Kingsley Keke was scheduled to start his Texans career this fall, but he will suiting up elsewhere. The Texans are cutting the 25-year-old, reports Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (on Twitter).
Keke, a fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2019, took on an increasingly large role in Green Bay over his three seasons there. He made 17 starts between 2020 and 2021, totalling 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks during that span; those totals contributed to consistent PFF grades in the 60s. His time with the team came to an abrupt end, however, and he was waived in January.
The Texans claimed Keke off waivers not long after, which pointed to him becoming another young piece to Houston’s rebuilding roster. However, as Wilson notes, he was due a base salary of just over $2.5MM as a result of playtime escalators, making him an expensive rotational option. Releasing him does not incur any dead cap charge for the Texans.
Houston drafted Thomas Booker in the fifth round, and has signed Damion Daniels as a UDFA to add cheaper options at the position. Wilson does note, though, that the Texas A&M product is expected to have a market for his services as he hits free agency for the first time in his career.
2.5 million base salary is an expensive rotational option? Since when lmao? He’s 25 and they really don’t have any long term assets on the books.
He’s in the final year of his rookie deal. At best he has a strong start to the season and you get a draft pick for him. At worst you do original round tender on him and net a 5th if he signs elsewhere.
Yeah, this makes no sense to me, either. The Texans don’t have any proven edge rushers that are locks to be long term players here (with all due respect to Rasheem Greene, I couldn’t say for sure who will be starting for Houston in two years at any position). You’d think that a young, cheap edge rusher with a handful of sacks to his name would be a positive for a rebuilding unit that is struggling to attract high end talent.
Can’t return to Green Bay. They’ve already filled the role of DE named Kingsley.
Minnesota
Obvious guess— that’s where a lot of Packer retreads end up.