The Houston Texans have entered a point with guard Zach Fulton’s contract that the club could release him without any repercussions to the salary cap.
According to Spotrac, in 2020, the former Kansas City Chiefs 2014 sixth-round pick will earn $7 million a year on the final two years of his contract, which is also what he would count against the Texans’ salary cap. Furthermore, the Texans wouldn’t have to pay any dead money if they released him.
Just because a club can exercise an option doesn’t necessarily mean that it should. Fulton played right guard for the Texans in 2019, starting all 15 games played, and gives Houston versatility along all three interior offensive line spots, including center. Fulton, who will turn 29 years old on Sept. 23, gives the Texans options at fielding the five best offensive linemen. Coach Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Mike Devlin prefer to field the best combination of their five best offensive lineman rather than look for the best at each of the five positions like other NFL teams.
If the Texans got rid of Fulton, they would have to be confident in the options out there. With how well Fulton has played the past two seasons, and the depth he provides, there may not be a better option on the open market or that will fall in the middle or late rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft that could be considered an upgrade.
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