NFL Rumors: Louis Rees-Zammit's 3-Year Chiefs Contract Has 'Some' Guaranteed Money

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport released some particulars Friday regarding rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit's contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Per Rapoport, Rees-Zammit is in Kansas City on Friday to sign a three-year deal that includes "some" guaranteed money and a signing bonus.

ESPN's Adam Teicher reported Thursday that the Chiefs intended to sign the Welsh rugby player with the intention of trying him out at running back and possibly wide receiver.

The 23-year-old Rees-Zammit has played for Gloucester Rugby of Premiership Rugby, which is the top rugby division in England, since 2018.

Despite his success and status as a rising star in rugby, Rees-Zammit decided to try his hand at football, and he took part in the NFL's International Player Pathway pro day last week.

Per Teicher, Rees-Zammit was highly impressive, running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. That led to him visiting with several teams, and he ultimately decided to sign with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

While Rees-Zammit will likely need plenty of seasoning before he is ready to play in regular-season NFL games, there are advantages to rostering a player that went through the International Player Pathway program.

According to Teicher, the NFL decided this season to give every team a 17th spot on their practice squad reserved for an international player. Also, teams are allowed to elevate that player from the practice squad to the active gameday roster as many as three times throughout the season.

The quickest path to playing time and a spot on the 53-man roster for Rees-Zammit may be his ability to return kickoffs.

Earlier this week, the NFL instituted new kickoff rules meant to both decrease the probability of injuries and increase the likelihood of returns.

At 6'3" and 194 pounds, Rees-Zammit is both big and speedy, and that combination could translate well to being a return man.

The Chiefs also have some openings among their running back group, as starter Isiah Pacheco is the only proven entity at the NFL level with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon hitting free agency.

Kansas City is making a long-term commitment to Rees-Zammit by giving him a multi-year contract and guaranteed money, which suggests head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach view him as someone who can contribute in a meaningful way at some point.