Chiefs franchise Justin Houston

— -- The Kansas City Chiefs officially placed their franchise tag on linebacker Justin Houston on Monday, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The amount of the franchise tender for linebackers hasn't been set by the NFL yet but it is expected to be about $13 million for the 2015 season.

Houston, 26, flirted with greatness during his first three NFL seasons and he arrived in 2014, when he led the NFL in sacks with 22, finishing a half-sack from the NFL record set by Michael Strahan of the New York Giants in 2001.

Houston was a consistent pass-rusher, registering at least one sack in 13 of the Chiefs' 16 games. Houston was Pro Football Focus' top-rated 3-4 outside linebacker by a wide margin as he also played well against the run and in pass coverage.

He was selected to play in his third straight Pro Bowl, though after going through the week of practice he didn't play in the game because of what he said was an illness.

Houston has posted 43 disrupted dropbacks (sacks, passes defended, interceptions and batted balls) over the last two seasons, trailing only the  Houston Texans' J.J. Watt in that department, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The deadline for teams to place the franchise tag on their pending free agents is 4 p.m. ET on Monday.

ESPN.com Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher contributed to this report.