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2024 Free Agency

Am I reading Spotrac correctly that Howard’s contract extension only actually kicks in this coming season? $30 million dead cap dump vs ~ $19 million cap hit to have him on the roster? How are we able to move him? I know there are way to salary dump the way we got rid of Osweiler but do we really want to pay draft picks for cap space with where we are at? I hadn’t realised his health outlook was so dour for the season, I see him as a much better RT than LG (and suspect he’s a better LT than that, too!).
 
welsh texan said:
Am I reading Spotrac correctly that Howard’s contract extension only actually kicks in this coming season? $30 million dead cap dump vs ~ $19 million cap hit to have him on the roster? How are we able to move him? I know there are way to salary dump the way we got rid of Osweiler but do we really want to pay draft picks for cap space with where we are at? I hadn’t realised his health outlook was so dour for the season, I see him as a much better RT than LG (and suspect he’s a better LT than that, too!).
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Hopefully get him back this season, see what he's capable of, and be ready to move him next off-season b/c I just don't see him improving over his past performances.....especially coming back from this type of injury.
 
welsh texan said:
Am I reading Spotrac correctly that Howard’s contract extension only actually kicks in this coming season? $30 million dead cap dump vs ~ $19 million cap hit to have him on the roster? How are we able to move him? I know there are way to salary dump the way we got rid of Osweiler but do we really want to pay draft picks for cap space with where we are at? I hadn’t realised his health outlook was so dour for the season, I see him as a much better RT than LG (and suspect he’s a better LT than that, too!)
Howard's contract is not moveable. His entire 2024 salary is guaranteed. Just a bad situation.
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True... but after 2024, we can cut him loose and save 10-15 million on the 2025 cap. So, just one year of pain.
 
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Number19 said:
The two RTs I had my eye on, Onwenu and Eluemunor, both signed yesterday.Trent Brown is still available, but probably the best option to sign a veteran RT is to resign George Fant, who is still available. If we don't sign a FA, maybe this week, we'll definitely have to address the position in the draft. And would you be liking a second day or third day rookie starting and protecting Stroud? If we go the draft route, it really should be at 1-23. And I don't particularly like this idea, although a good prospect should be available there. Signing Fant is probably the best way to go.
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I hink Paul will be there between 2-59 and 3-85. If he's there then trading up from 3-85 should be on the table. Hopefully a Mixon type trade is available for an OT.
 
https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/in...king-most-improved-teams-contracts-best-moves

I've examined all 32 teams to see which have improved the most in recent days, removing departed free agents and adding newcomers. Here are four that have aced free agency (so far) and the key additions that will help get them to the next level, ranked in order:

1. Houston Texans

Key additions: DE Danielle Hunter, RB Joe Mixon, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DL Denico Autry, DL Foley Fatukasi, CB Jeff Okudah
Notable re-signings: TE Dalton Schultz, K Ka'imi Fairbairn, CB Desmond King, S Eric Murray, DT Khalil Davis

Not only did the Texans make a few splashy additions, but they did so at the expense of their AFC and divisional rivals. Al-Shaair and Autry ranked first and sixth, respectively, on the Titans in defensive snaps last season, and Fatukasi was a solid interior defender for the Jaguars. Hunter, meanwhile, is one of the league's best edge rushers (10-plus sacks in his last four full seasons) and forms a potentially-elite duo with Will Anderson Jr. All four newcomers will play a role in the front seven for a Houston defense that posted the 11th-best defensive expected points added (EPA) in 2023.

Mixon, one of the league's top running backs since entering the league in 2017, was acquired from the Bengals and will replace Devin Singletary as lead back; he ranked fourth in the NFL in touches in 2023. Mixon and Schultz, who signed a three-year, $36 million extension after a successful 2023 season with the team, will be two of second-year QB C.J. Stroud's top playmakers.

2. Jaguars
3. Commanders
4. Falcons
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They aren't doing jack squat at tackle in the draft or FA regarding anyone who can come in and start and do so reasonably well.

They will assess Howard's situation before and during camp and, based on Howard's availability, will make a move then, and only then, if required.
 
dalemurphy said:
True... but after 2024, we can cut him loose and save 10-15 million on the 2025 cap. So, just one year of pain.
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Yep, this was a bad decision by Caserio. What's done is done, they have to take their medicine and move on. Seeing the Sharpe signing let's me know that Caserio knows OT is an issue and this also includes a lack of depth even if Howard makes it back.
 
maverick512000 said:
Could someone please point out where I, or anyone for that matter, said the Oline was fine? No one, including the Texans, were happy with the line last year but they went to war with the army they had. I don't blame them for not dumping a bunch of assets, like cap space, into the line first because as others have said we don't truly know what we even have because it was so patch work but in other areas, like RB or DE, we knew we had holes that needed to be filled and no current way to fill them so yeah those had to be addressed first.

