Texans Could Target Patriots Offensive Lineman This Offseason

The Houston Texans might need to keep their eye on the New England Patriots this offseason to find a potential upgrade on their offensive line.

That upgrade could come in the form of Patriots veteran center Garrett Bradbury, whom the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander recently linked as a name to take notice of for the Texans as a potential cap casualty for New England: 

"One name to watch is Garrett Bradbury, who started at center for New England last year. The Patriots don’t need to cut Bradbury, but he could be one of the biggest cost-saving measures on their roster," says Alexander. "The Patriots could save $5.7 million by releasing him, making him a prime candidate to be traded for further compensation."

If the Patriots do decide to part ways with their veteran center, it effectively leaves a starting-caliber interior offensive lineman up for grabs on the open market for needy teams to pounce on. And the Texans might be one of the primary names that make sense to fall within that bucket.

Could Texans Pursue Garrett Bradbury This Offseason?

In terms of Bradbury's outlook as a cap casualty for the Patriots, it's easy to see why their front office would have a clear incentive to do so.

Bradbury did start all 17 games upfront for New England at their center spot, but in their cap-saving efforts to get their roster primed for another Super Bowl run, opening up nearly $6 million on the books can go a long way.

Especially when the Patriots have a young option who can slide over to the center spot in the form of left guard Jared Wilson, who will enter his second season starting upfront for New England, the move to cut Bradbury to save that extra might make too much sense from their perspective.