Tag: Eric Murray

Why S Eric Murray could be the Houston Texans’ salary cap casualty

The Houston Texans may say goodbye to safety Eric Murray as they look to save salary cap space.

The Houston Texans have the fourth-most salary cap space in the NFL heading into the 2023 offseason. With over $37.1 million in space available, the Texans have plenty of capital to sign free agents or keep veterans they like.

However, general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t want to waste the McNair’s money on players who aren’t maximizing their contracts. Decisions will have to be made ahead of free agency.

According to Michael Renner from Pro Football Focus, one salary cap casualty on the Texans’ roster could be safety Eric Murray.

Murray’s status as a key special teams contributor may keep him around, especially with general manager Nick Caserio coming from a New England Patriots organization that put more emphasis on retaining quality special teamers than perhaps anywhere else.

That said, Murray logged just 118 snaps on defense amid the emergence of young contributors like second-round pick Jalen Pitre, so a pay cut may be required to stay in Houston.

Murray would cost the Texans $1,357,500 in dead money against the salary cap, but would save the Texans $4 million in salary cap space.

The former Kansas City Chiefs 2016 fourth-round pick generated 27 combined tackles through 17 games for Houston.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916344]

Breaking down the S Eric Murray 2-year contract with the Texans

Safety Eric Murray signed a two-year contract to remain with the Houston Texans. Here are the details.

The Houston Texans signed Eric Murray to a two-year contract worth $10 million. The Texans secondary keeps some stability as the defense continues forward in year two of Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme.

According to Over The Cap, Murray’s base salary for 2022 is $2.5 million and is fully guaranteed. Murray gets a $250,000 per game roster bonus, and his cap hit will be $4,860,294 for this season.

In 2023, Murray’s base salary is $3.75 million with none of it guaranteed. Murray would still be eligible to earn the $250,000 per game roster bonus. His salary cap figure would $4,625,000. The Texans would have a potential out as they could cut him and it only cost $625,000 in dead money, which would reflect his prorated bonus.

As the 2021 season came to a close and the Texans were destined for a 4-13 finish, Murray told reporters on Jan. 3 that he saw the defense come together throughout the season.

“From a defensive standpoint, it’s been really interesting because for a lot of us this is a defense that we haven’t really experienced for a lot of the times,” Murray said. “Just buying into everybody doing their job and doing the same job every time, every play. As the course of the season went on, you saw people play faster and you saw people play better. You begin to just plug and play once the culture is in place. I think that is really important for this franchise going forward.”

Murray collected 76 combined tackles, an interception, and four pass breakups in 16 games for Houston, 11 of which he started.

Texans S Eric Murray says having COVID-19 the second time not as bad as the first

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray says that when he got COVID-19 the second time, it wasn’t as detrimental as it was the first time.

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray talked about his second time being positive with COVID-19 on Monday.

The day after the Texans’ 23-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, Murray opened up on his experiences with the novel coronavirus.

“The first time I had it, I had chills and stuff like that,” Murray said. “It lasted for a really long time. I didn’t feel regular for a really long time even after I recovered, I was still having days where I didn’t feel as well. This was like months later.”

Murray missed the final two games of the 2021 campaign as he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve on Dec. 27, 2020, the day of Houston’s Week 16 tilt with the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium.

When Murray was placed on the COVID-19 reserve on Dec. 23, 2021, he says it wasn’t that deleterious.

Said Murray: “This time, it kind of felt like a regular cold. I think just because I went through the experience before and I got vaccinated and I got the booster. I really was only sick for two days and then the rest of the days I was out I was recovering.  Whereas last year the recovery period started way later in the process.”

Murray came off of the COVID-19 reserve on Dec. 29, three days after Houston beat the Los Angeles Chargers 41-29 at NRG Stadium.

Even though it felt like a cold this go-around, Murray says he still had a problem with his “wind.”

