Are things starting to move along in the Justin Houston contract talks? Well, at the very least, we now know they are at least discussing a deal.
A sources tells Rand Getlin the Chiefs and Justin Houston’s agent met last week at the Super Bowl. No other information was released other than the two sides were spotted meeting together. Here’s Getlin’s tweet.
A league source says Justin Houston's agent, Joel Segal, and #Chiefs GM, John Dorsey, were spotted meeting at the Senior Bowl.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) January 26, 2015
Expectations are Houston is on the verge of a massive deal sometime in the near future, whether it is this season or next season. Spotrac estimates his deal will exceed $90 million in value, and some are arguing it is more likely Houston sees the franchise tag than a new deal in the next six weeks. Kansas City can place the tag on him but it will likely cost them extra salary cap space to do so.
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Houston was a sack short of breaking the NFL record for sacks in a single-season in 2014. The pressure he provides off the edge is essential to what the Chiefs like to do on defense, which makes him likely the most important player on the Chiefs’ defense. It is because of his value to the team that is seems impossible the Chiefs will let him walk away for free agency. Getting a deal done has to be their top priority.
Salary cap space is somewhat of an issue for the Chiefs in the short-term, but there are some things the Chiefs can do to open up some space. Tamba Hali recently told 610 Sports Radio he would be willing to restructure his deal in order to open up money for Houston to stay in Kansas City. Kansas City can save $9 million in cap space if they were to release Hali.
There’s also the potential the Chiefs designate Dwayne Bowe as a June 1 cut and save $11 million against the cap in 2015. However, one would assume that money would go towards trying to rebuild a wide receiver corp that did very little in the way of explosive plays.
Whatever the method, John Dorsey has to find a way to get Houston signed to a long-term deal. So it is good news to hear Dorsey and Houston’s agent were meeting last week at the Senior Bowl.