Reports: Chiefs LB Ford to get franchise tag

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to apply the franchise tag to linebacker Dee Ford, according to multiple reports. The franchise tag period opened Tuesday and will run until March 5. The linebacker tag for 2019 is expected to be $15.78 million, according to ProFootballTalk.

Kansas City selected Ford with the No. 23 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. In the 2018 regular season, he played in 16 games and recorded career highs in sacks (13), tackles (55), tackles for loss (13) and QB hits (29). Ford, 27, told WFNZ in Charlotte on Monday that he wouldn't object to playing under the franchise tag while a longer deal is worked out between the two sides.

"I wouldn't mind it," Ford said. "We're working toward removing the franchise tag in the future. A long-term deal is more suitable, especially (since) this is a 100-percent-guaranteed-injury industry. So we want to move toward that soon, but no one's tripping about a franchise tag." General manager Brett Veach has been clear about the team's intentions to keep Ford, whether through a long-term deal or the tag.

--Field Level Media