With names like Owen Daniels, Matt Schaub, Ben Tate, Wade Smith, and Antonio Smith most likely gone at the end of this season, which seems to be over already, it seems that we should start to look at some FA names the Texans might be interested in. We all know that we have way more holes in the team than can be filled by 1 draft class so we'll have to fill some in FA. Extending JJ Watt will be top priority, and I think KJ gets a new reasonable contract as well. With no numbers at hand though I'm thinking those 2 players get signed and that there should be some money left over to sign at least 1 or 2 decent/good FA. What positions would you like to see filled by a FA signing vs. a draft pick? Also do you have any names we should start to look at? FA signings will have a big affect on the draft.
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2014 Free Agency.....and the Texans
- Thread starter Wolf6151
- Start date
Since there's not going to be alot of $$$$ available give me
1. Ryan Clark
2. Rashean Mathis
1. Ryan Clark
2. Rashean Mathis
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
No need to sign JJ Watt this off-season.
I think Antonio is most likely signed to an about 3 year $12 mil deal.
They should scour who is coming available at RT, NT, CB and ILB/OLB (draft the other).
Michael Oher, B.J. Raji, and Brian Orapko look like the out of reach/top guys - the market for Oher might be interesting. There are quite a few CBs so maybe the market will be down there some this offseason.
I think Antonio is most likely signed to an about 3 year $12 mil deal.
They should scour who is coming available at RT, NT, CB and ILB/OLB (draft the other).
Michael Oher, B.J. Raji, and Brian Orapko look like the out of reach/top guys - the market for Oher might be interesting. There are quite a few CBs so maybe the market will be down there some this offseason.
I'm Leary of Mathis' string of injury.
ACL in 2011; knee last year; groin at the moment.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Clark is 34 and Mathis is 33. steelb thinks he is being funny that they are the only thing we can afford.
honestly, I would look at the math until FEb or something, but don't the Texans generally run the salary cap to re-sign players, get 1 moderate priced free and bunches low cost veterans?
From what I read, PFF said that Clark had a good year.
A possibility is T J Ward at safety.
Add Ed Reed and Greg Jones to that list of players likely to be gone, thus saving us a bunch of money and allowing us to pursue some decent/good FA.
I also would not be shocked to see the Texans cut Arian Foster at the end of the season. I'm not sure about his contract situation and whether or not he's gotten his guaranteed money but the return on investment in him is getting worse each year since he signed his new expensive contract. I'm not saying it's going to happen but I wouldn't be shocked if it did.
I also would not be shocked to see the Texans cut Arian Foster at the end of the season. I'm not sure about his contract situation and whether or not he's gotten his guaranteed money but the return on investment in him is getting worse each year since he signed his new expensive contract. I'm not saying it's going to happen but I wouldn't be shocked if it did.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Cutting Ed Reed would create $1.33 in dead money which is a net $4 mil cap savings over keeping him.*
Greg Jones was on a 1 year contract.
Cutting Foster would create $7.5 mil in dead money which is a net $1.25 mil cap savings over keeping him. I would put that in the "not going to happen" pile. Foster has received all his guaranteed money.
* According to spotrac Ed Reed received the last $2 mil of his guaranteed money in 2012 as an advance on base salaries which is included akin to prorated signing bonus in the above.
Until yesterday I didn't think they would have a whole lot of cap space to throw around either .... then you look at cutting a few guys who have underperformed - OD , JJo and Reed along with Schaub and you have ~25m in cap space to play with even if you eat all of Schaub's remaining guaranteed $$ in next years cap.
OD and JJo cost nothing against the cap to cut while Reed costs you $1.33m
JJo saves you $11.25m , OD $6.25m and Ed Reed $4m.
Then you have about $22m in expiring contracts tho that's across ~13 roster spots.
They will have the option of being active in free agency should they make some difficult cuts.
Cutting JJo will result in $5M in dead money, but the Texans will have $6.25M to pay his replacement.
The $12.5M saving in 2015 can be divided between that same replacement and re-upping KJackson (unless he follows JJo's regression route.)
Is there a decent FA CB out there in the $6M range?
The $12.5M saving in 2015 can be divided between that same replacement and re-upping KJackson (unless he follows JJo's regression route.)
Is there a decent FA CB out there in the $6M range?
Brent Grimes is rumored to be in the 3-yr $18M range.
Does that sound doable ?
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1789188-miami-dolphins-how-much-is-brent-grimes-going-to-get-paid-in-2014
http://m.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/pro-football-focus-gaining-attention-for-its-ranki/nbLPG/
Does that sound doable ?
