The Kansas City Chiefs have until July 15 to sign outside linebacker Justin Houston to a long-term deal. Once that date passes, Houston can only play on his one-year franchise tag of $13.1 million until after the season, when the sides are allowed to discuss a long-term deal again.
There has been plenty of clamoring about why the Chiefs must get the Houston deal done, but somehow one of the most important aspects has been lost. Kansas City is facing an offseason in 2016 with a ton of defensive free agents hitting the market. If it wants to keep this elite group together, it might go a long way to show that the team is ready and willing to pay its best players.
General manager John Dorsey has done a good job of that on the offensive side of the ball. He has re-signed Anthony Sherman, Jamaal Charles, Alex Smith and brought in Jeremy Maclin. Defensively, the only notable contracts are Ron Parker and Allen Bailey, who while fine players are not of the quality of either Charles or Houston.
After this year, the Chiefs face the prospects of losing Eric Berry, Sean Smith, Tyvon Branch, Husain Abdullah, Derrick Johnson, Mike DeVito, Tamba Hali and Houston. See a problem here?
In reality, Berry’s health will likely shape how Dorsey attacks the secondary. If Berry is back to form or appears ready to play in 2016, Dorsey probably allows Abdullah and/or Branch to walk. DeVito and Hali are also probably gone with Jaye Howard, Mike Catapano and Dee Ford capable of stepping up.
However, Smith, Houston and Johnson are big fish and players that Kansas City needs to keep. Smith is going to command anywhere from $9-10 million per year if he has another season like 2014. Additionally, if Johnson comes back and plays like he normally has, he will command somewhere around $5-6 million. With all those contracts looming, who needs to be dealing with the Houston drama again? The Chiefs could tag him, but then you are eating a massive chunk of over $15 million from your cap space.
Currently, Kansas City is in great shape with the salary cap for 2016. The Chiefs have $46.25 million of space (per Over The Cap), the fourth-most in the NFL behind the Oakland Raiders, New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also have 60 players under team control, which means a huge chance for Dorsey to make a final push with this brimming roster.
In other words, get the Houston contract done now. Show the defense you are willing to pay them, and perhaps even start working on an extension or two. Dorsey would look bad to many if he starts signing those other players with Houston on the tag. Make sure the NFL sack leader is in house, and then get to work.
We’re going to be on Houston watch for 10 more days … or less.