The Houston Texans scored their first in-season contract extension of the Nick Caserio era when they signed defensive back Tremon Smith to a one-year, $1.6 million deal on Dec. 4.
Caserio joined “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Tuesday and went through the process of how the team will approach the possibility of giving out more contract extensions through the end of the regular season.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Caserio said. “We’ve had discussions with various players, multitude of players, I would say throughout the season. So, there is never a timing element on this. Some players are more inclined, some players and agents are more inclined to have those discussions during the season. As you get a little bit closer toward the end of the season, some players and agents are kind of inclined to let the season play out.”
The first-year Texans general manager stressed that agents will be doing their own market research, and that communication is key, no matter the time of year.
“We’re going to have conversations with those players after the season,” said Caserio. “They’re going to know what direction we’re going to go, what our level of interest is. Some players will get to free agency and we’ll continue to talk to those players in free agency. Some players we’ll have a chance to sign before the free agent period starts. So, 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. And there has to be some mutual interest on the opposing end.”
Caserio says the team has “had a lot of good feedback” and that more extensions like the one with Smith could happen over the final five weeks of the season.
Said Caserio: “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.”
The Texans face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 at NRG Stadium. Currently, with a 2-10 record, the Texans are projected to have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.