Way people talk about "invest more into the offensive line" sounds like they think its plug and play but its very much not. You could spend all the capital you have and get a line of nothing but pro bowl guys but if they can't mesh well together then you might as well put paper dolls on the line. Like wise you can have a group of guys that are just ok but they play like they are part of a hive mind and they will look like a steel wall. Fact is we have invested a ton into the line often to the determent of other parts of the team and this isn't a problem that can be fixed by just throwing more bodies at it. At some point there has to be stability and you have to give them a chance to learn to play together without swapping guys out and moving them around every game. I'm not saying that point is now and I would not be at all against bringing in a couple more guys, especially a RT, but at the same time there has to be a glass chewing period where you just do the best you can until it clicks.
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Morse agreed to a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars worth $10.5 million with $7 million guaranteed

team captain multiple years. Multiple pro bowls and known as a mauler in the ground game. Did not break the bank and you can’t tell me he wouldn’t be an upgrade over any of the trash we had last year. No one is saying go out and spend a fortune, just get some better talent on the oL.

we just traded malic Collins. Dam I liked Collins.
 
mussop said:
Morse agreed to a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars worth $10.5 million with $7 million guaranteed

team captain multiple years. Multiple pro bowls and known as a mauler in the ground game. Did not break the bank and you can’t tell me he wouldn’t be an upgrade over any of the trash we had last year. No one is saying go out and spend a fortune, just get some better talent on the oL.

we just traded malic Collins. Dam I liked Collins.
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Are we talking about the same Morse because if so he is not a multiple pro bowler. I agree he most likely would have been an upgrade but you can't look at every good signing made by other teams in the league and go "That should have been us" for all we know Texans weren't even given the option to sign him or wasn't given the same price tag. Other teams are going to sign players and some of those players would have been good for us. But Caserio isn't sitting there with an app showing all the free agents and the best price they will take and he's swiping left or right on the players he wants.
 
mussop said:
Morse agreed to a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars worth $10.5 million with $7 million guaranteed

team captain multiple years. Multiple pro bowls and known as a mauler in the ground game. Did not break the bank and you can’t tell me he wouldn’t be an upgrade over any of the trash we had last year. No one is saying go out and spend a fortune, just get some better talent on the oL.

we just traded malic Collins. Dam I liked Collins.
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Ryans has said likes Patterson and Juice. You don't. I get this and I hope Ryans is right.
 
I'd put good money on Arik Armstead coming here...and shortly after he is offficaly released. They didn't let Collins go for an old box of raisin bran without already having all of their ducks in a row. There's already a deal in place imho.

A starting line of Anderson, Armstead, Autry, and Hunter is big time. That's a line that can help stop the run and get after the passer. Demeco ain't playing. He stated he wanted to invest heavily into the front 7 and the man is putting his money where his mouth is.
 
Porky said:
I'd put good money on Arik Armstead coming here...and shortly after he is offficaly released. They didn't let Collins go for an old box of raisin bran without already having all of their ducks in a row. There's already a deal in place imho.

A starting line of Anderson, Armstead, Autry, and Hunter is big time. That's a line that can help stop the run and get after the passer. Demeco ain't playing. He stated he wanted to invest heavily into the front 7 and the man is putting his money where his mouth is.
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Feels like after 2 decades we finally have a GM/HC due where the HC tells the GM what he wants to do with the team and the type of players he wants and the GM works some magic to make it happen without putting the team in draft or cap hell. Is this what fans of good teams feel like? I think I like it.
 
maverick512000 said:
Feels like after 2 decades we finally have a GM/HC due where the HC tells the GM what he wants to do with the team and the type of players he wants and the GM works some magic to make it happen without putting the team in draft or cap hell. Is this what fans of good teams feel like? I think I like it.
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This and there are no egos getting in the way of things getting done for the betterment of the team.
 
maverick512000 said:
Feels like after 2 decades we finally have a GM/HC due where the HC tells the GM what he wants to do with the team and the type of players he wants and the GM works some magic to make it happen without putting the team in draft or cap hell. Is this what fans of good teams feel like? I think I like it.
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This is what's been missing since the yr before Kubiak got fired. RS was impossible to work with because when he wasn't chasing tail around the offices down on Kiby, he had to be the smartest man in the room instead of working with his HC/Scouts.
 
Ridley? Hopefully not here! And preferably out of the AFC South. With Noah signing again, I’m fine with a young stud drafted in the first 3 rounds as your #3, and Noah #4. Depending on the cap, I’m not completely opposed to keeping Woods as a mentor for the young buck and a depth piece. Or sign another low cost vet for depth. Let Metchie and Hutch fight it out for the last spot.
 
steelbtexan said:
This is what's been missing since the yr before Kubiak got fired. RS was impossible to work with because when he wasn't chasing tail around the offices down on Kiby, he had to be the smartest man in the room instead of working with his HC/Scouts.
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Your starting to convince me that Nick and Ryans are working as one unit, rather than separate cogs on different machines. Two guys pulling on one rope. The key for me is DeMeco. He was my dream HC, and it’s very early in his career, but my instincts were spot on imho. They got the HC right. Let’s roll!
 