“Definitely my wind was an issue,” said Murray, who finished with six combined tackles and a pass breakup on 59 defensive snaps and 14 special teams snaps. “I came out of the game a few times. My wind was an issue, that’s just a part of it.

“I feel more close to normal this year than I definitely did last year. I couldn’t imagine doing what I did this week last year.”

Texans place 6 players on COVID-19 reserve among other roster moves

The Houston Texans placed six players on the COVID-19 reserve, but were able to make roster moves to add more players.

The Houston Texans placed six players on the COVID-19 reserve Thursday.

Houston added guard-tackle Tytus Howard, defensive end Jordan Jenkins, center Justin Britt, safety Eric Murray, cornerback Lonnie Johnson, and defensive tackle Roy Lopez to the COVID-19 reserve.

The Texans were able to designate receiver Danny Amendola and defensive end DeMarcus Walker ready for return from injured reserve.

Houston also signed defensive lineman Chris Smith and defensive back Grayland Arnold from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Texans were able to restore running back Jaylen Samuels from the COVID-19 reserve back to the practice squad on Thursday.

Houston also signed kicker Dominik Eberle to the practice squad.

Houston has a total of 17 players in COVID protocol. The Texans take on the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Texans S Eric Murray identifies how Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has grown since Week 1

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray lays out how Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence has grown since Week 1.

The Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-21 in Week 1 to start off the David Culley era on the right track.

Houston’s defense flummoxed rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence with three interceptions and a sack. The No. 1 overall pick did complete 28 passes on 51 attempts for 332 yards and three touchdows.

After 12 games, the Texans and Jaguars meet again, and safety Eric Murray sees how the former Clemson Tiger has developed throughout the regular season.

“He seems like he’s moving through his progressions a lot quicker,” Murray told reporters Wednesday. “But most of the route concepts are kind of the same, kind of three-level concepts to keep the reads right in front of each other. But other than that, it’s been a long season. I think he knows what he’s good at and they know what he’s good at, so that’s mainly the difference.”

Although the Jaguars have changed coaches with firing Urban Meyer, they have not mixed up the offensive chain of command. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell stays at his post while also adding the tag of interim coach. Lawrence shouldn’t be affected on Sunday when the Texans and Jaguars complete their season series at TIAA Bank Field.

What is safety Eric Murray showing the Texans?

The Houston Texans have given more reps to safety Eric Murray, and it has paid off in the secondary.

The Houston Texans have found a place for Eric Murray.

Murray, who was one of the free agent signings from 2020, the first free agency of the Bill O’Brien era as general manager, was safety Justin Reid’s sidekick on the backend, but the Texans decided to try something new in the offseason by moving Lonnie Johnson to safety to pair up with Reid.

Over the course of 10 games, five of which Murray has started, the Texans under new coach David Culley have turned to the former Kansas City Chief and Cleveland Brown to provide stability on the backend, and he has given them 40 combined tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception in return.

According to Culley, the defense hasn’t changed, just the execution.

“We haven’t changed our defense from day one to now, we’re playing it better,” said Culley. “We’ve got the combination back there of guys that understand each other, that are playing together. The big thing that I’ve seen with them is eliminating the big play. We gave up a couple yesterday, and basically, it happened because of a miscommunication.

That’s been the biggest thing with us moving forward, especially coming off the bye. The big thing was communicating. Basically, when you’ve played with each other together, it’s no different than when you’re playing in the offensive line. Eventually, your same guys playing together, you have some continuity.”

The defense is doing a better job fo communicating, which is what is helping the Texans’ defense.

“That’s the big thing, and Eric’s been a part of that,” said Culley. “Eric’s a veteran player, he’s been around too. Those guys understand and there’s a communication thing there that they’re getting done that keeps us from giving up those big plays.”

The Texans get back in action Sunday against the New York Jets at NRG Stadium, and Murray figures to be a part in stopping New York’s offense.

WATCH: Texans S Eric Murray intercepts Dolphins QB Jacoby Brissett

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray was able to get an interception against Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray was able to get a key interception against Miami Dolphins quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the first quarter.

