Former UGA great gets cut by NFL’s Chiefs

Don’t worry, this decision wasn’t based on talent. It was all about the money.

On Sunday, the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs cut outside linebacker Justin Houston in a move that had been rumored for weeks.

The Chiefs had tried to trade Houston, but no one was willing to pick up the $15.25 million base salary that was due this season, per ESPN’s Adam Shefter.

Houston’s entire NFL career has been with Kansas City. He has played eight seasons, and was named to the Pro Bowl four times. In 2014, Houston posted 22 sacks, which led the NFL and was a team record.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Houston signed with UGA out of Statesboro, Ga. He emerged as an elite player during his junior season (2010) with the Bulldogs, posting 10 sacks. He earned All-SEC and All-America honors, and declared early for the NFL draft. He was a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2011 Draft.

With NFL teams so desperate for pass rushers, Houston should not have much trouble finding a new home very soon.

Justin Houston is going to end up making back the $15M the Chiefs were due to pay this year and then some. So many teams with so much cap space are desperate for pass-rush. They were just waiting for him to hit the market and a half dozen or so are engaging with him now

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 10, 2019

Justin Houston's release instantly vaults him into the conversation as one of the best free agents available.https://t.co/Mc4VnWnMcr pic.twitter.com/4OjTHOcFF6

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 10, 2019