Porky said:
Your starting to convince me that Nick and Ryans are working as one unit, rather than separate cogs on different machines. Two guys pulling on one rope. The key for me is DeMeco. He was my dream HC, and it’s very early in his career, but my instincts were spot on imho. They got the HC right. Let’s roll!
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Nick and Demeco are so clearly on the same page! It is evident in the speed and nimbleness of these moves... and non-moves. Clearly, there was a very detailed and layered plan they put together for the off-season. Nick has been able to turn from one signing attempt quickly to the next... and so on. They are so prepared!
 
maverick512000 said:
Are we talking about the same Morse because if so he is not a multiple pro bowler. I agree he most likely would have been an upgrade but you can't look at every good signing made by other teams in the league and go "That should have been us" for all we know Texans weren't even given the option to sign him or wasn't given the same price tag. Other teams are going to sign players and some of those players would have been good for us. But Caserio isn't sitting there with an app showing all the free agents and the best price they will take and he's swiping left or right on the players he wants.
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I was wrong he made the pro bowl in 22. Regardless he is a perfect example of how we can upgrade the interior OL without breaking the bank. Though I’m not sure why anyone is worried about spending decent money to protect our QB.

holes are holes. And LG and C are holes that need to be filled by better talent than currently on the roster. Don’t know why this is so confusing to some. It’s like people here don’t value good OL. Maybe you’re ok with Stroud getting David Carred. I’m not. One of the hardest things for a QB to do is perform well when he has pressure up the middle. No one currently on this roster has any proven track record of being even average atC or LG. I really don’t understand how anyone can think we’re ok at those positions just because we should be more healthy there this year. Consider me mind blown. I’d rather run back with the same receivers than the same OL.
 
There is a 100% chance there is a corresponding move related to the Collins to SF trade.

Looking at the remaining FA DT list, Reader is still out there. What do you guys think about him nearing 30?

Rankins could also be a possibility...but I highly doubt it...at least not as a direct result of this trade.

It's not logical that resigning Rankins is the big corresponding move or they would already have done it.

Then there is the soon-to-be FA Armstead. I'm locked in on this one. It makes too much sense in so many different ways. And he's a culture setter as well. It's a perfect glove-in-hand fit. I'm a little worried about his injury history, but I'll trust the Texans on this issue should they bring him in.

Unless it involves a trade (which I don't rule out completely), I don't see anyone else left in FA at tackle that would be a clear upgrade to Collins, who is a decent but not special starter.
 
mussop said:
I was wrong he made the pro bowl in 22. Regardless he is a perfect example of how we can upgrade the interior OL without breaking the bank. Though I’m not sure why anyone is worried about spending decent money to protect our QB.

holes are holes. And LG and C are holes that need to be filled by better talent than currently on the roster. Don’t know why this is so confusing to some. It’s like people here don’t value good OL. Maybe you’re ok with Stroud getting David Carred. I’m not. One of the hardest things for a QB to do is perform well when he has pressure up the middle. No one currently on this roster has any proven track record of being even average atC or LG. I really don’t understand how anyone can think we’re ok at those positions just because we should be more healthy there this year. Consider me mind blown. I’d rather run back with the same receivers than the same OL.
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You're acting like the season starts tomorrow, hell free agency isn't even over with and from what I understand this is a deep class for offensive linemen. Could be wrong on that as I don't follow college but that is what I've read on multiple sites. Also again we don't know what we have at center, we drafted Scruggs last year and didn't get to see what he was like before he was out. He was solid in college though so saying no one on the team has a proven track record is flat out wrong. He has just as much a track record as any guy we would draft and as far as free agency goes which lineman do you know for a fact Texans had the chance to get and passed on?
 
mussop said:
I was wrong he made the pro bowl in 22. Regardless he is a perfect example of how we can upgrade the interior OL without breaking the bank. Though I’m not sure why anyone is worried about spending decent money to protect our QB.

holes are holes. And LG and C are holes that need to be filled by better talent than currently on the roster. Don’t know why this is so confusing to some. It’s like people here don’t value good OL. Maybe you’re ok with Stroud getting David Carred. I’m not. One of the hardest things for a QB to do is perform well when he has pressure up the middle. No one currently on this roster has any proven track record of being even average atC or LG. I really don’t understand how anyone can think we’re ok at those positions just because we should be more healthy there this year. Consider me mind blown. I’d rather run back with the same receivers than the same OL.
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Dude, you're a broken record, and you've turned it up to 78 RPM so now you're broken record sounds like a mouse.

