Whitney Mercilus’ link with KC Chiefs isn’t as simple as it sounds

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A veteran player is set to be released in the National Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs have been mentioned as a potential new destination. It seems to happen every time and it’s already circulating as a rumor for Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus. In this case, however, it’s not quite that simple.

On Monday, word leaked that Houston was going to set Mercilus free. It’s the latest classless move for a franchise that majors in them, since Mercilus has been a solid performer for the team for years. In the wake of a youth movement, the Texans are going to release him without waiting for a home game or a chance to send him off in style. It figures given the Nick Caserio era of leadership there.

In the wake of the news, Aaron Wilson came forward with this report on Twitter, linking him to the Chiefs. Here’s the exact post:

The key phrase here is “strong mutual interest” and that should separate this from other online guessing games when a player is released. It’s one thing for a reporter to say the Chiefs make sense as a potential new home for a player. It’s another to have some inside information that says the franchise would be interested in bringing him in and the player is hoping for that to happen.

Whitney Mercilus and the Chiefs would have to wait for a potential deal first.

But here’s the thing: the Texans know what they are doing here and what can often happen is for a team to step up with a trade offer where there was none before in order to keep another team from getting him. Remember when the Patriots were going to release Stephon Gilmore or the Jaguars were going to let C.J. Henderson walk. Then suddenly there were trades for both after rumors leaked of the forthcoming release. Suddenly teams had to ante up or wait to make a pitch in free agency.

For a team like the Chiefs, a team with clear needs at edge rusher, Mercilus makes sense (even though they technically should not given the money they’re already dropping on the position). It would also give Mercilus a real chance at a Super Bowl ring after years in Houston. That said, the bell has now sounded and any team with the same sort of needs, especially one that would like to keep the Chiefs in need, would do well to step in the way and offer up something of a trade.

That’s certainly what Caserio is hoping for in this case.

If Mercilus somehow makes it through, then the addition could be happening soon if both sides can work something out given the Chiefs’ limited cap space. Former Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen seemed to make some allusions to this deal happening on Twitter already. Then again, other teams might remain in control here and block the Chiefs from getting him.

Mercilus has 4 tackles for a loss, 5 pressures, and 3 sacks while playing just over 50 percent of the Texans defensive snaps this season.