The Chiefs are making a “strong push” to work out a new deal with free agent safety Eric Berry, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The extension proposal is expected to make Berry the highest-paid safety in the league, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. 
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Both the Chiefs and Berry are reportedly optimistic that a new deal can be hammered out, reports Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). But If the two sides can’t agree to terms, Kansas City is expected to place the franchise tag on Berry.
Berry, 28, hasn’t been shy about his desire not to play under a franchise tender for a second consecutive season. Just yesterday, Berry said he wasn’t “getting [his] hopes up” about the prospects of a new deal, but his representation is apparently now close to a fresh pact. If he does become the NFL’s highest-paid safety, Berry will have to earn more than the Cardinals’ Tyrann Mathieu, who currently leads all back end defenders with a $12.5MM+ annual salary.
Berry, whom PFR ranked as 2017’s top free agent safety, played in all 16 games last season and posted four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble. The former first-round pick graded as the league’s No. 8 safety in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, which handed Berry exceptional marks in pass coverage. Berry earned $10.806MM under the terms of the franchise tag last year, and his salary would increase into the $11MM range if he’s tagged again.
Of course, if the Chiefs lock up Berry for the long haul, they’d have the option of employing the franchise tender on free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe. Poe would earn roughly $13.5MM on the tender, which would restrict his access to the open market.