KC Chiefs: Justin Houston Will Not Be Tagged (Yet)

The Kansas City Chiefs do not expect to put the franchise tag on star linebacker Justin Houston before meeting with his agents for contract negotiations this week, according to Kansas City Star reporter Terez A. Paylor.

Paylor tweeted the news on Sunday, February 15, one day before NFL teams could tag franchise or transition players:

I’m told the #Chiefs aren’t expected to use the franchise tag on Houston before the meeting with his representative this week.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 15, 2015

NBC’s Pro Football Talk reported that contract talks would resume between Houston’s agents and the Chiefs during this week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, which runs from February 17-23.

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KC Chiefs general manager John Dorsey indicated on December 31 that Justin Houston would be back for the 2015 season. When asked by 810 AM radio show Border Patrol if there was any chance that Houston would not be in a Kansas City uniform next season, Dorsey replied:

"“I would say no,” Dorsey replied. “Truth be told, no."

Most pundits presumed that answer meant that the Chiefs would use their franchise tag on Houston before negotiating a long-term deal. The Kansas City Chiefs have until March 2 to tag him. The fact that they will not do so before meeting with his agents suggests that the team believes that both sides want to get a deal done.

In fact, Houston told the NFL Network’s Marshall Faulk that he wanted to remain a Kansas City Chief.

If this presumption is true, then it bodes well for the Chiefs off-season. If John Dorsey can re-sign Justin Houston without using the tag, he will have it available to retain center Rodney Hudson, who is also a free-agent.

Of course, Dorsey cannot afford to let the 26-year-old Houston walk after he broke the Chiefs sack record, broke the NFL record for sacks by a linebacker, and led the NFL with 22.0 sacks last season. Houston was a huge reason why the Chiefs sported the no.2 pass defense in the NFL last season.

No one can afford to let a guy like that go.

The fact is John Dorsey missed a huge opportunity by not signing Houston to a long-term extension last season, and it will cost him in 2015 and beyond. Justin Houston is in line for a J.J Watt kind of deal, which was the first contract for a defensive player to top $100 million (6-years, $100.8 million if Watt hits all of his incentives).

Perhaps Houston’s season was so massive, that Dorsey has accepted that bringing back his star linebacker will require a huge payday.

Here’s to hoping Justin Houston will sign with minimal drama.

Next: Chiefs Mock Draft: Focus on Offense

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