What can the Chiefs expect from the 20 players in their contract year?

Most NFL players work with an understanding that their career is based on a year-to-year process, that earning their next contract is often based on how they perform during the current season.

As such, this upcoming season will be critical to the players who will be tasked with performing while in a “contract year,” the phrase in the league in which players — whether they’re entering their prime or hoping to elongate their stay in the NFL as a veteran — want to maximize their production to earn the maximum amount of compensation when they reach free agency.

When the Chiefs begin their training camp later this month, they are slated to have 20 such players entering their contract year, all of whom could play a role, significant or limited, on the team’s initial 53-man roster. These players already have plenty of incentives for having a strong season — their personal pride, the chance to compete for a Super Bowl win and perhaps the opportunity to stay with the Chiefs, one of the league’s top contenders. But the NFL’s salary cap, set at $182.5 million this season, is also expected to rise next spring, which could allow for those players to earn a higher salary in 2022.

Three years ago, the Chiefs had two prominent players, edge rusher Dee Ford and cornerback Steven Nelson, who both entered the final year of their rookie contracts. Ford and Nelson produced their best season with the Chiefs in 2018, and they were rewarded for it. Ford signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers and Nelson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a three-year, $25.5 million deal in free agency. The best example from the Chiefs in 2019 was with defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who turned 5 1/2 sacks and 11 quarterback hits that season into a two-year, $15 million contract with the Dolphins.

This season, the Chiefs hope that more than half of their 20 players who could reach free agency next year will have either productive, improving or standout performances as part of the team’s postseason run toward another championship.

Based on their production in previous years, these 20 players are expected to have a large role this season or could make the team’s roster after camp to continue to prove their value before their upcoming contract negotiations.

LT Orlando Brown Jr.

Both Brown and the Chiefs are hoping their new partnerships goes well beyond this season. In late April, just days before the draft, the Chiefs acquired Brown through a blockbuster trade from the Baltimore Ravens, sending a package of draft picks, including a 2021 first (No. 31), third (No. 94) and fourth (No. 136) and a 2022 fifth-round pick. The Ravens completed the deal by sending the Chiefs a 2021 second-round pick (No. 58) and a 2022 sixth-round pick.

In his three previous years with the Ravens, Brown was mostly a right tackle, earning a Pro Bowl selection the past two seasons. Since entering the league, Brown has wanted to prove he can be one of the league’s best left tackles. The Chiefs have provided Brown with such an opportunity, as he will protect the blind side of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I look forward to keeping (Mahomes) clean, whether he has a broken leg, healthy leg, whatever the deal is,” Brown said in late April. “He shouldn’t have to run around because of me. Period.”

The Chiefs would be pleased if Brown can match his production from last season, when he, in 389 pass-blocking snaps, didn’t surrender a sack or a quarterback hit. But the Chiefs believe Brown can perform even better in their potent offense. If that happens, the Chiefs likely won’t place the franchise tag on Brown to prevent him from reaching free agency. The team instead would plan to sign Brown to a new lucrative contract, likely a deal better than what left tackle Garett Bolles signed with the Denver Broncos (four years, $68 million, with $40 million guaranteed). If Brown is an All-Pro player or Pro Bowler this season, he could command a contract somewhat close to what star left tackle Trent Williams received this spring from the San Francisco 49ers, a six-year, $138.06 million a deal that made him the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman.

New story. Behind the trade, the Ravens & the Chiefs fulfilled a lifelong dream for Orlando Brown Jr.: He’s a legit NFL left tackle.

Now protecting Patrick Mahomes, Brown can prove that he’s a star at a premiere position & honor his father. https://t.co/6zJfR6N4sF

— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 27, 2021

SS Tyrann Mathieu

Technically, Mathieu, the Chiefs’ best defender the past two seasons, is entering the final season of his three-year contract. But both the Chiefs and Mathieu hope that changes in the upcoming weeks.

“Enough can’t be said about Tyrann and his importance to this team, both on the field and in the locker room,” general manager Brett Veach said in early March. “He’s proven to be a great leader. We’ll certainly go to work with him and his agents to see what we can get done. We hope that he’s here with the organization for years to come.”

Mathieu has made it clear he wants to continue being the star leader of the defense, perhaps finishing his career with the Chiefs.

“I feel like I can play football anywhere, but when you develop certain relationships with certain people, these people become a part of your life,” Mathieu said last month of his coaches and teammates. “I’ve been through a lot in my life. Holding onto certain relationships, I think that kind of outweighs any monetary thing.”

We put the mic on @Mathieu_Era during minicamp 🎙 pic.twitter.com/hb0ZJBJoxo

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 13, 2021

As I mentioned in my Chiefs mailbag last week, Mathieu, at age 29, could agree to a three-year extension in which he would average $15 million per year with a guarantee of around $30 million, which would continue to keep him as one of the league’s highest-paid safeties.

But if Mathieu and the Chiefs cannot agree to an extension, he could command an even larger contract, as an unrestricted free agent, if he has a third consecutive season in which he is named an All-Pro defender. The Chiefs, of course, could place the franchise tag on Mathieu to prevent him from reaching free agency.

DE Taco Charlton

In the first half of last season, Charlton produced impressive highlights that showed his pass-rushing ability, skills that led to him being a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2017. Charlton fractured his right ankle and tore his LCL in early November, but he recorded two sacks and four quarterback hits in seven games.

If he can stay healthy this season, Charlton could have production similar to how Ogbah performed in 2019. Opposing offenses will have to focus on star defensive tackle Chris Jones, defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Jarran Reed. Charlton should have plenty of one-on-one pass-rushing opportunities to collect sacks, especially if the Chiefs have a lead in the second half.

Straight off the plane with it!! @TheSupremeTaco @SavageSevv @DHunt94_TX @jongreenard7 @Shaquemgriffin pic.twitter.com/nhl6DeQ0FB

— Coach Brandon Jordan (@CoachBTJordan) July 12, 2021

DT Jarran Reed

Before his sixth season, Reed became one of the league’s most intriguing salary-cap casualties. The Seattle Seahawks released him toward the end of the second wave of the league’s free agency period, making him the rare solid interior pass rusher to reach the market at age 28. In late March, Reed signed a one-year contract, worth up to $7 million and including $5 million guaranteed, with the Chiefs.

Reed should be another classic example in the league’s history of how a player in his prime can maximize their contract year. He is talented enough to have six or more sacks this season, which will likely lead to him making more money in 2022, whether it’s with the Chiefs or another team.

RBs Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon

Both players should be able to have a role in the Chiefs’ offense. In the past two seasons, Williams has improved as a receiver and a blocker as the team’s third-down back. When starting running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire needs a break, Williams could be the Chiefs’ first backup option since he knows the playbook and performed at his best during the team’s divisional-round playoff win over the Cleveland Browns.

As for McKinnon, he has the skills and versatility to perhaps be the Chiefs’ newest gadget weapon, a player capable of succeeding with the ball while lining up at different spots in the offense’s plethora of formations. A goal for McKinnon, 29, should be him recording 1,000 all-purpose yards. That statistic should guarantee McKinnon an NFL roster spot in 2022.

WR Demarcus Robinson

Robinson made the wise decision in late March to re-sign with the Chiefs for another season after the league’s market for non-star receivers was reduced because of the lower salary cap. In his sixth season with the Chiefs, it’s possible that Robinson could have career-high statistics when it comes to receptions (45 last season), yards (473 in 2019) and touchdowns (five in 2019).

This season, Robinson is set to earn $1.137 million, all of which is fully guaranteed. He has the talent to be the Chiefs’ third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, so Robinson should earn more money, likely elsewhere, next spring when the free agency market for a veteran receiver is expected to be more stabilized.

DT Derrick Nnadi

One of the most underrated players on the Chiefs’ roster, Nnadi has been a reliable contributor in each of the past three seasons. The odds of Nnadi becoming a star player are low, but he is talented and smart enough to have a career that is 10-plus years because he makes winning plays at the line of scrimmage. At age 25, Nnadi should have a strong market for his services if the Chiefs allow him to reach free agency.

RT Mike Remmers, RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif

At age 32, Remmers is hopeful that this season is very close to what occurred last season, when he started 10 games, performed at an admirable level and helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl. The difference, however, is that Remmers wants to be the starting right tackle — and not the team’s emergency left tackle — if the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVI.

One guaranteed difference this season is that Remmers will have to compete for the starting right tackle spot, as rookie Lucas Niang has returned to the Chiefs after opting out of last season. It’s possible that Remmers could start the season as the starter before returning to a backup role if Niang, a third-round pick last year, develops well. Even strong performances in a limited role should give Remmers the opportunity to continue his nine-year career past this season.