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1789188-miami-dolphins-how-much-is-brent-grimes-going-to-get-paid-in-2014
http://m.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/football/pro-football-focus-gaining-attention-for-its-ranki/nbLPG/
Texian
Hall of Fame
Tate, Smith, Smith and Jones are outright free agents so there is no salary cap relief for them. In addition 2013 starters Mitchell, Graham, Mays and Sharpton are also outright free agents no salary cap relief for them. Texans have 18 free agents in 2014. With their contracts off the books the Texans are expected to currently begin the 2014 $8 million under the salary cap with 35 players from the 2013 season under contract.
If as you suggest, the Texans release Schaub, Daniels, Reed and Foster the Texans will increase their amount of being under salary cap by approx $13 million. The Texans are currently expected to start the 2014 $8 million under the cap. Adding $13 million will give them a total of approx $21 million under the salary cap to start 2014. Add the 4 released players you suggested to the 18 free agents contracts that have to be replaced and there is now 22 contracts that have to be replaced in 2014.
The Texans now have to replace their #1 and #2 RBs.
The Texans now have to replace their #1 and #2 TEs.
The Texans now have to replace their current starting ILBs.
The Texans now have to replace 2/3rds of their starting DL.
The Texans now have to replace their starting LG and FB.
Essentially the Texans have emptied their entire backfield, depleted most of their DL and wiped out their starting TE corp, reduced the # ILBs by half. Should be interesting.
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infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Spotrac is good about the contract details but they often leave holes in the dead money column such as on JJo. He has $5 mil in prorated signing bonus which has not been accounted for to date and would become dead money but the Texans would have a net cap savings next season of $6.25 mil rather than keeping him.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Dead money is confusing, but if player is cut or traded after guarantee is paid, the salary is not counted. The prorated bonus is puched up into current year so should not effect after that year as I understand.
Texian
Hall of Fame
Joseph also restructured his contract 2012 to free up enough money ($4mil) so they could extend Schaub's contract. So there is another $2 mil or so that would be due (dead Money) if Joseph is cut or traded. http://www.stateofthetexans.com/texans-extend-schaub-and-jamison/
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
The league year of the cut/trade all prorated money which has not appeared on a cap and any money which has to be paid out because of guarantees (generally not a factor on trades because the new team becomes responsible for the further guaranteed payments) must appear on the cap that year with the exception of June 1st cuts. JJo has been paid all his guaranteed money so the only thing left to account for him is the 2 seasons of prorated signing bonus which has not been accounted for so far which is $5 mil. They can do it all on the 2014 cap or as a June 1st cut and split it equally in this case to 2014 & 2015.
And this is where it gets confusing ... guaranteed $$ is paid.
I didn't do the math in the above post but just to clarify so we all come to the right conclusion lets do it here:
5 year $48.75m (really irrelevant)
$12.5m signing bonus.
$23.5m guaranteed
2011 Base salary $5.5m , $2.5m signing bonus hit 2011 Total $8m
2012 Base salary $2.25m , signing bonus hit $2.5m , Roster Bonus $1.25m 2012 Total $6m
2013 Base salary $7.5m signing bonus hit $2.5m, Roster Bonus $1.25m 2013 Total $11.25m
Over that three year span , JJo has been paid $25.25 total exceeding his $23.5m guarantee.
The one thing Im not positive about is if roster bonuses translate towards paying down the guaranteed $$ , If they do he would cost nothing to cut. If they don't , that knocks his $ towards guaranteed $$ down to $22.75m meaning they would incur a cap hit of $750k in reaching that $23m.5m guarantee.
Its either $0 or $750k.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
You are correct the restructure has to be accounted for. They paid him $5 mil to restructure so there is an additional $2.5 mil to account for.
The $5 mil restructure bonus was not paid as a roster bonus otherwise it would have all appeared on that year's cap. This was a 2nd signing bonus and has been prorated so the amount which has not appeared on the cap will have to be accounted for. That is the point of most restructures - to reduce salary which will all appear on the year paid and make it into money prorated over the remainder of the contract. Just because money has been paid doesn't mean it has been accounted for. If all the guaranteed money is signing bonus, it is all paid on day 1 but it is not fully accounted for until the expiration of the contract.
In this case, if JJo is cut there are 2 years of original signing bonus to account for totaling $5mil and 2 years of restructuring signing bonus to account for totalling $2.5 mil. That is $7.5 mil in dead money to cut him after this season.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Here is a link to a very detailed explanation of cap and dead money which you might find helpful.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...liantion-of-the-complex-concept-of-dead-money
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...liantion-of-the-complex-concept-of-dead-money
Ugh @ $7.5m in dead money .... If that's the case it would be kinda difficult to cut him as unless you find a CB in the draft to replace him with , it isn't likely you upgrade the position with what's left between salary and dead money. You might fill the spot but doubtful you upgrade thru FA with ~$4m.
