The Houston Texans are getting salary cap relief while also retaining a quality starter on the offensive line.
There were questions after the 2020 NFL Draft how the Texans would solve the problem of Zach Fulton, whose contract was taking a chunk out of the salary cap in the next two seasons. Perhaps the Texans would release Fulton and look to another guard on the market as an upgrade.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Texans and Fulton have agreed to rework the 28-year-old’s contract. Originally, the former Kansas City Chiefs 2014 sixth-round pick was to earn $14 million with no guarantees over the next two seasons.
Now, the new deal is $5 million guaranteed in 2020 with $3 million in 2021, but non-guaranteed money.
The Texans & starting RG Zach Fulton have agreed to a reworked contract, per source. Fulton was due $14M over the next two years with no guarantees, but is now due $5M (guaranteed) this season & $3M (non-guaranteed) in 2021. Fulton gets nice security, Houston gets cap relief.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 29, 2020
On Nov. 13, 2019, ahead of the Texans’ Week 11 road game against the Baltimore Ravens, coach John Harbaugh described Fulton as, “one of the most physical right guards in football.”
“I just think they’ve done a great job putting that line together and they’re very well coached and they’re playing at a high level,” Harbaugh said.
Unless injuries or COVID-19 gets in the way, the Texans will assuredly field the same five starters on the offensive line from a year ago. With that level of continuity returning to the offensive line, it helps Houston take the next step in 2020.