Meanwhile, Duvernay-Tardif returned to the Chiefs last month after being the first player to opt out last year. He is expected to compete with rookie right guard Trey Smith for the starting spot. Duvernay-Tardif knows he might play well this season because of time away from the sport — as his body rested while being a medical volunteer at a long-term care facility in Montreal to help combat the coronavirus — or that he might struggle, especially early at times, to get into a rhythm. No matter the individual outcome this season, Duvernay-Tardif should have options — he could re-sign with the Chiefs, begin the next chapter of his NFL career with another team or further his medical career as a public spokesman in Canada who recommends quality health practices.

Being a professional athlete comes with a lot of privileges but also a responsibility to use your platform to have a positive impact in your community. Winning this award for my work off the field is a huge honor. #muhammadAliSportsHumanitarian #award https://t.co/fWnxEd3Ki0

— Laurent D. Tardif (@LaurentDTardif) July 11, 2021

CBs Charvarius Ward and Mike Hughes

The Chiefs’ cornerback situation is one of the most fascinating heading into camp.

Ward is projected to be a starter, one who will be tasked with being a leader of the group since he has the most experience playing under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. In his fourth season, Ward is set to earn $3.4 million, the most in his career since he entered the league as an undrafted player. An argument can be made that Ward is better entering this fourth season than when Nelson entered the 2018 season. But to ensure he’ll earn a bigger contract, Ward will need to produce a career high in interceptions and at least 10 pass breakups this season.

The Chiefs executed a small trade in May with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire Hughes, a fourth-year cornerback, in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round draft pick. The trade also included the Chiefs receiving the Vikings’ 2022 seventh-round pick. Hughes will need to stay healthy, perform well in the preseason and earn a rotational spot in the Chiefs’ secondary for him to increase his chance of staying with the team past this season.

C Austin Blythe

A starter the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Blythe, a six-year veteran, could be the Chiefs’ backup center or guard since the team used a second-round pick on rookie center Creed Humphrey. Last season, Blythe earned a 70.3 overall grade — 72.3 as a run blocker and 52.5 in pass protection — from Pro Football Focus. The Chiefs are hoping for slightly better production from Blythe, perhaps in a limited role when performing in their blocking scheme.

If Humphrey sustains an injury or takes longer to develop, Blythe should be a suitable gap-year player, with the possibility of him returning to the Chiefs in 2022 if he has an impressive season.

QB Chad Henne

The best-case scenario for the Chiefs, of course, is that Henne never plays significant snaps this season. That scenario entails that Henne’s lone start this season is in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos, with the Chiefs’ playoff seed already locked up. In the regular season finale last season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Henne recorded 218 passing yards and two touchdown passes while not committing a turnover.

With several quarterbacks playing into the 40s, Henne, 36, could sign another two-year deal in free agency next season, likely with another team.

Happy birthday, Chad 🎉 pic.twitter.com/2x8bRZO6zq

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 2, 2021

LBs Dorian O’Daniel and Ben Niemann

Both players, entering their fourth season, will have to earn their roster spot, yet again, through impressive work during camp and the preseason. O’Daniel has been a special teams ace the previous two seasons for special-teams coordinator Dave Toub. Niemann has been an overachiever throughout his career, as he played a rotational role during the Chiefs’ championship run in the 2019 season. O’Daniel and Niemann are expected to make their biggest impact on special teams this season, which should help them have a chance to sign another one-year deal next spring, perhaps with another team.

Strong safeties Daniel Sorensen, Armani Watts and Will Parks

At age 31, Sorensen is the oldest member of the Chiefs’ secondary. He plays a pivotal role in Spagnuolo’s defense as the third safety on the field, playing next to Mathieu and free safety Juan Thornhill, to provide flexibility when covering opposing skill-position players. In camp, Watts and Parks are expected to compete for a roster spot. Depending on how each player performs this season, the Chiefs could start the 2022 season with just Sorensen or none of the three players.

LS James Winchester

In 2017, Winchester signed a five-year, $4.45 million contract with the Chiefs. He joined the team in 2015 and won the long-snapper job over Brandon Hartson and Jorgen Hus to replace Thomas Gafford.

In six seasons with the Chiefs, Winchester has just one major mistake on his résumé: He snapped the ball before former punter Dustin Colquitt, the holder, was ready in the team’s collapse against the Tennessee Titans in 2019.

If Winchester is error-free this season, he is expected to sign another contract with the Chiefs next spring.

(Photo of Tyrann Mathieu: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)