KC Chiefs: Dee Ford trade means Chiefs aren’t done making moves
By Kole Berrey
The KC Chiefs traded Dee Ford to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. This won’t be the last move we see from the Chiefs in free agency.
Before free agency started, I wrote that the Kansas City Chiefs should move on from both Justin Houston and Dee Ford in order to fix the defense and be the most competitive team they could be moving forward.
Since then, Justin Houston has been released, Tyrann Mathieu, Damien Wilson, and Carlos Hyde signed with Kansas City, and now Dee Ford is on the move. That seems like plenty of moves for one offseason, but this trade is not the end. It is the beginning, as the Chiefs still have a long way to go to fix their defense.
Jettisoning Ford and Houston means they now have the assets and cap space to finish the dramatic reshaping that needed to happen.
The trade is essentially agreed to — Ford for a 2020 2nd round pick. That assumes the #49ers get a deal done with Ford. https://t.co/g4tYK2tWFh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
First, let me say that I am a fan of Dee Ford. I always thought once he developed, he would be a scary pass rusher.
Ford turned out to be a productive specialist, and as a piece on the defense, would have been a fine player for the Chiefs moving forward. The problem, however, is Ford didn’t want to get paid as just a piece. He is a great pass rusher, but has suffered against the run due to his size, or lack there of.
Things got even murkier surrounding Dee Ford’s future with KC considering they are switching to a 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Looking deeper, Ford has only ever played in a full season twice in his career; once as a rookie where he had zero starts to his name, and once last year. Thirteen sacks is his career high, which also came last year.
Maybe Ford keeps improving, but maybe this is his peak. That left Veach with a tough question; Do you pay a player with an injury history, who is undersized, has no clear fit in the current defense, and is a pass rush specialist?
Strong new deal coming for Dee Ford who carried a $16.5M base valuation into the offseason. Looks like he’s about to cash in $17.5M in SF. https://t.co/RPgDpSmWl3
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 13, 2019
The answer for Veach was no. The answer for 49er General Manager John Lynch appeared to be yes. The Chiefs sent ford to the 49ers for a 2020 second round pick, and they in turn paid Ford a total of $87.5 million over five years. That comes out to roughly $17.5 million a year. Wow.
Right now, things could appear bleak, as the Chiefs have lost two top pass rushers in one offseason. That may be the case, but this trade signals that the Chiefs are far from done making moves. This defense is going to be dramatically different next year, and the Ford trade helps make that total overhaul a reality.
In every trade, there is some good and some bad. This happens to be a trade that carries a lot of good, and very little bad for the Chiefs. First off, this move opens up cap space, which should be like gold to the Chiefs right now. Ford’s almost $16 million for 2019 comes off the books, and now the Chiefs can officially use that money to bring in free agents in the second wave of signings.
Talented players like Ndamukong Suh, Clay Matthews, Ezekial Ansah, Ronald Darby, and Nick Perry all remain unsigned. Veach is going to be working the phones and getting productive veterans in Kansas City to help revamp this defense. The Chiefs are going to turn the savings from Ford and Houston into potentially 3-4 new starters on the defensive side of the ball.
My understanding is any additional moves the #Chiefs make in free agency will be minor until Dee Ford is dealt. Ford's cap charge is $15.4M on the franchise tag
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) March 12, 2019
Another underrated thing to look at here is the assets the Chiefs now have. They have one first and two second round picks in this year’s draft, and two second rounders in next years draft. This makes a team fresh of an AFC Championship appearance stocked with draft assets. These assets can be used by Veach to move up in the draft and acquire blue chip defenders.
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Veach has also been known to trade for players with other teams, such as Cameron Erving. Now, if a big name player becomes available, Veach and company have a full cupboard to offer to go snatch a play maker. This team is playing for January, and every year teams entertain trade talks for elite players around the trade deadline. Kansas City now has the means to make sure that they won’t be on the outside looking in of those talks.
There are a few aspects of this deal that can make fans of the team a little apprehensive. Getting a second rounder in 2020 instead of 2019 is a letdown. The 49ers are poised to have a better record next year with the return of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and the addition of defenders like Kwon Alexander and Dee Ford.
dark. Next. Five-Step Plan for 2019 Offseason
Losing a player who can pressure the quarterback also hurts. Whatever Ford was, he was safe. Free agency and the draft are always an uncertainty so it isn’t a sure thing the Chiefs are able to pull off the moves they want to right now.
Regardless, Kansas City is just getting started this offseason. Stay glued to your phones people, because it is only getting started.