Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Ron Parker (38) during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Strong safety Ron Parker isn’t going anywhere, after all.
The Chiefs and Parker agreed in principle on a five-year, $30 million contract, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Saturday afternoon with ChiefsDigest.com.
The specific numbers of the deal calls for a five-year, $25 base salary, including workout and roster bonuses, with $8 million guaranteed. Another $5 million surrounds playtime tied to separate incentives for playoff appearances and interceptions. Parker receives a $5 million signing bonus.
Parker’s contract was negotiated by NFL agent Joel Turner of Turner Sports Management, and the deal is regarded as the largest in NFL history for an undrafted safety. Parker entered the league in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out Newberry College with the Seattle Seahawks.
Stephen Fastenau of The Beaufort Gazzette was the first to break news of Parker’s agreement; Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star was the first to report the contract numbers.
The Chiefs have not officially announced the pending signing.
Parker’s return provides the Chiefs a proven starter in the defensive scheme. His value to the Chiefs takes on more importance given the uncertainty surrounding the status of Eric Berry, who is currently battling lymphoma.
The Chiefs project to have a safety position anchored by Parker, Husain Abdullah, Tyvon Branch, Kelcie McCray and Daniel Sorensen. Sanders Commings, who returns from injured reserve, can also play safety or cornerback.
The 6-0, 206-pound Parker entered the NFL’s calendar year as an unrestricted free agent and immediately drew serious interest from numerous teams.
That courtship scenario was described as a “serious half-dozen to eight teams,” as previously reported by ChiefsDigest.com, and included a recent visit with the Chicago Bears.
Parker, who enters his fifth season, burst on the scene in 2014 by displaying his versatility as a cornerback and strong safety, appearing in 16 games with 15 starts (11 at strong safety in place of Berry).
He finished the season year recording 94 total tackles (84 solo), a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, 12 passes defensed and quarterback hurry.
Parker originally joined the Chiefs on Sept. 1, 2013 after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. He was part of a large transaction that became known as the “Second Draft” after the Chiefs claimed Parker, cornerback Marcus Cooper, defensive lineman Jaye Howard, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, linebacker Dezman Moses, wide receiver Chad Hall and tight end Sean McGrath off waivers from other teams.
The 27-year-old Parker, whose stints in the NFL include the Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers, earns a significant pay increase from the 2014 season when he played the final year of his contract earning a base salary of $645,000.
Parker took to Twitter to announce his excitement of the pending deal:
Glad to be back in KC !! Can’t wait to get back to wrk #chiefsnation
— Ron Parker (@ghost_0836) March 14, 2015
