The Houston Texans aren’t budging on their contract offers so far in free agency.
Houston initially offered linebacker Patrick Queen around $10 million per year but shifted focus to Azeez Al-Shaair after Queen asked for more money, according to ESPN’s D.J. Bien Aime. Queen eventually agreed to a three-year, $41 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Texans, meanwhile, agreed to sign Al-Shaair to a three-year, $34 million deal with $21.5 million guaranteed.
This is the second player the Texans offered a contract to who signed elsewhere for more money. Running back Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after Houston offered a slightly smaller deal than the one he eventually got from his new team.
General manager Nick Caserio has shown his ability to pivot quickly after neither player took his first offer. First with Al-Shaair — a DeMeco Ryans disciple who should be a quality replacement for Blake Cashman in the middle of the defense — and then with a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon after losing out on Barkley and others.
Another example was the deal for defensive end Denico Autry after Jonathan Greenard left for the Minnesota Vikings. Autry agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal while Greenard got $76 million from the Vikings.
This restraint could serve Houston well despite their extension salary cap space in 2024. The Texans haven’t broken the bank on any free agents and instead found serviceable and less expensive options at positions of need.
Smart general managers don’t always spent lavishly in free agency. We’ll see if Caserio’s frugality will pay off in 2024.
