The reporting surrounding the Chiefs incoming extensions says that they are prioritizing three players in the coming years: Trey Smith, George Karlaftis, and Trent McDuffie.

All three are extremely highly deserving, and I have no complaints about any of them returning to KC.

The problem is that the list doesn't include Nick Bolton.

We know the team loves Nick Bolton, they are just prioritizing his 2021 draft class brethren Trey Smith.

I think preferring Trey Smith is reasonable. But.

Nick Bolton is cheaper, and more important.

1. Smith plays guard, which is a highly replaceable piece. For some reason, it is also more expensive than most other positions on the football field.

2. The reason Spags' defense is so damn good, aside from being stacked with great talent, is that it is wildly intelligent. Spags of course is the smartest DC there is, but the team has world class intelligence at every position. And the smartest player on the field is Bolton.

Bolton gives the defense the Derrick Johnson advantage of being able to figure out plays before they happen, often giving the defense the best possible jump on the opposition. Replacing that with, say, Drue Tranquill, will net you the same number of tackles probably, but Tranquill's high intelligence is just not in Bolton's stratosphere.

In order to have a great defense, I think you need more than great players. You need players who fit together and are force multipliers. Bolton is a force multiplier, as his smarts allow him to fill gaps all over the shallow crossing range and pack the box to help stuff the run.

The drop off from Smith to his replacement, compared to the dropoff from Bolton to Tranquill, is probably equal. But Bolton's the guy I'd bring back.
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