Kansas City Chiefs: Four options for Dee Ford this offseason

After advancing to the AFC Championship for the first time since 1994, the Kansas City Chiefs must now answer some daunting questions on the defensive side of the ball. One thing the team must decide is what to do with Dee Ford.

Taken with the 23rd overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Dee Ford broke out in his fifth year in the league, recording 13 sacks on a unit that tied for the league lead in that category with 52. However, as a whole, the Kansas City Chiefs defense performed poorly, allowing 26.3 points per game, including 37 points to the New England Patriots in a losing battle for the Lamar Hunt Trophy.

A crucial change was made soon after that game. The Chiefs fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who had led the defense since head coach Andy Reid‘s arrival in 2013. Days later, the Chiefs announced the hiring of Steve Spagnuolo as Sutton’s replacement.

And with Spagnuolo comes a new scheme.

But now the focus shifts to on-the-field personnel, including what to do with long-time Chiefs Eric Berry, Justin Houston, and, the 27-year-old Dee Ford.

Option #1: Let Ford Leave in Free Agency

There are really four options when it comes to Ford. The least likely scenario is for the Chiefs to just let him walk. In that scenario, the organization would let stand as Ford’s last act as a Chief an offsides penalty that very well may have kept the team from playing in Atlanta this weekend.

Still, this option isn’t completely out-of-question. After all, Ford only totaled 5.5 sacks in his first two seasons. While he recorded ten in 2016, he then missed all but six games last year. Productivity and durability are concerns.

It should also be a red flag that Ford’s best season came during his contract year.

Justin Houston did the same thing back in 2014, the last year of his rookie contract. He recorded 22 sacks before landing (from a different front office regime) a contract worth $101 million over six seasons. Since then, Houston’s recorded only 30 total sacks and missed at least four games in three of four seasons.

Houston’s deal will remain a cautionary tale for current general manager Brett Veach when figuring out what to do with Ford.