Texans Gave Wade Smith More Money Than Chiefs Gave Ryan Lilja

by Joel Thorman on Mar 17, 2010 11:38 AM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

In the first week of free agency the Kansas City Chiefs lost right guard Wade Smith to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs wanted to keep him but -- and this is just speculation here -- didn't want to pay him as much as the Texans did.

His final bill with the Texans?

Four years, $12 million.

Those numbers are why I was so surprised to see the Chiefs deal with Ryan Lilja.

Three years, $7.5 million. No word yet on how the guaranteed portions breakdown but it's still a significant amount less than what Smith fetched on the open market.

So what does that mean?

Are the Chiefs just shrewd negotiators? Did Lilja take a hometown discount? Is Lilja less of a player than Smith?

I'm not sure what the case is but I like it.

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Comments

WOW, thats perfect!

We upgraded and it cost us less than if we would of retained a depth player

by Larryemcdaniel on Mar 17, 2010 11:39 AM CDT reply actions

So we got TJ for the same money as LT

and we got Lilja for less money than Wade freaking Smith?

What’s next?

Check out Two Out Rally, the new BASEBALL MMORPG, coming soon!
twooutrally.com | (on Facebook) | (on Twitter)

by Justin Bopp on Mar 17, 2010 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

Drop in ticket price,

because they don’t have to pay the players as much. :)

by Bra on Mar 17, 2010 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

ha ha, doubtful! the 49ers season tickets prices in some spots are multiplying by THREE

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

We all wake up & this offseason has been nothing but a dream!!!

by 65 Toss Power Trap83 on Mar 17, 2010 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I actually had a dream last night

and the Chiefs some how got Larry Fitzgerald. I woke up and was pissed.

by NaturalsLight on Mar 17, 2010 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

ahhh... dreaming about the chiefs...

Think thats a sign of a true fan!

by Chiefs2SB10 on Mar 17, 2010 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

...or...

Check out Two Out Rally, the new BASEBALL MMORPG, coming soon!
twooutrally.com | (on Facebook) | (on Twitter)

by Justin Bopp on Mar 17, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Wheelin and Dealin

At this rate I think we should try for the lowest Salary Cap in the NFL to win a superbowl. My guess is Don Pioli is threatening players. The mob doesn’t mess around.

by Godlovetheredman14 on Mar 17, 2010 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

lilja was paid exactly, and I mean exactly what I thought he would

smith was overpaid in my opinion…

lilja over smith ANY DAY for our ZB scheme

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

Wait a second, is Scott Pioli really Dave Ramsey????

Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

by BigRedChief on Mar 17, 2010 11:45 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

+14.

Another Pioli secret: All of his contracts are paid up front in cash.

by JacinB on Mar 17, 2010 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Live like nobody else now so you can live like nobody else later.

Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

by BigRedChief on Mar 17, 2010 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

+14

Dave Ramsey is the freaking man.

Official Member of the "Draft Eric Berry" Fanclub

by KCporkchop on Mar 17, 2010 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Damn straight. Changed my life.

Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

by BigRedChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

man, I want some of that action

lemme put on some pads, go out, get hit a few times … for THAT money? you betcha!

"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
Whitlock Rocks!
hi, Mo!
5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Mar 17, 2010 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Most depressing hour of my life

was the first time I saw the introduction to his Financial Peace class. Everytime he said “the mistake most people make is……..” I was like “crap I do that”. Then he would say “and to make matters worse, they turn around and do this…..” and I’m like “f@ck me, I just did that yesterday.” It was pretty humbling.

Official Member of the "Draft Eric Berry" Fanclub

by KCporkchop on Mar 17, 2010 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

i know what you mean. i'm actually a fpu instructor now but i remember life before it. good thing i learned about him

The only players I hurt with my words are the ones who have an inflated opinion of their ability. I can't worry about that.
Bill Parcells

Knowledge is confidence. And confidence lets you play fast.
Bill Parcells

by kcguy on Mar 17, 2010 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I would compare Scott Pioli as

the Benjamin Graham of Football GM, he’s looking for value opportunities out there in free agency and will only pay for things he knows he can get at a significant discount than what others fetch out there in the market. He has added strong leadership on both sides of the ball to help along the young players he will get through the draft and undrafted free agents. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if we have one or two undrafted’s that make the team and make some kind of contribution their rookie year

by ChuckDiesel on Mar 17, 2010 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

well when your team is mediocre to bad, you get those undrafted guys since they know they can make your team...

personally just glad jesse holley got his roster spot and am hoping for 4th and long season 2!

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

i was hoping the same thing that was one of my favorite shows

i was contemplating on askin people if andrew hawkins would be good for the chiefs as a KR role. this guy was a player!!!