The Texans needed a spark after going three-and-out after the Dolphins went down and scored a touchdown after picking off quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the end zone. Murray was able to give the Texans just what they needed with a key takeaway.

Murray was playing in place of safety Lonnie Johnson, who leads the team with three interceptions.

The Texans and Dolphins are both 1-7 and on seven-game losing streaks, looking for a win.

Texans S Eric Murray questionable versus Browns with concussion

Houston Texans safety Eric Murray is questionable to return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 with a concussion.

HOUSTON — Houston Texans’ safety Eric Murray is questionable to return to Sunday’s Week 2 match against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. According to Texans PR, Murray is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return.

If Murray is unable to return, Lonnie Johnson will likely fill in the vacant void. Johnson is playing his first game of the season after returning from a thigh injury he sustained during preseason.

Prior to leaving the game due to a concussion, Murray had three tackles, one of which to prevent big yardage from Browns’ tight end, Harrison Bryant. The defensive stop helped the Texans record a three-and-out on the Browns.

The Texans feature several former Browns players in key spots

The Texans feature several former Browns players in key roles coming back to Cleveland in Week 2

There will be a lot of familiar names and faces on the opposing sideline when the Houston Texans visit FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday in the Cleveland Browns home opener in 2021.

Five former Browns start for Houston, including three in the defensive back seven. Linebacker Christian Kirksey mans the middle for the Texans’ Tampa-2 defense under coordinator Lovie Smith. Kirksey was a Browns team captain and starter for several seasons.

Cornerback Terrance Mitchell and safety Eric Murray also start and project to play every snap, as they did in Houston’s Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tavierre Thomas has reprised his role as a special teams ace in Houston. The reserve cornerback did not play on defense.

On offense, tight end Pharaoh Brown is one of the top targets for quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Brown played for the Browns in 2019, while Taylor had a brief but memorable stint as the starting QB in Cleveland in 2018 before giving way to rookie Baker Mayfield.

[lawrence-related id=64566]

There were two more former Browns who played significant roles on the Texans too, but DT Vincent Taylor and LB Tae Davis are now on injured reserve. Taylor started for the Texans in Week 1, while Davis was a fixture at weakside LB during the preseason before going on I.R.

Should the Texans hit reset at safety for second straight offseason?

If the Houston Texans were to start over at safety, a free agent candidate to consider would be former Denver Broncos S Justin Simmons.

One of the reasons the Houston Texans have Eric Murray is because they gave up too quickly on Tashaun Gipson, who the club signed in the 2019 offseason.

Murray signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Texans in the 2020 offseason. The former Kansas City Chief and Cleveland Brown safety provided 71 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 14 games, all of which he started.

If the Texans were to give up on Murray after a year, much the same way they gave up on Gipson, it would cost $6.5 million in dead money against the salary cap, and a post-June 1 cut doesn’t help either at $5 million in dead money.

One possible free agent who could help Houston’s defensive backfield is Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons, according to Pro Football Focus’ Seth Galina.

The Texans would love to have a do-it-all safety to bolster their secondary, and that’s exactly what Simmons is. His versatility is definitely a big part of his game; he can play in the post, or can sit down low and attack in the running game.

Simmons earned a 90.7 PFF grade in 2019, the second-highest mark at the position, and although he fell to a 77.4 grade this past season, that was still good enough for eighth in the league. He’s shown consistency and excellent playmaking ability, which is something the Texans haven’t had in their secondary since Tyrann Mathieu left. Get this man in Houston ASAP.

The Texans are hampered when it comes to salary cap flexibility, and part of it is due to the contract they still owe to Murray, whether he stays on the team or not.

The only possible way to get Simmons and drop Murray at low cost would be a trade after June 1. However, that begs the question of who would be willing to trade for Murray. It would take injury or misfortune for an NFL team to be in a position to trade for Murray.

The safety situation is one area where the Texans will have to live with the decisions of the prior regime.