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Texans salary cap update after two weeks of NFL free agency

Texans salary cap update after two weeks of NFL free agency

USA Today22-03-2025

Texans salary cap update after two weeks of NFL free agency
It's been a busy start to the offseason for the Houston Texans, who altered their path after trading away five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil for multiple draft picks.
Yes, the Texans remain the favorites to win the AFC South. They should be one of the league's top defenses after securing defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Houston also will at least have options on the offensive line after inking one-year deals with Laken Tomlinson, Cam Robinson and veteran Trent Brown.
Building for the long term shouldn't be a concern, either. Houston agreed to extensions with All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and All-Pro defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. Add that with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Joe Mixon and Will Anderson Jr. under contract through 2026, the Texans should remain a playoff force in the AFC over the next several seasons.
But where do the Texans stand financially after all these moves?
Texans salary cap space
Here's an update on the team's salary cap situation. Since several contracts have yet to be finalized, the total is unofficial. According to Over The Cap, the Texans have $23.7 million in cap space entering the draft.
It is worth noting that Sha Mason was designated a post-June 1 cut, so the Texans won't see the savings from that move until June. Over The Cap lists Mason's dead cap charge as $5.1 million.
By moving off Tunsil's contract, Houston also added over $40 million for the two seasons. That money was used to pay for Stingley's new deal, which technically won't kick in at $30 million annually until 2026.
Notable cap hits
Derek Barnett: $5 million
Darrell Taylor: $4.9 million
Christian Kirk: $4.8 million
Laken Tomlinson: $4.25 million
Mario Edwards Jr.: $3.88 million
Tremon Smith: $3 million
Unverified cap hits
Below is a list of the contracts and cap hits that are still unreported officially.

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