"WIth the 5th pick in the 2010 NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs select... Eric Berry Safety Tennesee... "

by BEEf_CHIEF on Mar 17, 2010 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah he really is a player...if he had...2 inches more to his height...

I hope holley makes their roster this year…I also sort of liked that DB that finished towards the end….trying to remember, not mouton, the other guy…he wasnt bad

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

lets see

there was dontae gamble… he was good but just small. What I didnt know was that the chiefs had a workout with luke swann at one time but we declined him because he was too injury prone

"WIth the 5th pick in the 2010 NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs select... Eric Berry Safety Tennesee... "

by BEEf_CHIEF on Mar 17, 2010 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

we had swan signed at one point...he was on the team for 2 weeks I believe in the offseason.

ahmad smith maybe

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

by offseason I mean a few years back

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions

or when The last guy taken in the draft

is rookie of the year for your team.

"It doesn't matter what you do in Life only that you do it the best you can. "

by sgthall on Mar 17, 2010 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah it was prob smith... great show

"WIth the 5th pick in the 2010 NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs select... Eric Berry Safety Tennesee... "

by BEEf_CHIEF on Mar 18, 2010 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

i like how we're adding depth and filling in needs

without spending lots of money. this has been a good free agency for us

"WIth the 5th pick in the 2010 NFL draft the Kansas City Chiefs select... Eric Berry Safety Tennesee... "

by BEEf_CHIEF on Mar 17, 2010 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

Wade Smith

Is probably more valuable to the Texans, and Lilja is more valuable to the Chiefs.

That’s what I would take out of it.

Also, I think Smith’s ‘style’ is one that can be used on more teams, and so he probably had more bidders (or at least higher bidders) and led to him getting the salary he did.

I don’t think either team over payed. Smith is a solid NFL OL, and will be a valuable, versatile player for them.

by kcsno56 on Mar 17, 2010 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

i think Smith's agent is better than Lilja in terms of negotiating...

by 72chiefs on Mar 17, 2010 12:02 PM CDT reply actions

If by "better at negotiating" you actually mean "The Texans got rolled" ...

Then I agree completely.

by JacinB on Mar 17, 2010 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

he visited several teams

and the Texans tossed the most coin at him, i figured it would have been Buffalo seeing as how depleted their line is.

Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....

by jrcnc on Mar 17, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

i might believe if he was the only one pioli got cheep

but he is getting solid players for next to nothing. i say that speaks volumes about piloi’s negotiating skills.

Seriously mates, when have I ever been sarcastic?

Oh and in case you were wondering, that hug offer is still there when you are ready UC :p

by Leaf on Mar 17, 2010 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Would have been nice to have both

by Chiefsfan1970 on Mar 17, 2010 12:03 PM CDT reply actions

While Wade Smith was solid...

Ryan Lilja, in my opinion, is a better upgrade. The new o-line signings reassure my thought of drafting defense in the first round.

I hope we either take Berry or trade down and draft a NT. The first option is ideal. We’ll instantly upgrade a position of need and have a real playmaker on our hands.

The second round picks can be used for NT, WR, LB, or O-line. Cody or Thomas for NT, Spikes for LB, Pouncey for C/G. We could draft another guard in later rounds (future Waters replacement) as well as a blocking TE. I wouldn’t mind drafting WR Meier in the 7th or signing him as an UDFA…he has great hands, great possession receiver. He may even be taken in earlier rounds.

Mock rounds 1 & 2:
S Berry—1st
LB Spikes—2a
NT Thomas—2b

Later rounds:
Center/guard
WR
TE
Another guard

by SupremeChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

As slow as Spikes was at his Pro Day today ...

… he might very well still be there for us at 2b or even 3.

by JacinB on Mar 17, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, now I sort of want TATE 2a, SPIKES 2b...of course, then I am starting to wonder...

how do we fix the NT spot…

so I am starting to be for trading back 2 spots, getting S. Rogers, then taking whoever at 7

Jamaal "do it all" Charles
KC Will Trade Derrick Johnson

by SDChief on Mar 17, 2010 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

forget spikes

Pouncey at 2a

"It doesn't matter what you do in Life only that you do it the best you can. "

by sgthall on Mar 17, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

cleveland stock piling

They have a lot of extra picks to go after Bradford or Clausen. In the end, most teams, unlike the Raiders will pay a safety big money in the top 5. I wouldn’t be surprised to see teams come to their senses and go after the QBs and LTs before these specialty positions. That being said, if we trade down to 7, I can see us taking Berry. But at 5, my guess would be the guy from Iowa. We’re tight with Ferrenz.

by kc571 on Mar 17, 2010 12:10 PM CDT reply actions

We’re also tight with Nick Saban of Alabama, and probably many other College coaches that Pioli has forged relationships with over the years. I doubt it has undue influence in who Pioli will draft.

by dablueguy on Mar 17, 2010 12:31 PM CDT reply actions