CJ Stroud was sacked 38 times, many of them early on while he was getting his sea legs. David Carr was sacked 76 times as a rookie. These two numbers aren't close in case you're not a math major.

There were multiple games with zero sacks. All of this while there was an unprecedented level of shuffling the deck due to an extreme number of injuries. I realize logic is hard to come by - but if you think they traded up in the second round for their C of the future (who had to play out of place at LG) to only turn right around and draft another, I can only suggest that you lay off whatever it is you are smoking.

That's not even considering the massive amount of draft and real dollar capitol this team has invested into the offensive line. Crack is whack!
 
The contract talk involving the trade of Collins is all over the board. 610 where I heard it first just minutes ago said that the savings was $6 million. Spot rac has a zero cap hit with a 8.5 approximately savings. That's a significant amount to go towards another veteran player.
 
steelbtexan said:
Ryans has said likes Patterson and Juice. You don't. I get this and I hope Ryans is right.
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I like both of them as developmental players. I had both as draft-able players. I just don’t see how you take that risk when neither have proven ANYTHING at this point. Again mind boggled! This board screams for WR addition with top assets when we had pretty good year passing the ball. But acts like it would be the end of the world to add proven players on the OL when we were trash running the ball and protecting Stroud. To each his own I guess.
 
badboy said:
The contract talk involving the trade of Collins is all over the board. 610 where I heard it first just minutes ago said that the savings was $6 million. Spot rac has a zero cap hit with a 8.5 approximately savings. That's a significant amount to go towards another veteran player.
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We touched briefly on this in another thread. It MAY be whether the trade can be designated a post-June 1 trade. There is a significant difference between pre-June 1 and post-June 1.
 
Porky said:
Dude, you're a broken record, and you've turned it up to 78 RPM so now you're broken record sounds like a mouse.

CJ Stroud was sacked 38 times, many of them early on while he was getting his sea legs. David Carr was sacked 76 times as a rookie. These two numbers aren't close in case you're not a math major.

There were multiple games with zero sacks. All of this while there was an unprecedented level of shuffling the deck due to an extreme number of injuries. I realize logic is hard to come by - but if you think they traded up in the second round for their C of the future (who had to play out of place at LG) to only turn right around and draft another, I can only suggest that you lay off whatever it is you are smoking.

That's not even considering the massive amount of draft and real dollar capitol this team has invested into the offensive line. Crack is whack!
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Porky said:
Dude, you're a broken record, and you've turned it up to 78 RPM so now you're broken record sounds like a mouse.

CJ Stroud was sacked 38 times, many of them early on while he was getting his sea legs. David Carr was sacked 76 times as a rookie. These two numbers aren't close in case you're not a math major.

There were multiple games with zero sacks. All of this while there was an unprecedented level of shuffling the deck due to an extreme number of injuries. I realize logic is hard to come by - but if you think they traded up in the second round for their C of the future (who had to play out of place at LG) to only turn right around and draft another, I can only suggest that you lay off whatever it is you are smoking.

That's not even considering the massive amount of draft and real dollar capitol this team has invested into the offensive line. Crack is whack!
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lol why are you guys getting so butt hurt about this subject? I’m not mad or upset we haven’t signed anyone on the OL yet just saying I think we need to. you act like your Scruggs father or something. Again dumbest argument ever is that we have already invested real dollar capital in this OL as a reason to not try and improve it. No surprise YOU would go there. Lol.
 
mussop said:
I was wrong he made the pro bowl in 22. Regardless he is a perfect example of how we can upgrade the interior OL without breaking the bank. Though I’m not sure why anyone is worried about spending decent money to protect our QB.

holes are holes. And LG and C are holes that need to be filled by better talent than currently on the roster. Don’t know why this is so confusing to some. It’s like people here don’t value good OL. Maybe you’re ok with Stroud getting David Carred. I’m not. One of the hardest things for a QB to do is perform well when he has pressure up the middle. No one currently on this roster has any proven track record of being even average atC or LG. I really don’t understand how anyone can think we’re ok at those positions just because we should be more healthy there this year. Consider me mind blown. I’d rather run back with the same receivers than the same OL.
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I'm okay with letting Juice and Patterson battle it out for the starting Center position. I think whoever wins will be good there. LG is a massive question mark.

Can Kenyon Green play at a starting level?
Kendrick Green was decent before he got hurt, but can he be a quality full-time starter?
If Juice starts at Center, can Patterson be effective at LG?
Can Broeker possibly emerge as the starter?

All unknowns. Given the information about Howard's injury, RT will need to be addressed with at least a good quality reserve. I wouldn't be opposed to resigning Fant and drafting Patrick Paul in the 3rd round.
 
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