Nick Bolton could make history next season.
Then he should make history with his next contract.
Bolton, a former second-round pick in 2021, has compiled 292 tackles in his first two seasons. The most tackles in the first two seasons by any player is 320 set by former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly also holds the record for the first three seasons with 473.
If Bolton, who had an astounding 180 tackles this season duplicates that number, he will have amassed 472 tackles through his first three seasons. Two more and the record is his.
Bolton is playing under his rookie contract, earning $1.3 million.
This guy needs to make history by signing a contract with the largest incentive for tackles. We’re thinking $10,000 per tackle. If Bolton posts another 180-tackle season, that would be $1.8 million in bonuses.
Tackle that.
“It’s going to be hard to find another guy in the league that tackles better than Bolton,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters recently. “I mean, he’s unbelievable.”
He is. And so is this. Bolton, who was second in the league in tackles behind Jacksonville’s Foye Oluokun with 184, didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Neither did Oluokun. Matt Judon, T.J. Watt, and Khalil Mack – all premier pass-rushing linebackers got the AFC’s three spots.
What Bolton did get was the Chiefs single season record for tackles, eclipsing Derrick Johnson’s record of 179 set in 2011. He told reporters that was his goal this season after making 112 tackles last season as a rookie. Bolton had to make 16 tackles in the Chiefs last game to get the record.
Bolton will lead the Chiefs defense against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday in the AFC Championship game. It is an underrated defense that was second in the NFL this season with 55 sacks. Bengals QB Joe Burrow was sacked 41 times this season and five times in the playoffs.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has followed Bolton’s career. He made 130 tackles as a senior at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Tx. But Bolton was considered undersized for a linebacker and designated as a three-star prospect.
He made 220 tackles at Missouri before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season. This was one scout’s take on the 5-foot-11, 237-pound Bolton:
- Small size leads to some issues with form tackling.
Form tackling? What is this the Olympics and the Russian judge was going to give him low marks for form tackling? When Bolton hits, ballcarriers go down. Sounds like great form. He credits his success to his defensive linemen, who keep tackling lanes open.
“It leaves me lanes to go downhill and be violent,” Bolton said. “It’s what I love to do.”
BOLTON’S BEST BET: Over the last 10 years seasons, linebackers have won Super Bowl MVP twice – Seattle’s Malcolm Smith in Super Bowl XLVIII and Denver’s Von Miller in Super Bowl 50. 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa has the best odds for a defensive player to win Super Bowl MVP this season at +5000. Bolton is at +30000. Two other linebackers – Philly’s Hassan Reddick (+12500) and San Francisco’s Fred Warner (12500) have better odds than Bolton.
Let’s go back to our proposed tackle-incentive laden contract for Bolton. If you put $10 down for Bolton winning MVP, that’s a $3,000 payoff. That will buy you a lot of Kansas City ribs.