Justin Houston landing spots with Chiefs set to cut him

It seems the Kansas City Chiefs are prepared to move on from Justin Houston after a long, successful run. What will his future hold?

While there is still insistence that the team is trying to trade him, the reality is no team is likely to trade for a 30-year old pass rusher who will count over $20 million against the salary cap in 2019. Teams are far more likely to wait it out and take their chances in free agency. At that point, the big question gets asked. What will Houston prioritize more? Will he try to get the best payday he can before it’s too late or will he take a discount to play on a possible contender?

Nobody can answer that question but Houston himself, and he’ll have to reach the market for that to happen. Still, one can at least speculate on the possible teams that may be heavily involved in his pursuit once that comes to pass. The things to keep in mind are can they be contenders for the playoffs and do they run a 3-4 defensive scheme where he can play outside linebacker?

Here are three teams that could be considered options.

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Biggest threat: Green Bay Packers

Clay Matthews has reached the twilight of his career. Nick Perry is gone. The Packers pass rush is in a state of concerning flux. Not ideal given the urgency they have to get back into the playoff mix. Signing a veteran pass rusher is something they’ve had a ton of success with in the past. Ask Reggie White and Julius Peppers. This would follow that same mode of thinking and they have more than enough money (over $34 million) to afford his likely price.

Close pursuer: Tennessee Titans

Brian Orakpo retired. Derrick Morgan regressed in a big way in 2018. Right now the Titans are hurting for edge rusher help. Harold Landry has a chance to be good but he’s one man. They need somebody else who can generate some rush to complement Jurrell Casey on the inside. Houston fits that desire, and he’d be playing for a highly respected coordinator in Dean Pees and a defensive head coach in Mike Vrabel.

Sleeper: Chicago Bears

Think about this from the perspective of GM Ryan Pace. You already have a premier pass rusher in Khalil Mack. Now another one becomes available. One who has direct connections to your head coach in Matt Nagy who was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City. Chicago already has a great defense and could be gunning for the Super Bowl if they can one or two more key pieces. Mack and Houston as a pass rush pair could be devastating. All they have to do is find the money.