Safety Tyvon Branch, Chiefs agree to contract

The Chiefs are adding reinforcements to a thin safety corps.

The team announced Tuesday that it has signed Tyvon Branch, a seven-year veteran, to a contract.

“We are excited we were able to reach a deal with Tyvon and bring him to Kansas City,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. “He is a physical player who we feel can help our defense. We’re looking forward to having him.”

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the deal contains a base salary of $2 million with in-game bonuses of $2 million.

Branch, 28, started 57 consecutive games for the Raiders from 2009 to 2012 before injuries derailed his last two seasons. During that period, the 6-foot, 210-pounder — who is regarded as more of a box safety — averaged 107 combined tackles and four pass deflections per season.

In 2014, Branch had 30 combined tackles in only three games before suffering a season-ending foot injury. In 2013, Branch broke his leg and had five combined tackles in two games.

Branch signed a four-year, $26 million extension with the Raiders before the 2012 season. He was released in February, creating $3 million in cap space for the Raiders.

Branch should, at the very least, help the Chiefs’ depth at the position. Starter Husain Abdullah, 29, is set to return, but he is entering the final year of his deal. Meanwhile star safety Eric Berry is battling lymphoma, and two other key contributors at the position — Kurt Coleman and Ron Parker — are slated for unrestricted free agency.

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Safety Tyvon Branch, Chiefs agree to contract."