tackle for the future. Pairing him with the fast-rising Ryan Fodje, an ascending player over the last year, as well as interior offensive linemen [autotag]Darius Afalava[/autotag] and [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] makes for an even stronger offensive line recruiting class. The Sooners are well positioned to keep [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag], [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaden O’Neal[/autotag] upright as the Sooners settle in as SEC members in the coming years.

With Fasusi on board, the Sooners vaulted from 11th in 247Sports team recruiting rankings to eighth, right behind Texas A&M. Fasusi becomes the first five-star offensive lineman in Norman since [autotag]Brey Walker[/autotag].

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Chiefs interior offensive linemen receive high ratings in ‘Madden NFL 25’

Kansas City #Chiefs interior offensive linemen receive high ratings in ‘Madden NFL 25’ | @EdEastonJr

The accolades for the Kansas City Chiefs are rolling in from their 2023 Super Bowl-winning season. The upcoming release of Madden NFL 25 will feature high grades for the team’s interior offensive line.

Joe Thuney (91), Creed Humphrey (92), and Trey Smith (90) are the offensive line starters who each receive 90 or better overall ratings. The two guards and center were rewarded for exceptional play last season, while the tackles didn’t make the 90-plus ranking for this season.

Thuney and Humphrey were both voted Pro Bowlers last season, with the veteran left guard earning an All-Pro selection. Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl but has earned a reputation as one of the better guards in the league, and his new rating further supports that assessment.

Another notable Chiefs star’s rating that was recently revealed is All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, with a 97. In the upcoming game, he will enter the new season as the highest-rated defensive tackle. ‘Madden NFL 25’ will be released on August 16th and is available for pre-order now.

Chiefs C Creed Humphrey on Kingsley Suamataia: ‘He has the right mindset to be great’

Kansas City #Chiefs C Creed Humphrey on Kingsley Suamataia: ‘He has the right mindset to be great’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs added to their offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft with versatile options at each position. Second-round selection Kingsley Suamataia from BYU was picked as a possible day-one starter and has caught the attention of his veteran teammates.

After Monday’s practice, Chiefs starting center Creed Humphrey spoke with reporters about his thoughts on Suamataia in camp.

“There’s a lot of stuff going into during training camp, especially as a rookie, and he’s done a good job being able to process stuff, study on his own that night, and do things like that. He’s done a good job and picking up on stuff well,” said Humphrey. “So, for him, it’s just continuing to get these reps going against a really good defense and defensive ends right now; it’s going to be really helpful for him. So it’s been good. He’s getting better every day, and you can tell he’s bought in and working hard to get better every day, too.”

Suamataia had 22 career starts at BYU, splitting his time between left and right tackle, displaying versatility on the offensive line. He has shown eagerness to learn from the veterans while maintaining his hunger to compete for a starting role.

“Asking questions in meetings, staying sharp, staying locked in on meetings, things like that. And you can tell he has an instinct for the game. How he needs to play, how he needs to block, things like that.” said Humphrey. “So as long as he continues to refine his techniques and stuff like he has been, it will be really good for him. He’s a great athlete. He has the right mindset to be great. So it’s going to be good to see.”

Wanya Morris was the starting left tackle for a significant portion of last season and is currently competing with Suamataia and others in camp.

Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad describes the offensive line room, praises Creed Humphrey

Kansas City #Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad describes the offensive line room, praises Creed Humphrey | @EdEastonJr

The start of training camp has the Kansas City Chiefs rookies bonding before the arrival of the veterans to start full team drills.

Chiefs rookie center Hunter Nourzad opened up about his experience with the offensive line through OTAs during his press conference with the media on Thursday.

“Yeah, I think – not even just the draft picks – the entire offensive line room that’s here is very, very cohesive, and we all have great relationships with each other,” said Nourzad. “It’s not really one person leaning on another; it’s everybody leaning on each other, and I think the room and the culture that has been built here – in the offensive line room – is extremely good.”

The training camp work will affect all levels of the roster as the young players will learn from proven veterans, especially if they are needed for relief. Nourzad is slated as a backup offensive lineman, with his focus at center behind starter and Pro Bowler Creed Humphrey.

“I don’t even think it’s a tangible amount, you know what I mean. He (Creed Humphrey) has so much to give when it comes to knowledge, scheme, and technique in his play,” said Nourzad. “I mean, you watch him play, he is an extremely, extremely talented center. I’m going to do my best to try to get every ounce of knowledge out of him.”

Nourzad was respected for his versatility on the offensive line in college and could serve as an essential depth option at each position on the offensive line.

ESPN ranks Erik McCoy among the NFL’s best interior offensive linemen

ESPN’s positional rankings listed Erik McCoy among the NFL’s best interior offensive linemen, and third-best among centers around the league:

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is continuing his series of positional rankings as voted on by dozens of anonymous sources around the NFL — everyone from team executives and general managers to position coaches and regional scouts shared their input on highlighting the game’s best players. And with interior offensive linemen coming up next, it’s time to focus on New Orleans Saints center Erik McCoy.

Fowler lumped guards and centers together for this exercise, and while McCoy was listed as only an honorable mention he was one of X centers to make the list at all. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Creed Humphrey (No. 7) and Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Frank Ragnow (No. 8) were the only centers to make the top-10, and McCoy was slotted ahead of other guys on the list like Lloyd Cushenberry III, Ryan Kelly, Tyler Linderbaum, Ted Karras, and Drew Dalman.

Here’s why Fowler’s sources say McCoy stands apart from the rest:

After five NFL seasons, McCoy owns a 93.7% pass block win rate and a 70.4% run block win rate. “You could make an argument he’s been the best center for a while. He gives us problems. Plays like a guard as far as power and physicality,” a high-ranking NFL personnel man said.

The Saints are certainly banking on McCoy continuing to anchor their offensive interior again in 2024. He’s coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance and figures to play a key role in Klint Kubiak’s new system as the pivot between veteran right guard Cesar Ruiz (who has experienced an up-and-down career thus far) and whoever starts at left guard, whether it’s second-year pro Nick Saldiveri or a journeyman like Shane Lemieux, Lucas Patrick, or Olisaemeka Udoh.

McCoy has been a great player for the Saints ever since they traded up to draft him back in 2019. He has started all 74 games he’s appeared in and suited up for all 17 games last season after missing some time with injuries inn 2021 and 2022. Maybe Kubiak’s emphasis on movement and blocking in space can help him level up even further in 2024. It would be good to see McCoy take his place inside these top-10 rankings this time next year.

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