The New Orleans Saints cut three-time Pro Bowl guard Larry Warford on Friday. The move was one to create salary cap savings of $7 million and also allow 2020 first-round draft pick Cesar Ruiz a chance to claim his spot on the Saints’ offensive line.
With the 29-year-old out on the open market, the Houston Texans need to be active and add the meritorious guard to their offensive line.
1. Solves the Zach Fulton problem
The former Kansas City Chief has been a staple at right guard for the Texans since 2018, but he will cost Houston $7 million in salary cap space in each of the next two seasons. The Texans can get out of that contract and not suffer any dead money against the salary cap.
Though Fulton is a year younger than Warford, he isn’t as proven as the three-time Pro Bowler. In two years time, the Texans offensive line could complete its rebuild and take its claim as one of the more formidable blocking units in the conference, if not the league.
2. Keeps an experienced veteran next to RT Tytus Howard
The former Alabama State Hornet made the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team after an impressive eight games in 2019. It isn’t that Howard will regress, but it would no doubt help him control what is in his realm if he can still have a solid veteran to his left. Warford would give Howard the peace of mind to still go out and do his job.
Additionally, if Howard proves to be injury prone and other fill-ins are at right tackle, they can count on Warford’s high level presence to help them hide and get through the stretch.
3. Upgrades another position on the offensive line
12 months ago, the projected Texans starting offensive line was not exactly known. Nick Martin would man center and Zach Fulton would be right guard. Was Tytus Howard going to start left tackle as a rookie, or was it going to be free agent Matt Kalil? Was Seantrel Henderson starting at right tackle as then-general manager Brian Gaine said at the NFL Scouting Combine that offseason? Was Senio Kelemete starting a left guard? What about second-rounder Max Scharping’s place on the unit? It was dysfunctional.
On May 10, the Texans have a Pro Bowler at left tackle in Laremy Tunsil, Scharping is excelling at left guard, Martin remains center, and Howard is earning accolades as a right tackle. The only area where the Texans can reasonably upgrade is right guard, and that can be done with the signing of Warford.
