We’ll continue our look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ potential unrestricted free agents with the linebacker who led the NFL in sacks last season.
Four NFL seasons, all with the Chiefs. Houston set a Chiefs record for sacks last season with 22, finishing a half-sack from the NFL record set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants in 2001. Turned 26 in January.
Chiefs career: Houston’s time with the Chiefs has been on an upward arc ever since they drafted him in the third round in 2011. He had 5.5 sacks as a rookie, 10 in 2012 and 11 in 2013 (despite missing five games with a dislocated elbow) before exploding last season. Houston is more than just a pass rusher. He also excels in playing the run and in pass coverage. He was far and away the top-rated 3-4 outside linebacker by Pro Football focus in 2014 as an overall player and pass rusher. But Houston was also rated fourth as a run defender and tied for fourth in coverage.
Argument for keeping Houston: Where to begin? It’s impossible to argue that Houston doesn’t deserve a contract like those given to the NFL’s highest-paid defensive players. A measure of Houston’s importance and value to the Chiefs came in those five games he missed because of the injured elbow at the end of the 2013 regular season. The Chiefs had 37 sacks in the 11 games in which Houston played and 10 in the five games without him. There’s no reason to believe that giving a big contract to Houston is a risky proposition, any more than it is for any player. Houston had the one freak injury but otherwise hasn’t missed a game in his four years with the Chiefs. He rarely misses a practice. He’s also just 26 so he should have several strong seasons ahead.
Argument for letting Houston go: None. You think I’m stupid? This kind of player doesn’t come along very often.
What should happen with Houston: He needs to remain with the franchise at least through his 20s and beyond if he’s still productive. Absent a long-term contract this year, the Chiefs can retain Houston on a one-year deal by making him the franchise player. That’s OK for the short term but eventually the Chiefs need to be fair with Houston and give him the long-term contract he deserves.