Tag: Texans salary cap

Texans are projected to have 15th-highest salary cap space in 2022

The Houston Texans are expected to have the 15th-highest salary cap space in the NFL with over $39.5 million.

The NFL is expected to increase the salary cap to a maximum of $208.2 million for 2022. Any increase to cap is good news for the Houston Texans, who need all of the resources available through free agency and the draft to build a competitive roster.

According to Over the Cap, the Texans are expected to have $39,534,319 in salary cap space. Of their effective cap space, which takes into account a full 51-man roster, Houston could have $17,740,997, representing the 18th-most cap space in the league.

The only contract extension the Texans have executed is with Tremon Smith, who was signed to a one-year, $1.6 million extension on Dec. 4.

General manager Nick Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Tuesday that the club is having conversations about other possible extensions.

“We’re going to be very flexible, we’re going to be very open-minded, and we’re going to try to identify players that we would like to have here next season,” said Caserio. “And there has to be some mutual interest on the opposing end. So, we’ve had a lot of good feedback, we’ve had a lot of good discussions. I’d say Tremon is the one agreement that has been able to come to fruition.

“There might be some others that over the course of the rest of the season we might be able to reach an agreement. And if we don’t, we’ll deal with it in the offseason.”

Texans dead cap: 42 contracts account for over $42.28 million

The Houston Texans owe over $42 million in dead money for the 2021 salary cap. Here are the 42 contracts that generated the cost.

The first year with Nick Caserio as general manager was going to be a hard one. Just as the Houston Texans didn’t have hardly any picks in the top 100 of the 2021 NFL draft, so too would they be working with diminished salary cap space.

Over the course of the season, as the Texans figure out which players they can build around and which ones would be better suited elsewhere, Houston incurred more costs. It isn’t cheap to release veterans who still had years and money left on their deals.

Here is a list of the 42 contracts that are generating the dead money on the Texans’ salary cap.

How much are the Texans spending at each position in 2021?

See which positions take up large chunks of the Houston Texans’ 2021 salary cap space.

First-year general manager Nick Caserio has executed almost 100 roster transactions since he joined the Houston Texans in January.

“There’s always new players on every team, league-wide,” Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on June 14. “For the most part you can go to one extreme to the other. 25 to 30% of the team is going to be new anyway. So, again, what you try to do is look at what you’re dealing with right now with your team and each year is different. Each team is going to be different. We’ve added a number of new players to our team.”

Here is a look at the positional spending for the Texans according to Spotrac.

Receiving corps features best and worst contracts on the Texans

The Houston Texans receiving corps is where Pro Football Focus says they have found the best and worst contracts on the squad.

Every team has a good contract and a bad contract on their books. The Houston Texans are no different. Where the Texans may be a little more unique compared to the rest of the NFL is that both their best and worst contracts can be found in the same position group.

According to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus, the best contract the Texans have is that with wideout Brandin Cooks, who is on a three-year, $29.8 million deal with zero dollars in remaining guarantees.

In 2020, Brandin Cooks became just the second wide receiver in NFL history with a 1,000-yard receiving season for four different teams, joining Brandon Marshall. He continues to produce no matter the circumstances, and while he has dealt with injuries here and there, it never keeps him down for too long.

This contract is the remaining money from his five-year, $81 million pact signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Now operating as the clear No. 1 option in Houston following the departure of Will Fuller V, Cooks is a great value no matter who will be throwing him the ball in 2021 and beyond. New Texans general manager Nick Caserio was in New England when the Patriots sent a first-round pick to New Orleans to acquire the wide receiver, and Cooks played his lone season in Foxborough before being subsequently traded to Los Angeles. Perhaps this time he sticks around a bit longer as they try to rebuild the franchise.

The worst contract for the Texans is with receiver Randall Cobb, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal in the 2020 free agency. There’s still $8.25 million in remaining guarantees on Cobb’s contract.

Why the Cobb contract is unfavorable is because the former 2014 Pro Bowler is in the twilight of his career. Cobb appeared in just 10 games, the third-fewest of his career, and caught 38 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns. Given that Cobb will only decline throughout the rest of his contract, the deal doesn’t make sense.

The fact one receiver has a good contract and the other has a bad contract reflects philosophies in general managing. Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead negotiated Cooks’ deal while coach Bill O’Brien, doubling up as general manager, negotiated Cobb’s.

Texans salary cap space could see $25.7 million windfall in 2022

The Houston Texans could see an extra $25.7 million cap space as the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a $208.2 million salary cap ceiling for 2022.

The Houston Texans were already salary cap-strapped heading into the 2021 offseason, and the loss of revenues from the lockdowns over 2020 didn’t help their cap situation in new general manager Nick Caserio’s first offseason.

The Texans had to let go of defensive end J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and face of the franchise. Houston also had to get creative and restructure some contracts to provide additional cap space. The veterans signed in free agency were “singles and doubles” as the Texans just didn’t have the cap space to hit home runs.

That may change in 2022.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the NFL and the NFLPA have agreed to a salary cap ceiling of $208.2 million for the 2022 season.

The salary cap won’t be officially set until February. However, with the ceiling at $208.2 million, it is possible the Texans could get an additional $25.7 million on top of any salary cap carryover from the 2021 books, which would be just what the doctored ordered as Houston will have its first- and second-round picks for the 2022 NFL draft.

Rebounding from the poor mistakes of the previous regime may take at least two offseasons, but it is on the horizon.

