Kevin Johnson – Cornerback
Cornerback is a considerable need moving forward for the Texans, so on paper, it would make sense for the Texans to keep their former 2015 first round pick on the roster, but Kevin Johnson hasn’t played up to par to the $9,069,000 he is slated to earn in 2019. Injuries have plagued what seemed to be a promising start to his career. Johnson has struggled with foot, knee, hand, and head injuries since entering the league, and his status is in doubt moving forward.
Texans would receive no financial penalty by waiving Johnson in the offseason; Johnson is currently listed as the fourth highest paid player on the roster although It seems unfeasible for him to play next season earning that amount of money. Texans could opt to release him or rework his contract to lessen the cap hit and save money in the process.
The truth of the matter is Gaine, and the front office has a lot of resources going into free agency to retain their marquee free agents, and these three options can open more money than they already have and are potential moves that will occur regardless of the Texans financial situation moving forward.