Toro Times
Fansided

Texans mock draft and free agency: Predicting the 2020 offseason

By Stephen Forsha

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans interviews during the first day of the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 8: Keke Coutee #16 of the Houston Texans runs the ball after catching a pass in the first half of a game against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 8: Keke Coutee #16 of the Houston Texans runs the ball after catching a pass in the first half of a game against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Broncos defeated the Texans 38-24. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Player Released

Keke Coutee, Wide Receiver

Base Salary: $660,000
Cap Number: $842,257
Dead Money: $364,514
Cap Savings: $477,743

After as poor of a second season as any wide receiver had in the NFL in 2019, Keke Coutee most likely will become the odd man out with the Houston Texans offense for the 2020 season. Coutee won’t save much on the salary cap, but he did have some hype going into the 2019 season, and he didn’t get anywhere near the excitement that should have happened.

Coutee was either on the sideline not playing or listed as inactive, as DeAndre Carter was picked to play Coutee’s role played the previous season. In ’19, Coutee had 22 receptions for 254 yards with no touchdowns.

Coutee averaged 11.5 yards per reception but played in eight games, with his best performance coming against the Denver Broncos (Dec. 8), where he had five receptions (eight targets) for 68 yards. On Oct. 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, Coutee totaled three receptions (four targets) for 72 yards.

Player Not Re-Signed

D.J. Reader, DT

The defensive tackle for the Texans is a free agent from the Texans, and this contract will be the most money he’s made since entering the NFL in 2016. Reader made $2.025 million on his base salary in ’19, with a prorated bonus of $53,845, with his cap number being at 2.078 million for this past season.

Spotrac.com has Reader with a market value of $11.9 million per year, so again, if the Texans want to keep one of their own players then they’ll have to spend the proper of money to keep their defense strong, as Spotrac.com says Reader’s overall market value is five years at $59.73 million.

It doesn’t see likely that the Texans will bring back Reader at $11 million per season with all the pending contracts they have ahead his contract, though he’s earned that type of money for his overall level of play.

Home/Houston Texans Free Agency