With the deadline for NFL teams and franchise-tagged players to agree to a long-term deal looming at 4 p.m. today, the Kansas City Chiefs and outside linebacker Justin Houston have reached an agreement on a six-year extension worth $101.5 million, with $52.5 million guaranteed. The contract makes Houston the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history, and the second-highest paid defensive player of all time behind Ndamukong Suh.

Houston, who is still only 26 years old, recorded 22 sacks last season for the Chiefs, which left him only a half-sack behind Michael Strahan‘s NFL record of 22.5. With Houston and Tamba Hali coming off the edges and Dontari Poe anchoring the middle, the Chiefs front seven is one of the best in the NFL. The group also gets their leader Derrick Johnson back from injury, which will only make the defense even more dangerous.

The Chiefs made some important acquisitions on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, including Jeremy Maclin, Ben Grubbs and Chris Conley. Andy Reid is attempting to get more explosiveness in the offense by becoming more vertical in the passing game. Last season, the Chiefs receivers didn’t catch a single touchdown throughout the whole season, which is mind-boggling.

With the improvements being made on offense, the Chiefs couldn’t afford to let Houston walk at the end of the season. The defense is still the calling card of this Chiefs team, and it will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future. The team just drafted Marcus Peters with their first-round pick, which will improve the secondary immensely. With Peters opposite Sean Smith and the front seven that exists, this unit has a chance to be special for years to come.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.