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UPDATE: 9:29 p.m. Arrowhead Time
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio calls out Rapoport’s report, suggesting the Chiefs are “simply trying to drum up interest” themselves.
Are the Chiefs getting interest in Justin Houston, or are they trying to create interest in him? https://t.co/OCAmBJm8pP
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 28, 2019
UPDATE: 8:07 p.m. Arrowhead Time
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport confirms La Canfora’s earlier report.
Sources: The #Chiefs have had trade talks centered around star pass-rusher Justin Houston. With Houston’s cap number and the potential to franchise tag Dee Ford, Houston appears to be a rare top pass-rusher available. Teams have been calling with real interest.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2019
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston could be a trade candidate, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora.
Houston’s name appeared in La Canfora’s latest NFL Scouting Combine notebook.
LA CANFORA: A brief aside on other players available ahead of the league year. League sources said the Vikings are shopping corner Trae Waynes, the Bears are shopping running back Jordan Howard, the Chiefs are talking trade on Justin Houston and the Eagles are open to moving Nelson Agholor.
Before writing off La Canfora just for the sake of it, remember that he was one of the first reporters on the Marcus Peters trade, as well as Eric Berry injury news this season.
Houston, 30, still has two years left on his contract with the Chiefs, but the fact that he currently holds the largest 2019 cap number on the team has made him expendable (OverTheCap).
The Chiefs are expected to franchise tag outside linebacker Dee Ford, and the team has reportedly made wide receiver Tyreek Hill and defensive lineman Chris Jones offseason priorities. Both Hill and Jones are available for extensions this offseason. Trading Houston could lead to $14 million in cap savings and getting some compensation back is always more ideal than a straight cut.
Houston had 9.0 sacks in 2018 and has compiled 78.5 sacks during his eight-year career with the Chiefs. Houston was recently named the 80th-ranked player in Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players of the 2018 season.
His best season came in 2014, when he had a career-high 22.0 sacks, but he has since failed to replicate that level of elite play.