Kansas City Chiefs: Hopefully Chiefs have been paying attention

JUSTIN HOUSTON

Availability, not ability have put the edge rusher on the list of players likely not brought back. Again, going back to referencing the salary cap and at some point this organization needs to start cleaning up their books.

Did you know Jeremy Maclin counted 4.8 million against the Chiefs 2018 cap? Should the Chiefs move on from Houston this offseason, the Chiefs would see a cap savings at about 14 million. Yes, there is a painful 7 million cap hit they would have to deal with that opens in 2020.

If the Chiefs do decide to move to a 4-3 defensive scheme, it makes moving on from Houston easier to do, as he really at this point doesn’t fit as a true defensive end. Perhaps he can play a stand up defensive end on the right side and situational pass rusher.

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However, you don’t bring him back next season at his current number, that with the franchise tag (the evidence against tagging and keeping Dee Ford ‘plays’ on the defense with Ford) Houston’s 2019 cap number is slated to be 21.1 million. That can’t happen.

You first ponder if Houston would consider restructuring his deal, getting those numbers down. Where the Chiefs value him and where Houston values himself would go a long way in determining what the number would be.

If not, yes, you look to find a trade partner. An acquiring team would assume a non guaranteed 32.250 million two year contract on a player that, when he’s on the field, is still productive.

Perhaps Justin Houston is willing to redo his deal, but a lot like Ford, the Chiefs would be asking the veteran to play a position he really hasn’t played since high school. He played the stand-up edge rusher at Georgia in their 3-4 defensive scheme and was drafted to continue that in Kansas City.

Houston may be more interested in what his value on the open market is as a pass rusher more than trying to be a more physical end.

Perhaps Cleveland, with oodles of cap room (75 million) and a general manager in John Dorsey that has shown a willingness to spend available cap room (he did write the Houston and Berry contract here in KC) and available later picks, including two fifth round picks. Could the Chiefs get a pick (or two) if they have decided to move on from Houston.