JJ Watt Restructures...

[popanot]

Field Yates ‏@FieldYates · 4m4 minutes ago
Source: JJ Watt has restructured his contract. Turned $10M roster bonus into a signing bonus. Creates $8M in cap space for HOU for 2015.

Man, that was a quick restructure... Wonder what's up? You don't clear $8MM for nothing. Figured cap space would come at the expense of JJoe and/or Graham...

[Roy P]

If they don't sign another player, the freed up cap space rolls over to next season. Hopefully, they don't sign Michael Crabtree.

[WMH]

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer 12m12 minutes ago
Texans DE JJ Watt did simple restructure. Converts $10M roster bonus to signing bonus. Creates $8M in space for '15, adds $2M to cap '16-'19

I'm assuming there is a plan. Can't for the life of me think of what that is.
Jennings? Crabtree?
Maybe a Brooks or Mercilous extension?

[popanot]

I don't see anybody on this list that I'd give more than a minimum contract to:

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nf...ee-agents?pg=1

I was thinking maybe they're looking at LB, but the remaining FA's are not appealing at all. RFA Andre Holmes is the only one I'd be remotely interested in, but I certainly wouldn't expect the Texans to offer him a big deal if they targeted him. Crabtree and Jennings shouldn't get anything more than the vet minimum, IMO, and it just doesn't makes sense for the Texans to target them. Like I said, I'd go after Holmes with a poison pill before Crabtree and Jennings.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by WMH

I'm assuming there is a plan. Can't for the life of me think of what that is. Jennings? Crabtree? Maybe a Brooks or Mercilous extension?

Could be an extension for someone, I suppose. The FA list looks pretty bleak, IMO. Only other thing is C/G. Maybe free up some cash to re-sign Meyers or maybe Wisniewski?

[nunusguy]

Is it possible they are tight on the cap for what's needed to sign their rookies after the Draft ? This is intriguing.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Is it possible they are tight on the cap for what's needed to sign their rookies after the Draft ? This is intriguing.

No, they had plenty of money for the rookie pool + ~$3MMish left for other spend.

[popanot]

Throwing $#%& against the wall here... Evan Mathis trade, maybe? No news tying Texans interest to him, but you figure with Meyers gone someone needs to move over and with Sio not doing all that well last year C/G might be an area where BOB feels a vet is better than an unknown. Especially considering the (mediocre) QB situation.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3216/evan-mathis

Mathis graded out well last year according to PFF.

[Keith]

Yeah, a trade was the first thing I thought of when clearing this amount of space. The team could try to sign Mercilus or Brooks, but why so soon? Under the old regime, I could see them doing this, but I don't think there is much urgency... honestly, I'd like to see Mercilus show a little more before signing him for the kind of money he's going to get.

So if you believe the rumor the Texans were making trade inquiries for Cordarelle Patterson (now apparently a dead end, btw), then they could be looking to trade for another receiver. And we know that rolling with Ben Jones at center is a potential liability. An upgrade at ILB and some insurance at OLB would be nice.

And the team seems settled with letting Mallett and Hoyer battle it out for QB, but I wonder if the Saints would float a trade to send Drew Brees back to his home state?? Wild speculation there, and even with the $8MM in new room, still not sure it would be enough.

[popanot]

As posted in another thread, Akeem Dent re-signed for 2yrs. Can't imagine for a lot of money, but maybe this re-do by JJ is just to open up some cash for some smaller deals and extensions. Hoping for something bigger, though.