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What Signing Brock Osweiler Ultimately Cost the Texans
By: Jody Smith
By now it’s been well established that the Houston Texans made a huge mistake when they signed free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler. Within one year of that signing, dreadful play on the field and a lousy attitude in the locker room forced the Texans to ship Osweiler and a second-round pick to Cleveland in what was essentially an NBA-style cap relief trade.
While nobody feels too badly for Osweiler, who will get $37 million guaranteed whether he takes a snap for the Browns or not, the ramifications for the Texans big mistake of signing Osweiler could haunt the franchise for many years to come.
Admitting a Mistake
Osweiler’s inability to go through progressions and disastrous decision-making ultimately led to his benching. After an alleged locker room blow-up with head coach Bill O’Brien about re-entering a game, it was clear that the Texans would have to make a permanent quarterback change.
After finishing next-to-last in the NFL in quarterback rating and armed with an albatross of a contract, there was little hope of the Texans making a traditional trade to rid themselves of Brock Osweiler.
Enter the Cleveland Browns, whose “Moneyball” analytics-driven approach essentially led them to “buy” Houston’s 2018 second-round pick in exchange for taking the remaining part of Osweiler’s guaranteed contract off of Houston’s books.
The Texans freed up $10 million in cap space for the 2017 season and gained a 2017 NFL draft fourth-round pick from Cleveland (No. 142) in exchange for Osweiler, a 2018 second-rounder and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 188.)
Houston used that fourth-round pick to select Clemson defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, while the Browns packaged the sixth-rounder they acquired from Houston to move up for Florida State offensive tackle Roderick Johnson.
Finding a New Quarterback
After paying a steep price for the mistake of signing Osweiler without getting the chance to meet him first, the Texans now had to switch their main focus for the 2017 NFL draft to again trying to acquire that elusive franchise signal-caller.
While both Rick Smith and Bill O’Brien voiced confidence in fourth-year pro Tom Savage’s ability to start for Houston, no one really viewed Savage as anything but a stop-gap.
When Tony Romo unexpectedly retired to join CBS, and Houston showed no interest in signing other available veteran quarterbacks, it was clear that the Texans would have to invest an early pick in the 2017 NFL draft on a rookie quarterback.
Prior to the draft, the Texans were often linked to Texas Tech gunslinger Patrick Mahomes, but when Kansas City traded up above Houston to nab Mahomes with the No. 10 pick, Rick Smith was forced to seek a different option.
Once again Smith contacted Cleveland general manager Sashi Brown to finalize a deal that had allegedly already been in the works. The Browns would exchange the No. 12 pick in exchange for Houston’s No. 25 pick and a 2018 first-round selection.
The Texans then used the No. 12 pick to draft Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson, the new face of the franchise.
The Ultimate Cost
Many applauded the Texans admitting they erred on signing Brock Osweiler and moving on as quickly as possible. But the mistake that was that contract is likely to have consequences that will impact the team for many years to come.
In two separate deals with the Browns, the Texans got their heir-apparent, but it came at a significant cost.
Houston
2017 pick No. 12 (Clemson QB DeShaun Watson)
2017 pick No. 142 (Clemson DT Carlos Watkins)
$10 million in cap space
Cleveland
2018 first-round pick from Houston
2018 second-round pick from Houston
Brock Osweiler
2017 pick No. 188 (became Florida St. OT Roderick Johnson)
Realistically, the Texans weren’t going to contend for a Super Bowl title until they acquired a franchise QB. If Watson can develop into that player that leads the Texans to the team’s first AFC title game and beyond, Texans fans will rejoice that their club finally found a true difference maker.
But now missing their first two picks in a 2018 draft loaded with incoming talent, the Texans franchise could be incapacitated for several seasons. If DeShaun Watson doesn’t turn out to be the star the team hopes, the Texans could replace the Browns as the NFL’s annual cellar dwellers.
http://texanswire.usatoday.com/2017/05/01/what-signing-brock-osweiler-ultimately-cost-the-texans/
By: Jody Smith
By now it’s been well established that the Houston Texans made a huge mistake when they signed free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler. Within one year of that signing, dreadful play on the field and a lousy attitude in the locker room forced the Texans to ship Osweiler and a second-round pick to Cleveland in what was essentially an NBA-style cap relief trade.
