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Justin Houston signs one-year deal with Baltimore Ravens

The former Chiefs star will not be returning to Kansas City in 2021.

Indianapolis Colts v Las Vegas Raiders Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

Despite posting a photo of himself working out while wearing a Kansas City Chiefs helmet on Thursday, former Kansas City linebacker Justin Houston — who has spent the last two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts — has signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens worth $4 million, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Houston had previously been reported to be fielding offers from a number of teams — but on Saturday, CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora said that Houston was targeting the Ravens.

Two things to note here:

One: On the open market, it appears that Houston was worth more than the $4 million the Ravens will pay him in 2021. So he was willing to take less than his market value to sign with the team he wanted.

Two: Despite clear fan sentiment to bring him back, that team wasn’t the Chiefs. So if Kansas City was among the teams talking to Houston about a one-year deal, it likely would have been for substantially more than $4 million — which the Chiefs have already demonstrated they aren’t willing to pay for a one-year rental of an over-30 defensive end.

In 2021, the Chiefs will face the Ravens in a Week 2 Sunday Night Football game in Baltimore.

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