On the last day of mandatory minicamp, the Kansas City Chiefs made a move to secure their kicker of the future, signing Harrison Butker to a contract extension, the team announced on Twitter.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the particulars of the deal shortly after the announcement: 5 years, roughly $20 million for the former seventh-round pick, who posted a statement on his Twitter account:
While he's now known to possess one of the more reliable legs in the NFL, Butker's road to this moment at one point wasn't a sure bet.
After being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2017 and subsequently waived in favor of Graham Gano, Butker was signed to the team's practice squad where he was picked up by the Chiefs.
To date, Butker, 25, has converted 62-of-69 career field goals, including going 24-of-27 in 2018, good enough for the 12th-best completion percentage (88.9) in the league.
Butker has also demonstrated an ability to perform in the clutch on several occasions. Against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, Butker famously nailed his only field goal of the night: a 39-yarder to send the game into overtime.