While nobody feels too badly for Osweiler, who will get $37 million guaranteed whether he takes a snap for the Browns or not, the ramifications for the Texans big mistake of signing Osweiler could haunt the franchise for many years to come.
Admitting a Mistake
Osweiler’s inability to go through progressions and disastrous decision-making ultimately led to his benching. After an alleged locker room blow-up with head coach Bill O’Brien about re-entering a game, it was clear that the Texans would have to make a permanent quarterback change.
After finishing next-to-last in the NFL in quarterback rating and armed with an albatross of a contract, there was little hope of the Texans making a traditional trade to rid themselves of Brock Osweiler.
Enter the Cleveland Browns, whose “Moneyball” analytics-driven approach essentially led them to “buy” Houston’s 2018 second-round pick in exchange for taking the remaining part of Osweiler’s guaranteed contract off of Houston’s books.
The Texans freed up $10 million in cap space for the 2017 season and gained a 2017 NFL draft fourth-round pick from Cleveland (No. 142) in exchange for Osweiler, a 2018 second-rounder and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 188.)
Houston used that fourth-round pick to select Clemson defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, while the Browns packaged the sixth-rounder they acquired from Houston to move up for Florida State offensive tackle Roderick Johnson.
Finding a New Quarterback
After paying a steep price for the mistake of signing Osweiler without getting the chance to meet him first, the Texans now had to switch their main focus for the 2017 NFL draft to again trying to acquire that elusive franchise signal-caller.
While both Rick Smith and Bill O’Brien voiced confidence in fourth-year pro Tom Savage’s ability to start for Houston, no one really viewed Savage as anything but a stop-gap.
When Tony Romo unexpectedly retired to join CBS, and Houston showed no interest in signing other available veteran quarterbacks, it was clear that the Texans would have to invest an early pick in the 2017 NFL draft on a rookie quarterback.
Prior to the draft, the Texans were often linked to Texas Tech gunslinger Patrick Mahomes, but when Kansas City traded up above Houston to nab Mahomes with the No. 10 pick, Rick Smith was forced to seek a different option.
Once again Smith contacted Cleveland general manager Sashi Brown to finalize a deal that had allegedly already been in the works. The Browns would exchange the No. 12 pick in exchange for Houston’s No. 25 pick and a 2018 first-round selection.
The Texans then used the No. 12 pick to draft Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson, the new face of the franchise.
The Ultimate Cost
Many applauded the Texans admitting they erred on signing Brock Osweiler and moving on as quickly as possible. But the mistake that was that contract is likely to have consequences that will impact the team for many years to come.
In two separate deals with the Browns, the Texans got their heir-apparent, but it came at a significant cost.
Houston
2017 pick No. 12 (Clemson QB DeShaun Watson)
2017 pick No. 142 (Clemson DT Carlos Watkins)
$10 million in cap space
Cleveland
2018 first-round pick from Houston
2018 second-round pick from Houston
Brock Osweiler
2017 pick No. 188 (became Florida St. OT Roderick Johnson)
Realistically, the Texans weren’t going to contend for a Super Bowl title until they acquired a franchise QB. If Watson can develop into that player that leads the Texans to the team’s first AFC title game and beyond, Texans fans will rejoice that their club finally found a true difference maker.
But now missing their first two picks in a 2018 draft loaded with incoming talent, the Texans franchise could be incapacitated for several seasons. If DeShaun Watson doesn’t turn out to be the star the team hopes, the Texans could replace the Browns as the NFL’s annual cellar dwellers.
http://texanswire.usatoday.com/2017/05/01/what-signing-brock-osweiler-ultimately-cost-the-texans/
