Houston Texans: 10 cut candidates the Texans should monitor
By Avery Duncan
3. Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cutting Gerald McCoy — despite his fantastic career in Tampa Bay — makes more sense than it sounds. Not only will the six-time Pro Bowl player turn 31 years old this February, but his contract is also structured to where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can save a lot of money if they cut the former Oklahoma Sooner. For a team that is cap-strapped, cutting McCoy to open $13 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, in 2019 makes too much sense.
In 2018, McCoy finished with six sacks and 28 total tackles, which is a dip from his previous years. His Pro Football Focus grade also fell to a 78.6, good for 28th in the league at DLI.
That doesn’t mean the Texans shouldn’t pursue the 4-3 defensive tackle to slide in adjacent to J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and D.J. Reader. McCoy offers any team with speed, strength, finesse and experience at either a 3-4 end position or 4-3 tackle. If the Texans want to make their defensive line a tad but scarier, adding McCoy wouldn’t be a bad option.
2. Jimmy Graham, TE, Green Bay Packers
Previously, I explained this in full here, but all you need to know is that Jimmy Graham failed to mesh with Aaron Rodgers, while with the Green Bay Packers, which is a trend with Rodgers and big-name tight ends. To further the argument that the Packers could cut Graham, he is 32 years old, and they could save $5.3 million in cap space, per Over The Cap.
As a member of the Texans, Graham would bring more star power to an offense that already boasts one of the scariest combos in the league in Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. Graham would help take attention off the two, while simultaneously opening up the middle of the field for himself and KeKe Coutee.