The Houston Texans are slated to carry $31.72 million in dead cap space during the 2023 season, according to Over The Cap. This will be the ninth-highest amount of dead cap space in the NFL this season.
Nine players will combine to make up this dead cap space, but the overwhelming majority comes from one player:
WR, Brandin Cooks: $22.22 Million
After three seasons with the Texans, Cooks was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, leaving a significant chunk of dead cap space. In return for Cooks, the Texans acquired a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in 2024.
DE, Mario Addison: $2.1 Million
Addison appeared in 12 games for the Texans last season, his age-35 season. Addison was released in March, prior to what would have been the second season of a two-year/$7.7 million deal.
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin: $2 Million
After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, Reeves-Maybin signed a two-year/$7.5 million deal to join the Texans prior to the 2022 season. Reeves-Maybin was released in March, and while that move did leave $2 million in dead money, it also net opened up $2.25 million in cap space. Reeves-Maybin has since returned to the Lions.
OG, A.J. Cann: $2 Million
Cann spent the first seven years of his career with the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, before signing a two-year/$8.5 million deal to join the Texans last offseason. The 31-year-old was released in March, and remains a free agent.
OL, Justin Britt: $1 Million
Britt was released by the Texans in March, and ultimately decided to retire after an eight-year NFL career.
DT, Ross Blacklock: $834,991
A second-round pick in 2020, Blacklock lasted just two seasons in Houston before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in August of 2022. This will be the final season of Blacklock's rookie contract.
TE, Eric Tomlinson: $652,500
Tomlinson signed with the Texans in March, but was ultimately released in May. The 31-year-old is still a free agent.
LB, Jermaine Carter Jr.: $400,000
Carter has appeared in games with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns during a five-year NFL career. Carter was signed by the Texans in early May, but didn't last the rest of the month before being cut.
DT, Taylor Stallworth: $352,500
After playing in one game for the Texans late in the 2022 season, Stallworth was re-signed by the Texans in March. But as he dealt with a hamstring injury, Stallworth was released with an injury settlement in May.
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