If Brent Grimes takes the 3yr-$18M deal, and continues to play the way he does as compared to the way JJo has been playing, that's an upgrade at $2M less per annum, even as the Texans have to eat that $7.5M in dead money.
They're just a bit short on cap space for the first year, but that won't be a problem if Watt doesn't have to be resigned until 2015.
aussie_texan
Veteran
personally i cut without blinking an eye , schaub, od, jjo, reed. and resigning ninja is a MUST!!!!!! and go out and find a CB and S in FA. then with the draft we should be back into competing for playoffs and our window opens again.
i feel sorry for those guys cut especially OD buts its the nature of the game.
i feel sorry for those guys cut especially OD buts its the nature of the game.
panamamyers
Waterboy
Cutting Foster would create $1.25 mil in cap space and a mile-wide empty space in locker room cancer. I don't care if he saves us enough to buy a couple of Big Macs in cap space. I don't want the sour attitude on the team any more.
bhsman
Rookie
How is Foster in any way a team cancer? Jeez, people.
RB's Hopefully Foster makes it back, but if not I would keep Johnson and Karim, then draft Charles Sims in the 4/5th rd range. He's a stud.
TE's Graham/Griffin will be back. I would sign a blocking TE for the vet Min.
ILB's Cushing should be back and healthy, (It's not like he's coming back from ACL surgery) Drafting a guy like Skov/A.Jackson or Borland in the 3/4th rd range would be a massive upgrade.
DL, would be replaced at the top of the draft.
Quessenberry will most likely play LG next yr and be an upgrade over Smith. Boren is on the PS and would replace Jones.
The main thing is the Texans must hit on atleast 4 draft picks this yr if they want to keep pace with the Colts. They also need to have luck on their side and stay relatively injury free next yr.
I've got very little faith in Rick/Gary/Wade being able to hit on 4 picks in one draft. There are too many holes to fill in one draft for the Texans. If they hit on the DL/ILB/OL in this draft and add toughness to the team I will be happy.
PHILLYTEXANFAN
Saddle Up Partner
Bump signing any FAs, maybe a few bodies to play situation, but until Ricks gone, this cap issue will still linger. Build straight through draft, and no more over the hill FAs. Focus on resigning the house, Reem and Watt primarily come to mind.
Reed is the only "over the hill FA" they have signed in a long time and he was signed to be the final piece to the defense - it just didn't work out.
As for the cap situation , they went all in for this season .... They along with most of the media & fans thought this team had a shot at winning or at least reaching a superbowl.
The cap situation can be cleaned up in one season and even with considerable dead money , they can have up to ~$40m in cap space to work with by cutting a couple guys and not resigning others.
While I agree with you on the cap situation,
C-N-D warned us about Schaub/Foster etc... before the season. If he could figure this out, then you would think Rick/Gary/Texans medical staff could figure it out. After all they are paid millions of $$$$ to figure it out. How much does C-N-D get paid? This is why there should be a full house cleaning.
badboy
Hall of Fame
I think they are paid to provide evidence, do what they are told and keep their mouths shut.
We've had the same medical staff thru two coaching administrations .... with much the same results. The coaches getting poor information and making what looks to be huge blunders based off of that bad medical advice. (Joppru & Boselli ring a bell ?!)
I find it hard to blame the coaches when they obviously didn't hire the medical staff .... the question is , who did ?! And why after so many mistakes are these doctors still employed by the team ??
Dr to Rick Smith - Matt Schaub will be fine , no further problems with the foot.
Smith hands him a fat contract after he plays two very strong games.
Reality sets in towards the end of the season and Schaub falls apart.
Dr's to Charlie Casserley - Boselli will heal up just fine.
Casserley takes Boselli with his first pick in the expansion draft (the contract issues are another story , I don't believe they would have taken him had they known he would never play a down).
Same Dr's over a decade apart making mistakes that are costly to the team.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Not particularly directed at you but to medical discussions generally, I think folks are looking way too close to home and not looking at the league wide system. Every team is tight lipped about injuries. Every team has some bad medical results. Doc is great and his information is fantastic to have around here but even he will say he tends toward putting out the full range of possibilities rather than the most optimistic (the latter being the MO for every team out there). Folks here remember when the poorest result happens and forget when the optimistic one turns out like Posey.
What did the Texans docs miss on Joppru or Boselli? They knew about Boselli's operations and chances and the Texans decided to take it. Boselli was also cleared by an NFL appointed independent doc. Willie Roaf was not and then went on to four consecutive pro bowls and an All Pro. Medicine is only partially a science or is an inexact science at best.
