Report: Chiefs plan to use franchise tag to retain Eric Berry

The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to use the franchise tag on star safety Eric Berry ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, according to Rand Getlin of NFL Network.

Berry re-established himself as one of the league's top defensive backs after beating cancer and returning to the field in 2015, tallying 61 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 passes defensed to earn Pro Bowl honors.

The franchise tag would tentatively have him in line for a one-year tender worth $10.806 million, but Berry and the Chiefs reportedly still have a mutual interest in working out a long-term contract.

Either way, the 27-year-old is undoubtedly now in line for a significant pay day.

Berry would have been one of the league's most highly sought-after free agents were he allowed to hit the open market, and the Chiefs can be expected to reward him as such in the coming months.