Justin Houston contract: Joel Corry breaks it down

Sep 15, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) looks to the crowd before the game with the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 17-16. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sportse

Looking toward many of Kansas City’s free agents next year, Corry specifically talked about Derrick Johnson. Assuming Johnson is healthy and bounces back with a typical campaign, Corry believes the contract will be similar to Thomas Davis, Karlos Dansby or D’Well Jackson, depending on how the Chiefs value Johnson.

Davis signed a restructured deal this offseason with the Carolina Panthers to make it three years and near $20 million. Dansby is with the Cleveland Browns on a four-year, $24 million with half guaranteed while Jackson is on a four-year, $22 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts with $11 million in guarantees.

Finally, Corry and I bantered about Sean Smith, who is set to be a free agent for the second time in his career. Corry says Kansas City will need to back up the truck.

He’s a big corner who didn’t capitalize on the market last time because the market was down. … With that size, he has to be thinking above Byron Maxwell. He’s a big corner that can cover. Maxwell was the other corner when he got the deal. Smith is the shutdown corner for the Chiefs. He’s going to be looking above Byron Maxwell.”

For the record, Maxwell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason for six years and $63 million. Gulp. The franchise tag for a corner will be around $13.5 million in 2016 because it is tied to the growth in the cap, per Corry.

“I would wait and see with him because if Peters is a professional and lives up to his draft billing, you may decide to let Sean Smith walk. … Part of Peters is a little bit of insurance.”

If you want to learn about football and the salary cap, do yourself a favor and follow Joel at @CorryJoel