Ian Rapoport has 'no doubt' Eric Berry will return to Chiefs

Despite recent rumors that there has been a lack of serious progress in contract talks between the Kansas City Chiefs and Eric Berry's agents, popular NFL analyst Ian Rapoport believes there is "no doubt" that the All Pro safety will be back in the Chiefs secondary in 2016.

Spoke w/ @RapSheet earlier today about #Chiefs S Eric Berry.

"I have no doubt that he's going to be on the #Chiefs next year, & he should."

— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) February 24, 2016

That's very good news for fans who feared the worst that the team's vaunted pass defense would be decimated with potential exits of multiple impact players. Berry, the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2015, would certainly help guarantee another strong defensive unit for the Chiefs next year.

Berry is coming off of a very expensive rookie contract, but he's more than lived up to his draft position as a former top five pick. Berry, as we all know, not only returned from a tragic Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis and treatment in a matter of months, but he also incredibly returned to form as an elite defender — making his second Pro Bowl and being named a First Team All-Pro in the process.

It's unknown how much Berry will command, but paying top dollar for a safety likely comes in Earl Thomas territory, which is a $10 million/year average.

If Berry is inked to a multi-year deal, then it frees up general manager John Dorsey to use the franchise tag elsewhere.