Yesterday, the Houston Texans announced Arian Foster agreed to a new contract. The signing removes the possibility of Foster becoming a restricted free agent or the club franchise tagging him. The value of the contract is $43.5 million over five years. The terms guarantee $20.75 million and include $12.5 million signing bonus. The linked article breaks down the contract in more detail.
The Remaining Free Agents
Mario Williams, Chris Meyers, Mike Brisiel and Joel Dreessen remain potential free agents.
The Texans previously stated that signing Williams was the priority. I didn't believe that for a second. I figured that Arian Foster was the priority. Today's signing only bolsters my line of thinking.
What I think they have in mind for Williams is a very basic negotiations with him. The Texans brain trust already has a max number in mind they can pay Williams without blowing up the cap or hurting the ability to re-sign the others. In the end, the Texans will tell Williams is a best, last and final offer.
The ball will be in Williams court. Williams knows what is at stake here. It is not just the money. The Texans are building something special and took a giant step last season toward it. The emergence of Brooks Reed made Williams somewhat expendable. Despite Reed's play, Williams allows a quality rotation of himself, Connor Barwin and Reed at the outside linebacker spot.
That leaves Meyers, Brisiel and Dreessen still to sign. To make more moves, some contracts will need restructuring along with cutting some players. Candidates for restructured deals are DeMeco Ryan, Andre Johnson and Kevin Walters. Recovering from injury, Ryan played 58% of the time so I can see management approaching him to restructure. Johnson just recently signed a big deal. The Texans might ask him to restructure also and maybe shift some of the money to a later year. Kevin Walters also might be asked to take a smaller deal or risk being cut. Jacoby Jones is a prime candidate to hit the street. He's not living up to the potential Gary Kubiak has for him. Last year's playoff gaff doesn't help his case. Back up quarterbak Matt Leinart probably is on the cutting block too. TJ Yate's play vaulted him over Leinart. Maybe Leinart comes back at reduced pay.
Williams aside, Meyers and Brisiel should be high priorities. They are the strength of the interior line. Paul Kuharsky writes the AFC South Blog for ESPN.com. In an article, he gives his opinion on what he'd do if running the Texans. On Meyers and Brisiel, Kuharsky states that he'd sign Meyers and that Antonio Caldwell can take over for Brisiel. Unfortunately I don't agree with that assessment. In his four starts last year, Caldwell did nothing to impress. He can't simply replace Brisiel. Caldwell isn't good enough to be a full time starter. A good swing guard/center for spot starts only. Early in his career Kubiak practically handed him the guard starting spot and Caldwell was never able to keep it.
Dreessen is a #2 tight end but I believe he is expendable if it came down to losing him. James Casey can play tight end and is much more gifted athletically. As for Casey, I'd like to see the coaches use him more creatively.
Final Thoughts
With success comes difficult decisions. Success also means there are quality players up and down the roster. The salary cap forces those difficult decisions. Sometimes the cap numbers force a team to part ways with a player that was a foundation of the team. If the Texans can't get Williams to agree to a cap friendly deal, he's gone.
Getting Meyers and Brisiel signed remains the two highest priorities. The line is crucial to the success of teams and the Texans have one of the best. No need to break it up and try to work in a new lineman cause I don't think Caldwell can get the job done.
With the Texans busy signing their own potential free agents, don't expect them to be active like last year. They might be able to get some quality back ups in free agency. However I don't see any Daniel Manning or Johnathan Joseph caliber starters signing with Texans this off season.
Next issue: A look at what the Texans draft needs.
The Remaining Free Agents
Mario Williams, Chris Meyers, Mike Brisiel and Joel Dreessen remain potential free agents.
The Texans previously stated that signing Williams was the priority. I didn't believe that for a second. I figured that Arian Foster was the priority. Today's signing only bolsters my line of thinking.
What I think they have in mind for Williams is a very basic negotiations with him. The Texans brain trust already has a max number in mind they can pay Williams without blowing up the cap or hurting the ability to re-sign the others. In the end, the Texans will tell Williams is a best, last and final offer.
The ball will be in Williams court. Williams knows what is at stake here. It is not just the money. The Texans are building something special and took a giant step last season toward it. The emergence of Brooks Reed made Williams somewhat expendable. Despite Reed's play, Williams allows a quality rotation of himself, Connor Barwin and Reed at the outside linebacker spot.
That leaves Meyers, Brisiel and Dreessen still to sign. To make more moves, some contracts will need restructuring along with cutting some players. Candidates for restructured deals are DeMeco Ryan, Andre Johnson and Kevin Walters. Recovering from injury, Ryan played 58% of the time so I can see management approaching him to restructure. Johnson just recently signed a big deal. The Texans might ask him to restructure also and maybe shift some of the money to a later year. Kevin Walters also might be asked to take a smaller deal or risk being cut. Jacoby Jones is a prime candidate to hit the street. He's not living up to the potential Gary Kubiak has for him. Last year's playoff gaff doesn't help his case. Back up quarterbak Matt Leinart probably is on the cutting block too. TJ Yate's play vaulted him over Leinart. Maybe Leinart comes back at reduced pay.
Williams aside, Meyers and Brisiel should be high priorities. They are the strength of the interior line. Paul Kuharsky writes the AFC South Blog for ESPN.com. In an article, he gives his opinion on what he'd do if running the Texans. On Meyers and Brisiel, Kuharsky states that he'd sign Meyers and that Antonio Caldwell can take over for Brisiel. Unfortunately I don't agree with that assessment. In his four starts last year, Caldwell did nothing to impress. He can't simply replace Brisiel. Caldwell isn't good enough to be a full time starter. A good swing guard/center for spot starts only. Early in his career Kubiak practically handed him the guard starting spot and Caldwell was never able to keep it.
Dreessen is a #2 tight end but I believe he is expendable if it came down to losing him. James Casey can play tight end and is much more gifted athletically. As for Casey, I'd like to see the coaches use him more creatively.
Final Thoughts
With success comes difficult decisions. Success also means there are quality players up and down the roster. The salary cap forces those difficult decisions. Sometimes the cap numbers force a team to part ways with a player that was a foundation of the team. If the Texans can't get Williams to agree to a cap friendly deal, he's gone.
Getting Meyers and Brisiel signed remains the two highest priorities. The line is crucial to the success of teams and the Texans have one of the best. No need to break it up and try to work in a new lineman cause I don't think Caldwell can get the job done.
With the Texans busy signing their own potential free agents, don't expect them to be active like last year. They might be able to get some quality back ups in free agency. However I don't see any Daniel Manning or Johnathan Joseph caliber starters signing with Texans this off season.
Next issue: A look at what the Texans draft needs.
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