4. LB Bernardrick McKinney
Under the analytical mindset, the linebacker position is the least valuable one on the defensive side of the football. However, Bill O’Brien managed to rake out big contracts to two of them during his reign of terror as the general manager. While Zach Cunningham’s newly signed contract has a ton of dead money still attached to it, Bernardrick McKinney’s does not.
The soon-to-be 29 year old linebacker is due to make $7 million next season, and is coming off of a season-ending injury. To trade McKinney, the Texans would have to eat just $1.5 million in dead money, earning themselves a cap savings of nearly $6.5 million plus whatever asset they could get for him on the open market.
He played just four games this past season, suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. He finished the season with just 19 solo tackles, one tackle behind the line of scrimmage, and one pass defended.
Given his age, price tag, and priority of the linebacker position, Caserio could likely reel in a day-three pick for McKinney on the trade market. However, for a 29 year old linebacker, a fourth round pick might not be the worst value in the world. The cost of getting younger and cheaper, McKinney may be looking for a new home this offseason.