The Kansas City Chiefs and running back Jamaal Charles have agreed to a five-year, $32.5 million contract extension with $13 million guaranteed, a league source said Saturday.
Charles, who's finishing up a three-year contract that he signed as a rookie in 2008, was scheduled to make $470,000 in base salary this season. His new deal starts in 2011 and runs through 2015.
Charles already has a career-high 1,137 rushing yards this season despite splitting carries with Thomas Jones, who signed with the Chiefs during the offseason. Jones has 187 carries, compared to Charles' 182, but just 765 yards.
Charles' 6.2-yards-per-carry average leads all NFL running backs. His 1,137-yard total is third-best, behind Houston's Arian Foster (1,230) and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew (1,177).
Charles also is a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, ranking third on the team with 34 receptions for 379 yards and one touchdown. He has scored three TDs on the ground.
A third-round draft pick out of Texas in 2008, Charles broke out last season, when he finished with 1,120 rushing yards, 297 receiving yards and nine total TDs (seven rushing, one receiving, one kickoff return).
