The Texans plan to discuss a contract extension with head coach Bill O’Brien after next season, according to owner Bob McNair (via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle). The 2017 campaign will be the penultimate year of O’Brien’s contract, and he has thus far led the typically quarterback-weak Texans to three nine-win showings and two playoff berths.
Houston continues to be in dire need of help under center, of course, which McNair realizes. “It’s important that we upgrade the play at quarterback,” he told McClain. McNair did express confidence in incumbent starter Tom Savage, though he’s leery of the 26-year-old’s durability issues. “He’s played twice (in regular season) and gotten hurt twice,” McNair noted. “That’s our only concern with Tom. He’s smart enough. He knows the system. He’s got a good arm. I think he can get the job done, but if we depend on him, and he gets hurt in the first or second game . . .”
Savage is only atop the Texans’ depth chart now because of the horrid play of Brock Osweiler, whom they traded to the Browns earlier this month. The move was “a shocker” for McNair, who “couldn’t believe” general manager Rick Smith was able to dump Osweiler’s contract on the Browns (albeit at the cost of a second-round pick). Osweiler is just a year into the four-year pact the Texans handed him as a free agent last offseason. Featuring high cap hits and $37MM in guarantees, the deal quickly became an albatross, and McNair has a theory on why things went so poorly for Osweiler in Houston (via McClain). “(O’Brien) didn’t have a chance to get to know him. That’s one of the problems with free agency,” lamented McNair. “In the draft, we’re able to bring them to Houston, sit down with them, watch them interviewed by a bunch of coaches, and you have time to check them out. You can’t talk to them before they become a free agent. You can’t work them out. We didn’t know him that well.”
Texans brass, including McNair, all seemed to love Osweiler last March, but he then bombed on the field and didn’t mesh with O’Brien in his lone Houston season.
More from the AFC:
- “An NFL source familiar with all the principals involved” speculates the Browns will “make another run” at Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the league meetings, ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi writes. Business tends to go down at the league meetings with everyone in the same place and we could see trade talks get a jumpstart this week in Phoenix. If a trade does happen, however, the same source says it might not occur until closer to the draft on April 27.
- Free agent linebacker Zach Brown is reportedly choosing between the Dolphins and Raiders, but Miami’s Mike Tannenbaum-led front office doesn’t seem to be going all-out to sign him, observes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “The lion’s share of our focus right now is on the draft,” said Tannenbaum, the team’s executive vice president of football operations. “If an opportunity came along, we’d evaluate it appropriately. But our focus is really on the draft and something comes along, we’ll certainly look at it.”
- Defensive tackle Mike Pennel‘s one-year contract with the Jets is worth $990K, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. There’s no guaranteed money in the deal, but it does come with up to $250K in roster bonuses and a $50K workout bonus.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
With the Browns all in on analytics people have to be crazy to think a deal for Garoppolo will get done. NE wants multiple picks, Browns would maybe give up 12.
Browns don’t need him bad enough to give up #12 for him.
No 33 and a sixth rounder. And one of their 4 2nd rounders in 2018 would be plenty sufficient for a guy with 2-3 starts. NE would want more so add a
2028 5th rounder. PLENTY
I would also argue that if Brady still has several years left then NE has less leverage to hold out for a first rounder for Garoppolo. They’re not going to re-sign him and have him sit another couple of years unless they are admitting that he’s just a high end backup.
Good point about their lack of leverage. Add in the fact the Browns would have to work out an extension with Garoppolo, and I don’t see this deal happening.
Garoppolo is JUNK!
Still better than whoever the Jets had last year and will have going in to this year.
Hahaha LOL
The Browns FO has even stated they will not give up a first round pick for Grappolo. Now of course they will figure out all their options and prices, but the Browns aren’t going to pay what the Patriots say they want for him.
Iam a loyal browns fan and the most I would be OK with giving up for Jimmy g is this year’s 12th and our latest pick in the 2nd round next year. And that’s only if our ppl are positive he will be our franchise QB. We have traded back and missed on Carr, cousins,Wentz and Russell Wilson. To name a few. Not to mention, Mack, bosa, Zeke Elliot. We need to draft the best players and never reach for need.
If you want quality you have to pay for it! If you draft the undersized QB from Clemson you will have Johnny football light! Sometimes it’s just better too make the trade.
So exactly who are they going to trade for if they want quality? I thought this post was about Garoppolo. Certainly you’re not saying he’s a quality qb based on six quarters of play. Do you know how many more quarters of football Garoppolo has than that rookie, approximately 6, and i think we have plenty of proof learning under Brady hasnt meant a thing.
You know who is also “undersized” for the QB position? Russell Wilson and Drew Brees. So height isn’t everything when it comes to evaluating QBs. Watson is at least a proven winner (which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to be great), but he played arguably his best football (in the past two years) against the best defense in college football. I’d rather Watson than the one year wonder that is Trubisky.
Btw, garoppolo is 6’2, 225, the undersized qb watson from clemson measured in at 6’3, 221
He had a very productive college career before he entered the NFL as a 2nd round draft choice,followed by 3years of Tom Brady QB school,in his 1.5 games as a starter in his year three season he had a 74% completion rate 4 TDS no picks. These are called indicators. He may turn out to be hyped but if he’s what he showed in his cameo appearance last season he could be an exceptional. Oh forget it let the Browns continue to flounder.
Ryan mallett also had a productive college career, followed by 3 years of tom brady qb school, absolutely meaningless. Matt Flynn had 9 tds, 2 picks in 2 starts along with 4 years of Aaron Rodgers school, again, indicators are meaningless. But i guess they should sell the farm for a guy who has 100 more passes than any rookie they bring in. Also, Hue Jackson has proven he could work with a rookie QB before.