Kansas City Chiefs LB Nick Bolton is hoping to get contract extension with team beyond 2024

As the Kansas City Chiefs' voluntary offseason workout program kicked off on Monday, a few members of the organization spoke to the media. 

Among them was linebacker Nick Bolton, who is entering his fourth season with the team. Bolton spoke on a number of different subjects, including a possible future contract extension. He is currently slated to hit free agency after the 2024 season, but he hopes to remain in Kansas City long after.

“I’ve been in the state of Missouri going on seven years now, so it definitely feels like home," Bolton told reporters. "Fans, the community, open arms since I got here as an 18-year-old. Staying here would be a blessing, would be a dream come true if we could get that done in the foreseeable future, but I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and have our defense pick up where we left off last year and not regress. Just trying to get better than we were last year, and it starts in two weeks from now.”

Bolton has been a bit polarizing among Chiefs fans since being drafted in 2021. He is a hard hitting, high-energy player who is also very intelligent and is instrumental in helping to get his teammates lined up correctly and calling plays. However, he is often times a liability in coverage, and some don't believe he is an every-down linebacker.

In 2021 Bolton was named to the 2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team, and in 2022 he finished second in the NFL in total tackles with 180. 2023 was an injury-riddled season for Bolton as he missed eight games with a wrist injury. Now entering a contract year, he'll need to have the best season of his career to ensure a big payday.

Whether or not that will come from the Chiefs remains to be seen. In 2025 they have big decisions to make on other players such as safety Justin Reid, offensive linemen Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith as well as fellow linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Not far behind them will be decisions on cornerback Trent McDuffie and defensive end George Karlaftis. That's a lot of stiff competition for Bolton, but working in his favor is the fact that there are no other linebackers with long-term deals on the roster. The most important thing for Bolton may be just to make it through the 2024 season healthy.