Hunter Nourzad

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Chiefs secured solid value by locking up Hunter Nourzad at just $1.1M AAV over four years, earning a C+ CVI that reflects smart roster management for a developing center. While Nourzad's production tier remains unclear given limited starting experience, Kansas City is betting on the upside of a young interior lineman at a bargain-basement price point that carries minimal financial risk. The contract structure heavily favors the team with only $300K guaranteed out of the $4.3M total, giving them multiple escape hatches if Nourzad doesn't develop as expected while providing significant savings if he emerges as their long-term solution at center. At 26, Nourzad is entering his physical prime years, and this deal allows the Chiefs to evaluate him as a potential starter without the pressure of a hefty investment. This represents the type of low-risk, high-reward move that championship-caliber organizations make to maintain roster depth while keeping salary cap flexibility — a C+ CVI that prioritizes team-friendly terms over immediate star power.

Performance Analysis

Hunter Nourzad projects as a replacement-level center at this stage of his career, and his D- performance grade reflects the limited impact he has made through two seasons after being selected in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2024 draft. The most telling data point available is his appearance in 11 games, which speaks more to roster survival than to a meaningful role — for a second-year offensive lineman on a rookie scale contract, staying active is a baseline expectation, not a distinction. There are no statistical strengths to highlight here; the data simply does not support a case for Nourzad as a reliable contributor at the center position, and his grade earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) that has remained steady over the last 30 days, suggesting no meaningful upward movement in his perceived value relative to his $1.1M contract. His current standing, as the media framing makes clear, is that of a depth piece whose path to the field runs almost entirely through injury to players ahead of him on the depth chart. As a second-year player still operating in relative obscurity, Nourzad has the age-related runway to develop, but the CVI and performance grade together paint a picture of someone who has not yet translated that potential into on-field production. With Kansas City navigating a difficult 6-11 season and 130 days until the 2026 regular season opener, internal offensive line evaluations this offseason will be critical in determining whether Nourzad holds even his current depth role heading into his third year.