The whole key to the offseason right here
 

I brought this up in another thread, but I feel like it may warrant it's own.

IF you cut Houston, it costs you $7 million, (5.6 if you wait till June 2 but you kinda can't wait that long to free up the cash)

If you tag and keep Ford, it's going to cost you like $16 million.

So you've got $23 million conservatively wrapped up in one position: RDE.

IF you keep Houston at $21 million, and tag and trade Ford's $16 million,

you have $21 million in that RDE position. PLUS you get the pick for Ford, which will be I think a decent #2 and perhaps a low #1.

With the extra high pick, you draft a RDE somewhere in your 4 picks in the top 64, along with a CB, and a S.

You'll have enough for one, maybe two impact FA's and be set for next year, when you can cut Houston for only $1.5 dead cap.

I think we've been looking at this wrong; it's a net savings to keep HOUSTON and let FORD go. He's also the better all-around player.

Houston want to play hardball regardeing an extension. Ford is content to play on the tag and bet on himself. Houston can get ****ed.

Yup. Houston is a very curious case. If you're paying Houston $7.5m anyway, you can restructure his contract so we're basically paying him the same to stay here. He has about $5.6m in bonus money. Turn his base salary into a 5 year bonus. Pay him minimum base salary this offseason. It's basically adding maybe $2m extra to our cap.

why wouldn't he?

And it still doesn't change the fact that the BETTER PLAYER as an all-around talent is literally cheaper PLUS you get a high pick in exchange for Ford who's value will never be higher as trade bait.

I don't think there's anything other than an emotional argument against it.

We're keeping Houston, at his $21 million.

It's been claimed he won't restructure for less guaranteed money.

I can't blame him, I wouldn't either.

Even if they DON'T convert some to bonus or whatever, he's still cheaper to keep than cut and pay Ford.

He's about an equal pass rusher and a much better run defender.

Houston is looking at options because we won't pay whats on his contract. That's on the Chiefs, not Houston. And I totally agree with both sides. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Chiefs are basically letting Houston see what he's worth and seeing if it's worth matching.

I think the right move is to trade Ford

What optionsare you talking about? Other teams? He's under contract.

Trading Dee Ford only opens up 8 mil though, we’d have 8 mil in dead money.

Houston opens up 14 mil.

Houston cost to keep: 21 Mil
Ford cost to keep: 16 mil

Houston savings: 14 mil
Ford savings: 8 mil


Outside of gaining the pick I don’t see how this would make complete financial sense? I’d prefer to keep a player that’s proven then put everything into a draft pick in a must win year.

I'm cool with getting rid of both of them, but I easily keep Ford over Houston.

Ford gets you at least one high pick.

what are you talking about? If we tag and trade Ford, we pay nothing. If we keep him, we have to pay the tag number, estimated about $16 million.

$16 m plus $7 to cut Houston = $23 million. If we tag and trade Ford, we pay nothing. Houston's $21 million.

What am I missing? Ford is not under contract at the moment. There is no dead cap number.

And that's the BIG plus. Houston + a high pick (#2?) at less money than Ford.

It better be a 2 plus then. His last season is worth that to someone.

Don’t huff paint, kids.