Texans salary cap – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Texans cut punter Bryan Anger, save $2.5 million in salary cap space

The Houston Texans have released punter Bryan Anger, a move that saves the club $2.5 million in salary cap space.

The Houston Texans will leave no stone unturned when it comes to saving dollars for the salary cap.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans have released Bryan Anger, a move that will save the club $2.5 million in salary cap space in 2021.

Anger punted all 16 games for the Texans in 2020, providing 54 boots for an average of 46.4 yards per punt. Anger also kicked off twice for Houston in 2020.

“Bryan is an especially talented punter, always has been,” former special teams coordinator Tracy Smith told reporters on Oct. 27, 2020. “High draft pick, one of the highest drafted punters of all time. Has got the talent, he came in with that. And he’s a hard worker. He shows up every day. He’s good with the other guys. He’s a good holder, and he works on his craft. He punts and punts and punts. And he’s had good results to show for it.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Anger in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft from Cal. Anger was the highest-drafted specialist since 2012 until the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Roberto Aguayo with a second-round pick in 2016.

All the moves the Texans made to get under the salary cap to start 2021

The Houston Texans had to make a series of moves to get under the salary cap for the new league year.

The Houston Texans were in salary cap trouble when the offseason began, as was most of the NFL in losing $15.7 million due to the declining salary cap. NFL teams will have a cap of $182.5 million for 2021.

However, the Texans made the moves necessary to get under the salary cap. Here are all of the moves Houston made that helped them get under the cap and start off new year, new them.

Texans place original-round tender on DT P.J. Hall

The Houston Texans have placed the original-round tender on former Oakland Raiders 2018 second-round defensive tackle P.J. Hall.

The Houston Texans are willing to give P.J. Hall another year with the team even amid the new regime.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans have placed an original-round tender on the defensive tackle, who will turn 26 on April 5. The Oakland Raiders drafted Hall in Round 2 of the 2018 NFL draft from Sam Houston State.

Hall’s tender is $2.133 million.

The 6-0, 305-pound defensive tackle was one of the few bright spots for the Texans during their 4-12 campaign in 2020. Hall provided 34 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits in 10 games, nine of which he started.

Hall, who went to high school at Seguin High School, about 40 miles outside of San Antonio, was renewed when he came to the Texans due to Houston’s proximity to his family.

“It’s definitely more comfortable,” Hall told reporters on Oct. 16, 2020. “It feels great knowing that like my family’s here. I’m from Seguin, so it’s two and a half hours down the road. It just feels like I’m back at home, like this is fresh air, like a fresh start. Everything’s going perfect.”

Hall gets another fresh start with the Texans, who are switching to a Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.

Texans place tender on safety A.J. Moore

The Houston Texans have placed a tender on safety A.J. Moore.

Nick Caserio mentioned the Houston Texans’ free agent strategy will be to hit “singles and doubles,” and it appears the new general manager got on base with his own free agent.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans have submitted a restricted free agent tender on safety A.J. Moore. With this move, the Texans will have the right of refusal should Moore sign with another team in free agency.

If not, Moore will be allowed to walk. The 25-year-old defensive back is set to make $2.1 million if he remains with the Texans this season.

“There is no other place I would want to be,” Moore told reporters on Jan. 1. “I love Houston. Like I was saying how crazy this business is, I hate that people may have to leave and things like that. I love the staff that we have and everyone that contributed. I love it here in Houston and I want to be here. I would love to get a long-term deal done with these guys.”

During the 2020 season, Moore appeared in 11 games where he recorded a career-best 35 tackles (21 solo hits) and 1.0 sack. In his third season, Moore allowed 66.7 percent of passes to be completed in coverage on 15 targets.

Everything you need to know about Houston Texans 2021 free agency

NFL free agency 2021 kicks off. Here is everything a Houston Texans fan needs to know as the new league year begins.

One of the holiday seasons of the interminable NFL offseason is upon football fans as free agency commences this week.

All 32 NFL teams will face the same challenge of over seven percent of their salary cap space missing due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. The 2020 salary cap was $198.2 million, but the loss in revenue pushed the cap down to $182.5 million. Factor in the Houston Texans were already in cap trouble from the Bill O’Brien regime, and their 2021 prospects weren’t so hot.

As new general manager Nick Caserio gets ready to turn around a 4-12 team and assemble a capable roster for rookie coach David Culley, here is everything Texans fans need to know about 2021 free agency.

Report: Texans re-sign CB Vernon Hargreaves to 1-year contract

The Houston Texans have re-signed cornerback Vernon Hargreaves to a one-year contract.

The adventure continues for cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.

