Drue Tranquill‘s market underwhelmed in 2023, leading to a low-cost pact with the Chiefs. That partnership led to the ex-Charger playing a key role in the Chiefs’ repeat Super Bowl-winning effort. It looks like the sides want to continue this union.
The Chiefs are expected to re-sign the veteran linebacker, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. With Willie Gay days away from free agency, Tranquill could be in line for an even bigger role alongside Nick Bolton in 2024.
A clear midlevel linebacker market emerged behind Tremaine Edmunds last year, but Tranquill did not command enough interest to qualify for a deal on that tier. After an impressive statistical showing for the 2022 Chargers, the former fourth-round pick scored a one-year, $3M deal to change AFC West teams. The Chiefs put the bargain signing to work, and Tranquill will likely be due a raise in 2024.
Indeed, Tranquill will collect a better deal this time around. The Chiefs are giving their Bolton sidekick a three-year, $19M accord that will come with $13M fully guaranteed, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
This is a nice bump for Tranquill and is more in line with that linebacker midlevel that expanded last year. Tranquill, 28, actually fared better than some more experienced LBs who recently signed extensions. Logan Wilson and Quincy Williams only collected $10M and $9M guaranteed at signing, respectively, last year. With Bolton now extension-eligible, the defending champions have Tranquill locked down through 2026.
After receiving steady run with the Bolts in his initial contract year, Tranquill was a part-timer with the Chiefs. But the eight-game starter proved valuable, especially during a season that featured Bolton on the shelf for multiple stretches. Playing 57% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps. Tranquill combined 78 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Gay injury trouble led to increased Tranquill usage in the divisional round and AFC Championship Game; the Notre Dame alum made eight tackles in the Chiefs’ 17-10 AFC clincher in Baltimore.
In 2022, Tranquill erupted for 146 tackles and five sacks. Tranquill has shared the story of Andy Reid texting him with a Super Bowl enticement, going so far as to share the text. After the Chiefs saw a preview of Tranquill’s game in Los Angeles and alongside Bolton and Gay last year, it would not surprise to see them — based on this contract — turn to the ex-Day 3 pick as a full-timer alongside Bolton in 2024. This deal probably signals Gay will need to land his second contract elsewhere.
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