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When MDS ran through the pending fifth-year team options for 2012, he listed Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe as one of the players who would have their options exercised.

It seems the Chiefs agree with his assessment of the situation. Albert Breer of NFL Media reports that the Chiefs have picked up the option on the fifth year of Poe’s rookie deal, which will pay him a little more than $6 million.

Poe has been a starter since the moment the Chiefs picked him with the 11th overall pick of the draft and he’s been an impact player for just about the same period of time. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons while racking up 10.5 sacks and providing Kansas City with a lot of push in the middle of the defensive line.

The Chiefs and Poe can work on a long-term contract between now and the expiration of the deal at the end of the 2016 season. That deal should be a lucrative one based on what Poe’s done in his first three years and doing so would allow the Chiefs to avoid the franchise tag headaches they’re experiencing with Justin Houston this offseason.