The Houston Texans are looking to make bold moves this offseason.
How bold? One website has the Texans trading for a player who was on their radar a decade ago to potentially become a franchise cornerstone at defensive end.
Instead, Bill O'Brien and Rick Smith chose South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney over Buffalo's Khalil Mack. According to ESPN, Houston should be bold and bring over the now Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker via trade to bolster the pass rush.
Mack, who just turned 33, had 17 sacks last season for the Chargers and he would come with a huge contract. He has a $38.5 million cap number, and the Chargers are nearly $46 million over the cap for 2024. Trading Mack before June 1 would save them over $23 million in cap space.
The Texans, on the other hand, have $57 million in cap space. They also have the space to bring Mack in with starting edge rusher Jonathan Greenard hitting free agency. Imagine Mack playing opposite Will Anderson Jr., with opponents able to double-team only one of them. It probably wouldn't cost the Texans a very high draft pick while bringing a big addition to their defense. - ESPN
Houston, which secured its first playoff bid in four years behind Anderson and Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, is at a crossroads pass rush. The Texans finished with a franchise-best 46 sacks in 2023, 12.5 of which came from Greenard.
Greenard, a 2020 third-round pick under O'Brien's tenure as GM, is set to hit free agency next month. The asking price could range around $14-$17 million annually, but several cap evaluators believe with the $30.6 million increase to the cap, the number could expand well into the $20 million range.
Mack, who last season totaled 24 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles along with the sack total, has one more year left on his current deal. While the asking price in salary cap space would be substantial, the trade compensation wouldn't, mainly due to the dead cap hit against Los Angeles.
The Chargers are looking to start fresh under new coach Jim Harbaugh, and have multiple cap cut casualties in the mix. Mack might be the most prominent names, but others such as receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen could also be on the chopping block.
Depending on market price, all three players could be on Houston's radar. The Texans finished seventh nationally in passing, but need a more consistent option opposite Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Dell, Houston's third-round pick last offseason, is also coming off a season-ending leg injury and could be slow working back.
The Texans are expected to fortify their pass rush. Does that mean Mack? Only the pricing among free agents will answer that. Houston also could wait until Mack is released and come to terms on a new deal that wouldn't set it back against the cap.
The NFL Combine begins next Monday. Free agency starts two weeks later. The Texans have until then to decide how bold they want to be this free-agent period.
It could reach Mack-sized levels that few expected.
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