I don't agree Houston has leverage. He knows the Chiefs can and will cut him and that the threat is real. If he for example turns this years base into bonus, he basically makes the same money in 2019 but it's incredibly more cap friendly for kc. with a contract extension he has the peace of mind knowing hes guaranteed probably until retirement.

Somebody is going to give him deferred guarantees and a signing bonus, which is exactly what the Chiefs are going to try and do.

He may not be able to get significantly more from another team but he won't know until he tries. Never underestimate ego in all of this, he's not going to take a deal from the Chiefs without seeing what others will offer.

He could go get the same signing bonus somewhere else. You think he's scared of getting cut? ROFL

That's probably about right. Assuming you mean $9-10 base with $3-4m per year bonus. That's really not a lot for a quality pass rusher.

I don't think he's scared of getting cut. He just knows he can be. I'm sure his preference is to stay in kc. If kc offers him a deal that's at least competitive with what he'd get in the open market, don't see why he wouldn't restructure. And kc offering his base salary as bonus already gets us to competitive. At this stage in his career, I'd imagine hed rather be guaranteed.

He's going to get paid on the open market. There are several teams like the Colts that can, and will, pay him more than the Chiefs. If it comes down to an ultimatum, plan on him refusing to restructure. The only way he can even know if what the Chiefs are offering is fair is to get offers from other teams and compare.

I don't think we disagree that much. What I meant by leverage is if the Chiefs want to pay him the market rate, which will undoubtedly be well less than his current contract, they hold all the cards. If they really wanted to keep him, worst case scenario they keep him at his current contract. If he sees the open market it will be because the Chiefs didn't want to pay his current base salary and don't want to pay the market rate, not because Houston held any cards. Wouldn't count out the possibility that the Chiefs cut him so Houston can test what his market rate is, then outbid.

He has 2/32 left on his deal. He’s not getting $16M/year on the open market.

However, he might get 3/24 with decent guranatees. I just think it’ll be elsewhere.

I hope this wasn't your "big feeling". I understand the cap hit, but good god I'd rather see Ford and Berry go.

Restructure or buh-bye.

The last year really doesn't matter. The question is if anyone will pay him $16m this year. If you turn that into a signing bonus, that's a very reasonable number in the open market.

DoD will be a ****ing beast

He got $32M guaranteed on his 6 year deal.

Hell no should he get $16M guaranteed next year. That’s ascenine.

Told you guys. Houston is gone. Why pay a DL top 3 money when they are not? He can restructure or be gone.

LOL.

Houston would easily get $16 million + on a 2-3 year deal. Smarten up.

It’s his cap number the Chiefs cannot manage right now at $21 million.