The Kansas City Chiefs have named outside linebacker and NFL sack champion Justin Houston their franchise player. "Justin is a talented player and a key contributor to our defense,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said. “Today was the deadline to designate a franchise player, and it was in the best interest of the club to place the tag on Justin. We will continue to discuss long-term options with him and his agent. Our goal is to reach a deal that is mutually beneficial. We want to keep Justin in a Chiefs uniform for years to come.” Houston led the NFL with 22 sacks last season, a half-sack behind the NFL record established by Michael Strahan in 2001. Houston was named to this third consecutive Pro Bowl. Houston, 26, had to be tagged or signed to a new deal by 4 p.m. today or he would have become an unrestricted free agent March 10. Follow me on Twitter: @RavensInsider Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun