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Which players have suited up for their final game in a Houston Texans uniform? Some we will bid a fond adieu, and others are Kendall Lamm. Let’s jump right in, shall we?
Potential Name Cap Casualties:
Brian Cushing - the longtime linebacker didn’t play too well when he was in there, and most of the time - he wasn’t in there. A second PED suspension (and a second lame excuse for the positive test) may be our final, lasting memory of one of my all-time favorite Texans.
Contract status - under contract through 2019. Houston would save $7,640,625 by cutting him this offseason.
Lamar Miller - this would be a mild surprise, but probably not a shock. Miller has been fine for the Texans, though probably less than what they expected. Of course, as has been said on this here website many times, we often have no idea what the heck Bill O’Brien is doing with Miller half the time. Miller excels when he is able to use his speed, yet so often is used between the tackles. With D’Onta Foreman bursting on the scene in 2017, looking much more explosive and breaking tackles all over the place, you can certainly make the case that the Texans will move on from Miller in favor of a younger, cheaper backup for Foreman.
Contract status - under contract through 2020. Houston would save $4,750,000 by cutting him this offseason.
Old Guard:
Johnathan Joseph - Arguably the best free agent signing in Texans history (am I forgetting someone?) , J-Jo dropped off a good bit this year after having a resurgence in 2016. Since he signed before the 2011 season, the Texans have gotten more out of Joseph than they possibly could have hoped for. At 33 years old and a free agent, he’s not likely to return, but with his highly-regarded leadership and so much uncertainty in the secondary it’s difficult to gauge how the Texans will value him going forward.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
Shane Lechler - I think Lechler will be back, but he does not have a contract. Bill O’Brien loves him, and the team loves him as much as anyone can love a punter or a kicker. Lech has already stated he wants to keep playing and he’s likely motivated to stay local... but his contract status puts him on this list’s radar.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
Okay, Good Luck Then:
Alfred Blue - Bill O’Brien loves him some Alfred Blue, but Blue’s contract is up. That said, I can’t imagine there being anyone willing to pay him much more than whatever a decent special teamer and below average running back will command, so he may be back to become what I will now refer to as a “Bill O’Brien Legacy Guy”.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
Thank You For Your Service:
T.J. Yates - What is this, T.J.’s third tour with the Texans? He may be back as a camp arm and won’t start the season on the roster, but no way am I going to say Turkey Juice has played his last game in a Texans jersey.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
One and Done:
Marcus Gilchrist - Gilchrist had some good moments early but overall was a problem in a problematic secondary. He’ll likely end up elsewhere unless he goes for a near minimum deal. I so wish the Texans had enough draft picks to take a competent safety in the first three rounds.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
The Greatest (Clown) Show on Earth:
Jeff Allen - since he was signed to replace Brandon Brooks, Allen has been terrible. He may stick simply due to how bad the offensive line is and the fact that the team isn’t likely to replace all four of the starting offensive linemen it NEEDS to replace in one offseason.
Contract status - under contract through 2019. Houston would save $4,875,000 by cutting him this offseason.
Breno Giacomini - this ham & egger played 100% of the Texans’ offensive snaps in 2017. His mean streak is legendary, second only to his “being an abomination of a starting NFL offensive lineman” streak. My god, this offensive line...what a disaster.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
Kendall Lamm - Kendall Lamm is Kendall Lamm.
Contract status - 2018 restricted free agent.
Xavier Su’a-Filo - XSF is bad. He shows flashes as a run blocker at times, but my god the pass blocking. XSF will go down as one of the worst high picks in franchise history. How did the 2017 offensive line happen!?!? So, so bad!
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
Chris Clark - *screaming and clawing at my own face* - HOW DID THE 2017 OFFENSIVE LINE HAPPEN!?!?! I could actually see Clark coming back as a swing tackle. Do I WANT that? I do not. Buuuut not all of these guys are gonna be gone.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
It’s Not You, It’s Just That “You” Aren’t Deshaun Watson:
Tom Savage - O’Brien loves him some 2017 Week 1 Starter Tom Savage. 2017 Week 1 Starter Tom Savage I think could be a decent NFL backup QB, provided 2017 Week 1 Starter Tom Savage has a top ten offensive line. Down here in the real world, though, 2017 Week 1 Starter Tom Savage will hook on as a backup somewhere else.
Contract status - 2018 free agent.
My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy:
C.J. Fiedorowicz - Can’t catch. Can’t block. Can’t stay healthy. Can’t go back and change those tattoos. CAN get a nice contract extension.
Houston would save $156,250 by cutting him this offseason.
Ryan Griffin - Can catch (sometimes). Can’t block. CAN also get a nice contract extension.
Houston would save $2,468,750 by cutting him this offseason.
I left off some of the annual “roster churn” guys, other than the annual roster churn guys who made up the starting 2017 offensive line. Do you think I missed any obvious choices? Feel free to pay tribute to those we are bound to lose in 2018 and name any others you think will be elsewhere next season.