Texans need more cap space

Nick Caserio has his work cut out for him

The 2025 Houston Texans need to look different than the 2024 Houston Texans. Last year’s version of this roster and coaching staff were perfectly suited to bounce out of the playoffs before winning it all – which is exactly what they did.

In 2025 this team needs to take the next step: AFC Conference Championship game or bust.

The coaching staff, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, needed some help. Hopefully that came in the form of replacing former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and some of his staff with Nick Calley and elevating Cole Popovich to offensive line coach.

Now the roster work has begun.

Unfortunately, general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t have the embarrassment of riches in salary cap space he’s had in years past.

$2.58 mil isn’t going to go very far in this world of overpriced pro sports economics.

Now, the NFL salary cap isn’t quite as easy to understand as it might seem. Particularly if you’re not a mathemagician. Thankfully, the fine folks at Cap & Trade have just released a video series to flesh out your knowledge, if your curiosity goes deeper than the facade of giant numbers.

Now, the easiest path forward might seem to simply get rid of some of the highest paid players to make room for Caserio to sign other players.

Currently here are some of the highest paid Houston Texans and their cap number (in millions):

Laremy Tunsil – $28.85

Danielle Hunter – $23.7

Tytus Howard – $23.045

Nico Collins – $18.441

Shaquille Mason – $14.599

Yes, you’re reading that right, the offensive line, which was one of the biggest performance deficits in 2024 amounts for 3 of the 5 largest cap hits.

The call for trading Tunsil has already gone out, ramping up like a tornado siren in Missouri. I personally want to see him stay, but at a lower cap number. I’d also like my salary to match his… slim chances on both, but I want what I want.

According to OvertheCap Tunsil is the 3rd most expensive left tackle in the league. Yet he, Howard and Mason were part of a group that allowed Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to get sacked a whopping 52 times in the regular season and a disgusting 11 more times in just 2 playoff games.

So, it makes sense to call for Tunsil’s exit – and maybe Howard and Mason as well. (Especially Mason.) Particularly since Tunsil has a history of wanting a paycheck that exceeds his performance at any cost.

Hunter and Collins are up there as well, but both land within their respective peers, salary-wise, and both gave championship performances in 2024.

Contract restructuring is where Caserio has shined in the past. Tight End Dalton Schultz is sitting at $14 mil, and Azeez Al-Shaair at $11.523 mil. Both could hear Caserio knocking on their doors come payday, asking for a restructured deal.

Between Tunsil, Howard, Mason, Schultz and Al-Shaair, Caserio could possibly free up something in the $10 mil + range. With further restructures (Ka’imi Fairbairn, Davis Mills & Denico Autry are good candidates) and some of the NFL’s infamous “move salary to bonus” tomfoolery, Caserio can and will make room.

And once that room exists, expect new faces on the offensive line, in the wide receiver room and among the defensive front 7.

Granted the list of restricted and unrestricted free agents will affect all this, but those variables are still pending. If you’re curious on those, Spotrac has list of players and their respective salaries as well. Stefon Diggs leads that list, but the odds of him commanding that sort of WR1 money post-injury at 32 years old are slim (and hopefully none from H-Town).