NCTexan
Veteran
Joppru didn't have any injury issues in college if I recall correctly. I think Joppru gets a lot of flak for stuff that couldn't of been predicted by either party.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
Joppru is why you should not fall in love with a player when there are better options/value available!
NCTexan
Veteran
Oh I don't disagree there were better picks, but I don't think he was a terrible one either. He only later became awful when he couldn't play. There were no indications that that would be the case.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Who without cherry picking results?
beerlover
Hall of Fame
Will post something after I get home & review old notes.
this is from page 52 under mock thread (far back as it goes 2009). but off top of my head we where crying for OL then too. Also a big physical nose guard, guess some things never change....
well just finished watching the OSU USC upset game & came away dissapointed with that trojan D, the offense not being to far behind.
first start with Rey Maualuga, his reaction time & reads are a step slow not to mention has a hard time locating a small target. Has all the measureables except plays out of control or not smart I don't know which in any case a top 5 pick is too high would much rather have Selvie.
second, Taylor Mays is a very impressive physical athlete as are most USC starters but is raw, unpolished & plays out of control don't know where his head is at either.
third, Brian Cushing seems more like a good fit in space for what the Texans need from the OLB position but I just didn't notice him much at all in the backfield something I need to see in order to sign off drafting him in the 1st rd. for the Houston Texans.
However, Clay Matthews did impress despite getting undercut by undersized Jacquizz Rodgers (ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns) has a natural abilty to live in the backfield decent speed & athletic ability but first & foremost smart. while not a first rd. talent Clay is the kind of player I was hoping for in Adibi. based on what I saw not to mention his pedigree I would grade him a solid 3rd/4th rd. pick. his football background is both impressive & exciting for his dad was Clay Mattews LB Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons from 1978 to 1996. His brother, Kyle, lettered at safety on USC's 2003 national championship team & uncle Bruce, was a 3-year (1980-82) letterman offensive guard at USC who earned All-American honors in 1982 and then played with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983 to 2001. His grandfather, Clay Sr., was on the football, wrestling and swimming teams at Georgia Tech in the 1940s and then played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s talk about lineage
Sorry I got a little carried awaysilly me you can keep scrolling down to also find rds. 2 & 3. no Clay Matthews.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
I must have repressed the 2003 draft, it was stinky. Only player that matters was Andre Johnson. Texans took Tony Hollings in the supplemental draft which turned out costing the first pick of the 2nd rd. omg 
then Bennie? wow just terrible, both reaches with huge bust potential for where they took them. Now I remember how much I hated Casserly & why I started doing my own draft work, cause they made me 
then Bennie? wow just terrible, both reaches with huge bust potential for where they took them. Now I remember how much I hated Casserly & why I started doing my own draft work, cause they made me Naija Texan
Waterboy
Don't see the logic of cutting Jonathan Joseph considering how little depth (experienced or not) we have back there and the same for OD. Actually ESPECIALLY OD because Garrett Graham has shown nothing being hte primary TE.
Freeing up money or not, it can easily blow up in our faces if the guys, rookie or vet, we try to replace them with can't get the job done.
Freeing up money or not, it can easily blow up in our faces if the guys, rookie or vet, we try to replace them with can't get the job done.
WolverineFan
Hall of Fame
Agreed. A lot of people want to cut Joseph because of his contract. But if you cut him then Harris is your other starter across from Jackson and McCain is still in the slot. How does this improve the team?
Texian
Hall of Fame
It don't. Now you have to put Kareem on the #1 WR and that's a worse scenario than J Jo and McCain on the other side and that's a worse scenario than Kareem. So in essence the team has now taken two steps backwards at getting worse instead of better.
Texian
Hall of Fame
No, No and No. Jonathan Martin's troubles stem from the fact that he's not a very good OT in the NFL. Plus the fact of all the baggage he would bring to a locker room. Who would trust him?
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
If the Texans keep the 3-4, then Anthony Spencer would be an intriguing signing. Him being hurt all this year should decrease his value to a more realistic range.
One scenario.
Naija Texan
Waterboy
Why trade for a guy you know they are going to have to cut?
After that I can see him getting a shot with this team (especially if Kubiak or Rick Smith are still around) but trading for a underperforming line man when we got two young ones on IR for next season, as bad as this team has been I would like to think we are smarter then that.
badboy
Hall of Fame
This has been my point as nothing in draft to replace him. I could see them bonus some money and extend him couple years to lower cap but he has not impressed me so far this season. Not sure if the groin injury is part of issue or not if it healed. An option may exist in fee agency.