Adam Schefter, citing league sources, reports that the Chiefs are placing their franchise tag on OLB Dee Ford and plan to have him on their roster for the 2019 season.
However, Schefter adds that the Chiefs will still listen to trade offers for Ford, as they will be transitioning to a 4-3 base defense.
The franchise tag will cost the Chiefs $15.4 million fully guaranteed for the 2019 season, but won’t prevent them from negotiating a long-term extension.
Kansas City is reportedly open to trading veteran OLB Justin Houston, so there are a number of questions for them moving forward to sort through.
Ford, 27, was taken with the No. 23 overall pick by the Chiefs back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $8.158 million rookie contract when the Chiefs picked up his fifth-year option.
Ford made a base salary of $8,718,000 million for the 2018 season. He was in line to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
In 2018, Ford appeared in 15 games for the Chiefs and recorded 55 tackles, 13 sacks, seven forced fumble and a pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 overall edge defender out of 103 qualifying players.
We had him featured in our Top 100 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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