The Texans picked a bad time to be bad.
Between salary cap straits, sifting through Bill O'Brien's horrible trade and roster decisions and a projected reduced 2021 NFL salary cap because of Covid-19's economic impact, the Texans are in a bind.
The next general manager has one huge asset around which to build – quarterback Deshaun Watson – but as Texans fans have learned all too well in a 4-8 season, he cannot always win by himself.
Hence, the next regime has tough decisions to make. Painful ones. But if this team's 2020 is to become a mere hurdle rather than a wall, they are necessary.
The biggest task is finding salary cap space, which would give flexibility for peripheral roster enhancements and bolstering key complementary pieces.
With that in mind, here are the best, quickest ways to get there from here.
Goodbye:
J.J. Watt – Trading the franchise icon to a contender is a virtual certainty. There would be no 2021 dead-cap hit and extending him would sacrifice too many potential other assets.
David Johnson – The 2021 dead-cap hit would be just more than $2 million. You'd rather keep Duke Johnson. David Johnson is a bust.
Bernardrick McKinney – Even though you can't just keep eating dead-cap money, McKinney's $1.5 million is manageable, plus you've found Tyrell Adams and McKinney was not a game-changer.
Eric Murray – Bust. Goodbye.
Zach Fulton – A $750,000 cap hit is nothing, really. He's a liability.
Kahale Warring – BOB's worst draft pick – possibly the worst in franchise history – is an easy decision.
Senio Kelemete – Who wouldn't pay a $250,000 2021 cap hit to say goodbye?
Brandin Cooks – You need a veteran receiver around, other than Will Fuller, who likely will be re-signed. Between Cobb and Cooks, as much as it might be a wash in production, a penchant for concussions and age has Cooks drawing the short straw.
Vernon Hargreaves – Seeya.
Phillip Gaines – Seeya, too.
Maybe:
Bradley Roby – Here's where it gets dicey, but necessary. Roby has been good. Reliable. But between his PED suspension, which extends into early 2021, and the ability to find replacement-level CBs, he could go.
Nick Martin – As much as he's overvalued and the $2.5 million hit in 2021 is not chump change, he still could be a casualty. Personally, I'd keep him around, but wouldn't argue moving on from Martin.
Darren Fells – The Texans have to get younger and better at the tight-end position. Fells is only going to pull a $500,000 cap hit next year and is the oldest of the bunch.
Cullen Gillaspia – Injuries have set Gilly back, but even healthy he was not much more than a special team guy. He has upside and may be worth another look, but it could go either way.
Whitney Mercilus – Man, what a horrible contract. The best hope here is to trade him and eat half of his $15 million 2021 cap hit. Just a horrible, horrible deal BOB gave out here. Texans could be out of luck and have to ride out another season with a diminishing player.
Kai'mi Fairbarin – Another albatross of a contract. He's not an upper-tier kicker. He's … OK. Good luck moving that contract, tho. If you can, do it.
Brandon Dunn – If money gets tight – it will – perhaps Dunn stays. But while he has value, he's squarely on the bubble depending on the next head coach's preferences and style of defense.
