Chiefs $5 million rising star predicted to ditch KC for Panthers in free agency

It's incredibly tough to become the best team in the NFL, but even tougher to stay on top.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the undisputed kings of the league, two-time defending Super Bowl champions and going for a third. They've become the best not only because of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but thanks in part to their stellar defense.

However, when you've got a championship roster, other teams are always going to strip it for parts. And the Chiefs have an extremely valuable defensive contributor headed for free agency this spring who could be a major flight risk.

Linebacker Nick Bolton, who is playing out the final season of his $5 million rookie contract, will soon be a free agent, and he's bound to have lots of suitors. The Chiefs have a tighter budget than most teams, thanks to their many long-term contracts, and Bolton could be out of their price range if the market is flush.

Recently, Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network predicted that Bolton would wind up joining the Carolina Panthers this spring.

"The Panthers’ most pressing 2025 concern will be finding a long-term quarterback. But Carolina also has questions on defense, where longtime linebacker Shaq Thompson is heading for free agency (or could conceivably retire)," Robinson said.

"Bolton is a natural-born playmaker against the run, but he also provides value in the passing game because of his coverage intelligence. In an offseason survey conducted with ESPN, NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, he ranked as the league’s fifth-best linebacker."

Bolton, 24, has racked up 421 total tackles in just 51 career games. He has just a 14.3% broken and missed tackle rate, and has been worth 81 total points saved, per Sports Info Solutions.

Because he is young and only getting better, Bolton is sure to command a hefty new deal when the negotiating window opens in March. That will make it difficult for Kansas City to keep him from jumping to a team like the Panthers with very few major salary commitments.

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