The Houston Texans have a total of seven draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft with two picks in the top 100 at 40th overall (second round) and 90th overall (third round). According to the draft value charts, the Texans have the third-lowest draft capital.
If the Texans want to add more draft picks, here are four players who could be on the move during the draft.
1. WR Keke Coutee
The former 2018 fourth-round pick from Texas Tech landed in coach Bill O’Brien’s doghouse in his second year, and it isn’t easy to get out of there. Coutee has also become redundant with the club signing slot receiver Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills being able to fill in at any receiver spot in the offense. Even Steven Mitchell got playing time over Coutee in Week 8’s 27-24 win over the Oakland Raiders. Coutee may find playing time even more difficult to come by in Houston in 2020.
2. S Tashaun Gipson
As has previously been discussed, Gipson may not have a starting spot on the team with the additions of Eric Murray and Jaylen Watkins. Gipson will also be 30 years old come Week 1, and he missed a total of four games, including the two playoff games. The problem with getting rid of Gipson is the dead money implications to the salary cap. A pre-June 1 cut costs Houston $4.25 million in dead money, and a post-June 1 cut costs $3.75 million in dead money.
However, if the Texans can find a trade partner, their dead money goes down to $1 million for a pre-June 1 trade, saving them $6.4 million.
3. G Zach Fulton
Fulton is at the point in his contract with the Texans where there are no dead money implications to a cut or trade, and he costs $7 million against the salary cap. Although the former Kansas City Chief will be 28 years old and was a quality starter for Houston in his past two years, and even gives them versatility as a backup center, if the Texans can get younger and better at the position, they may take it. When left tackle Laremy Tunsil and quarterback Deshaun Watson are due their extensions in the next two seasons, the front office will be looking for savings all over the place.
4. ILB Benardrick McKinney
The 2018 Pro Bowler is more of an enforcer in the run game and not as prolific of a coverage linebacker as counterpart Zach Cunningham. Trading McKinney would incur $2.3 million in dead money, but it would save $5.2 million in salary cap space. Getting rid of McKinney would help the Texans’ inside linebacking corps get quicker as a unit, though they would have an immediate leadership void.