The Houston Texans have re-signed the 25-year-old to a one-year contract, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Hargreaves started every game for the Texans, and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2016 first-round pick said on Dec. 16, 2020, that he “loved it here” when asked if he would like to re-sign with the Texans.

The former Florida Gator also enjoyed being one of the older players in the secondary, a role that he can continue to develop as he is set to return for his third season with Houston.

“For me it hasn’t really been too much of a change,” said Hargreaves. “Obviously, we didn’t want to lose the guys we lost, but everybody knows it’s the NFL. We all know that’s what happens. The leaders stepped up. They guys that have been here, they’ve stepped up, they’ve tried to help us lead.”

Hargreaves produced 72 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, seven pass breakups, and an interception for the Texans last season.

[listicle id=59296]

Breaking down Texans RB David Johnson’s restructured contract

Running back David Johnson restructured here contract with the Houston Texans. Here is a look at the new numbers for the former All-Pro.

David Johnson was a cut candidate for the Houston Texans entering the 2021 offseason, but the club decided to rework the contract with the former All-Pro rather than release him.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Texans were able to save $6,343,750 in salary cap space due to the restructure. Here is the breakdown.

Johnson will earn a $1.25 million guaranteed salary with a $3 million signing bonus. On top of that, Johnson will have a $750,000 per-game roster bonus with $1 million in incentives. In toto, Johnson’s contract in 2021 has a maximum value of $6 million.

The former Arizona Cardinals gathered 691 yards and six touchdowns on 147 carries. Johnson also caught 33 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson will be paired up with former New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram in 2021. The Texans’ run game will be an even more critical part of the offense given the friction between the organization and franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Report: Texans agree to 1-year contract with LB Christian Kirksey

The Houston Texans have agreed to a one-year deal with former Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers linebacker Christian Kirksey.

The Houston Texans continue to add to their defense as they transition to the Tampa-2 scheme.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans reached an agreement with former Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers linebacker Christian Kirksey on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million.

In 2020, Kirksey produced 77 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and four pass breakups in 11 games for Green Bay, all of which he started.

Kirksey originally was drafted in Round 3 of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. The former Iowa Hawkeye collected 484 combined tackles, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 16 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries through 73 games, 54 of which he started.

The Texans have Zach Cunningham and Benardrick McKinney still under contract. Inside linebacker Tyrell Adams, who was McKinney’s replacement after he was placed on injured reserve early in the season, is a free agent.

4 options the Texans have with OLB Whitney Mercilus

The Houston Texans have some options available when it comes to the contract of outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus.

Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus is a good fit for the 3-4 defense, but the Houston Texans are switching to the Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. As such, Mercilus may be out of position.

Furthermore, the former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois will be 31 years old on July 21. Mercilus isn’t exactly a young man by the NFL’s standards, and he probably won’t sniff a double-digit sack season as he did in 2015 when he collected 12.0.

What can the Texans do with Mercilus? Here are four options, according to Over The Cap.

NFL.com lists 3 areas Texans must address in free agency

The Houston Texans have holes to fill on their roster. Here are three NFL.com believes can be addressed in free agency.

The Houston Texans finished 2020 4-12, and coach and general manager Bill O’Brien lost his job four games in. The Texans lost their final five games and hired new general manager Nick Caserio and coach David Culley.

With a lack of draft picks, chiefly their first and second-round picks in this year’s draft, along with about $17.7 million in projected salary cap space, the turnaround may not be quick for Houston in 2021. However, they still need to plug holes on their roster.

According to Adam Maya of NFL.com, the Texans’ three biggest needs that require solutions via free agency are offensive line, pass rusher, and cornerback.

Just because the Texans can trot out the same starters on the offensive line doesn’t mean they should. The flak Deshaun Watson catches for holding onto the ball and taking too many sacks is deserved. But that’s basically an offshoot of how bad things are up front. There’s a noticeable void at wide receiver since Houston opted not to tag Will Fuller, but new GM Nick Caserio will likely address that in the draft. Houston’s pass rush needs revamping, with J.J. Watt gone, Carlos Watkins an undrafted free agent and Whitney Mercilus a potential cut candidate. The next two levels of the defense aren’t in great shape, either. Cornerback was a major issue last year and has at least two vacancies.

Cornerback will be an issue through the first game of the season as starter Bradley Roby will serve the final game of his six-game suspension handed down with five games to go in the 2020 campaign. Houston is also losing veterans in Gareon Conley, Vernon Hargreaves, and Phillip Gaines. The Texans still have cornerbacks on the roster in Keion Crossen, John Reid, and Lonnie Johnson, who played more safety in 2020, but could use another quality starter opposite of Roby.

The Texans are converting to the Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 front under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. The makeup of the defensive line was destined to change regardless of production and personnel from a year ago.