The Chiefs’ contract with Matt Araiza is deemed “no risk.”

Details surrounding Matt Araiza’s NFL return have surfaced. The former Buffalo Bills punter has re-entered the league, having cleared his name of rape allegations. Araiza secured a free-agent deal with the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and specifics of his contract have been revealed in a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. According to Pelissero, Araiza’s contract with the Chiefs is a minimum deal with an injury split, indicating that there is no financial risk involved for the reigning champions. This move provides Araiza with an opportunity to revive his career.

As per the current collective bargaining agreement, the NFL minimum salary stands at $795,000 for a rookie and $915,000 for a player with one year of service. Notably, Araiza did not participate in any regular-season games during his brief tenure with the Buffalo Bills.

A San Diego State alum, Araiza was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 draft but was released during the final stages of the subsequent preseason following public accusations. Despite no criminal charges filed by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Araiza’s plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the accuser were dropped mutually in December of the same year.

Araiza is poised to assume the punting duties for the Kansas City Chiefs, taking over from the longstanding Tommy Townsend, who is set to enter free agency. The former SDSU standout earned the moniker “Punt God” during his college years, receiving unanimous All-American honors and the Ray Guy Award at the conclusion of his senior season in 2021.