The top NFL player to watch from each team in 2017
By Peter Panacy
Kansas City Chiefs — Safety Eric Berry
One might argue the Kansas City Chiefs’ chances of getting deep into the postseason largely hinge on the shoulders of veteran quarterback Alex Smith.
Indeed, Smith “getting over the playoff hump” will be a storyline to watch, as will be his understanding of the Chiefs selecting former Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes in the NFL Draft.
But Mahomes won’t start right away, and this is still Smith’s team.
Yet Smith isn’t the No. 1 player to watch here. He’s an effective quarterback, but that’s not what makes Kansas City a playoff contender. That’s the defense.
The Chiefs defense is led by safety Eric Berry, whose 62 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions earned him both a Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro selection in 2016.
Berry signed a six-year, $78 million deal during the offseason. That’s a huge amount of money to dish out for a 28-year-old player at any position, although it’s not likely he plays out the remainder of that contract.
Still, Berry has a lot of expectations to live up to. And the Chiefs’ playoff hopes ride on it.