Texans sign rookie QB Davis Mills to a four-year contract

The Houston Texans have signed former Stanford quarterback Davis Mills to a four-year contract.

Davis Mills is officially a member of the Houston Texans. According to NFL Reporter Aaron Wilson, the Texans and Mills have agreed to a four-year contract worth $5.22 million, which also comes with a $1.157 million signing bonus. With Mills now under contract, the Texans have signed their entire 2021 NFL Draft class.

After the Texans selected Mills with their 67th overall pick, the 22-year-old Georgia native described his draft day experience as “incredibly special” and “very humbling.” Mills told reporters that he is most excited about the opportunity to play under Pep Hamilton — who is entering his first season as Houston’s new quarterback coach.

“I think the first thing, obviously, I can’t do it from the start, but I think my leadership ability is up there,” Mills said about what qualities he can bring to the Texans. “Obviously, you’ve got to get in front of some of my teammates to start building their respect by putting in hard work and then the next thing, just that winning mentality and that ability on the field.”

Mills spent his collegiate career at Stanford University, where he only played 14 games. After redshirting his freshman season due to injury, Mills threw for 3,468 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while completing 65 percent of his passes from 2018-2020.

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Breaking down Texans tight end Brevin Jordan’s rookie contract

The Houston Texans signed rookie tight end Brevin Jordan to a four-year contract. Here are the details of the deal.

The Houston Texans signed their fifth-round tight end Brevin Jordan to a rookie contract, and details from the contract have emerged.

According to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790, the Texans signed Jordan to a four-year deal with a maximum value of $4.114 million. The contract has a $3.832 million base value with a $352,184 signing bonus.

General manager Nick Caserio liked the experience Jordan gained at Miami, playing 26 games and catching 105 passes for 1,358 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“Played since his freshman year at Miami,” Caserio told reporters on May 1 after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL draft. “He started a number of games, productive player in the passing game. Decent with the ball in his hands, runs hard, has some straight-line speed. Again, had pretty good production as a pass catcher.”

The Texans now have Jordan signed to the roster, and he will be part of a competitive tight end group that includes Jordan Akins, Kahale Warring, Ryan Izzo, and Pharaoh Brown.

Taking a look at Texans rookie DT Roy Lopez’s contract

The Houston Texans signed DT Roy Lopez to a four-year contract. Here is a breakdown of his deal with the Texans.

Details from Houston Texans rookie defensive tackle Roy Lopez’s four-year contract have emerged.

According to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790, the sixth-round pick from Arizona signed a four-year contract worth $3.881 million. The contact also includes a $182,844 signing bonus.

Houston selected Lopez with the No. 195 pick in Round 6 of the 2021 NFL draft.

The Texans liked Lopez due to his background as a high school wrestler and his fortitude.

Really strong; he’s 6-1 and change, 305 [pounds],” general manager Nick Caserio told reporters on May 1. “I think he did like 36 bench presses or something like that, so has good playing strength. Leverage, I would say especially with — defensive linemen and offensive linemen it’s really about playing with leverage and playing with technique, bending your knees. Again, I’d say Roy has some concept of that just given his background. Tough as nails.”

The Texans also have Brandon Dunn, Auzoyah Alufohai, Maliek Collins, Jaleel Johnson, and Vincent Taylor on the roster, who could also play defensive tackle.

Breaking down Texans rookie LB Garret Wallow’s contract

The Houston Texans signed fifth-round pick Garret Wallow to a four-year contract. Here are the details of the contract.

The Houston Texans keep adding members of their draft class to their payroll.

The Texans signed fifth-round linebacker Garret Wallow from TCU on Saturday.

According to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790, Wallow’s four-year contract is worth $3.775 million with a $295,884 signing bonus.

Wallow, who played from 2017-20 for the Horned Frogs under coach Gary Patterson, collected 90 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles in his final season at TCU.

General manager Nick Caserio told reporters on May 1 after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL draft that they selected Wallow for his flexibility as a 6-2, 230-pound linebacker along with his attitude.

“Wallow played, I would say, for a good defensive coach in Coach Patterson,” said Caserio. “They’ve been known for defense for a long time, and the way they’re constructed defensively, specifically to Garret — now, he was in the box a little bit, he played detached from the formation. Instinctive player, runs well, can close space, is a decent tackler, A-plus football makeup and character, which that’s important to what we’re trying to do.”

Wallow intends to be coachable throughout his rookie season as he seeks as much playing time as he can get.

“Just be flexible,” Wallow said. “Be able to play whatever coach needs me to play. Trust that whatever he has in mind is best for the team. Like I said, just be flexible and be good in whatever area that is.”

Breaking down DE DeMarcus Walker’s contract with the Texans

Take a look at Houston Texans defensive end DeMarcus Walker’s contract with the AFC South club.

The Houston Texans added to their edge defense with the signing of former Denver Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Walker to a one-year contract.

Walker started four games among his 13 played for the Broncos in 2020, collecting 4.5 sacks, 18 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.

The former 2017 second-round pick from Florida State signed a one-year contract with the Texans worth $1.5 million. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the contract includes a $300,000 signing bonus and a $1 million salary.

In the contract, $500,000 of that money is guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap. Walker also has a per game roster bonus up to $200,000, and he earns $11,764 per game that he is active.

The 6-4, 280-pound defensive end will cost the AFC South club $1.452 million against their salary cap. However, he should provide another pass rushing presence in new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 front alongside Shaq Lawson.