The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to get back to the postseason and are quietly having a solid season. Contract situations will begin to make things loud though and need to be sorted out.
When the Kansas City Chiefs surged back onto the scene last year, they did so thanks to a ruckus defense that brought the pain and made stars out of one or two players. Tampa Hali was already a stud but it was Justin Houston who had a breakout season with the Chiefs.
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It has now come time for the Chiefs to pay those two players, which is a task a lot easier said than done. Kansas City is a bit strapped for cash at the moment, which may make re-signing both defensive pillars harder than it looks.
According to Adam Teacher from ESPN.com, the Chiefs can indeed fit both Justin Houston and Tamba Hali under that cap over the long term, they just need to be creative in doing so.
"One outside linebacker, Tamba Hali, is scheduled to cost $12 million against the Chiefs’ salary cap next year. That’s one reason it’s important the Chiefs sign the other, Justin Houston, to a long-term deal next year as opposed to making him the franchise player. They would get Houston at a much cheaper 2015 cost if they do. Hali is playing well enough that the Chiefs should at least try to keep him. The alternative to Hali is Dee Ford, who hasn’t yet proved he’s ready for a full-time role."
Both players are critical to the Chiefs defense, but it will come at the sacrifice of others that they return. There have been questions asked of Eric Berry and if he has a long term future in Kansas City, as well as other defensive players with big or rising cap figures. The Chiefs won’ blow the defense up, but they may end up choosing one or the other when it comes to Justin Houston and Tamba Hali — even if both can fit under the cap.
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