Justin Houston: Will The Kansas City Chiefs Sign The Pass-Rusher Long Term?
By Nick Floyd
Hey, have you heard the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Justin Houston is an elite pass-rusher and will get a boatload of money?
If not, you’re liable to get smacked, ’cause you’re probably living in a dreamland.
The biggest question the Chiefs have heading into the offseason is whether or not they can lock up the edge-rusher long term. As it stands right now, prospects don’t look good; rumor has it that they’ll franchise him.
So what will it take for the Chiefs to sign him? Well, unless a miracle happens, this is looking more and more like a long shot. Houston will demand top dollar from Kansas City, and he is well worth it. His 22 sacks led the league. If J.J. Watt did not turn in a performance for the ages, Houston would’ve been the Defensive Player of the year.
There is no limit to how good a player No. 50 can be, and if the pieces fall into place for him, he very well could go down as the best linebacker in Chiefs history.
But with that being said, there is a ton of work to be done by general manager John Dorsey. The team has little cap room, and it would seem that there will be a few players looking for new jobs when all is said and done.
Current star Tamba Hali already said that if money is the only thing that will keep him from suiting up for the Chiefs, they will work it out. That is good, as his cap hit is one of the biggest hindrances to locking up his teammate.
Oct 26, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) celebrates with linebacker Tamba Hali (91) after making a sack against the St. Louis Rams in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Alex Smith just got a fat deal, and maybe there is some wiggle room for him to rework it in order to help the Chiefs.
Therein lies the biggest problem.
Players want to make money; they want to get paid with what they feel like they are worth. For players like Hali, he is worth the money he was paid when he signed his extension. Now, he might be worth a little less than that. A guy like Dwayne Bowe—who also signed a huge deal—isn’t currently his cap number and might find himself looking for a job elsewhere.
Again, I know that players wanna get paid, and I’m no agent, but there is a difference in what they think they’re worth and what they’re actually worth.
Bottom line: The Chiefs will need to work some kind of miracle in order to sign Houston (long term) this offseason. Potential releases and restructurings still make it possible, but I just don’t see it happening this year. With any luck, the Chiefs will franchise him, he’ll play 2015 under the tag and then Dorsey will—either during the season or soon after—lock him up for the long haul.
Time to sound off, Addicts. What do you think needs to happen in order to sign Houston long term?
Let us know in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
Go Chiefs!
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