Teams in need of edge-rushing help suddenly will have a new option to consider. The Panthers are cutting bait on their one-year Justin Houston contract.
Houston will hit waivers today, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The 13th-year veteran, who had been stationed on a 2-12 team, wants to keep playing this season — but only for a contender. The Panthers have confirmed the move, which will end Houston’s Carolina tenure after 14 games.
While Houston could conceivably clear waivers like Shaquille Leonard and Zach Ertz did, a higher likelihood exists here he will be claimed. Due to contract structure, Houston is only due $194K over the season’s remainder, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports. The 34-year-old defender signed a one-year, $6M deal with Carolina late this summer. But $4.8M of that sum came in the form of a signing bonus. Due to void years, the Panthers will be hit with approximately $4M in dead money by releasing the former Chiefs, Colts and Ravens pass rusher.
Like Ertz, Houston is being removed from his team’s IR list. The Panthers placed Houston on IR in early November. He has not played since Carolina’s Oct. 29 game against the Texans. Houston also only has a half-sack this season. A hamstring issue sidelined Houston, but it is clear he expects to be ready to play again this season.
Last season, Houston ripped off 9.5 sacks to lead the Ravens. Although the Ravens entered training camp with more edge rusher questions, they let the veteran sign elsewhere. The Ravens have seen late additions Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy fare well for a rejuvenated pass rush. The Bears also considered Houston this offseason, but they traded for Montez Sweat and gave him a big-ticket extension. With Chicago not in the playoff race, Houston does not profile as a fit there at this juncture.
Houston also displayed better health in recent years. After knee trouble led the former third-round pick out of Kansas City in 2019, Houston played at least 14 games each year from 2019-22. He posted 19 sacks during a two-year Colts tenure and helped the Ravens as a stopgap fix from 2021-22. While Houston’s tenure opposite Brian Burns did not go as well, it would not surprise to see him generate interest as contenders assess their stretch-run OLB/DE contingents.
More must-reads: