The Houston Texans took on some pretty bad contracts when head coach/general manager Bill O'Brien was in charge. Although they've managed to steadily get their salary cap in order, there's still work left to do.
Just this past offseason, the Texans either chose to let walk or released a handful of players that didn't add enough value last year. They must keep trimming down the cap and move on from these other two players next year.
No. 3 player the Houston Texans were right to let walk: O.J. Howard, TE
O.J. Howard was a highly coveted prospect coming out of Alabama. Not surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him 19th overall in 2017. However, he hasn't been able yet to leave his mark in the NFL he's running out of time to do so.
Although injuries are to blame for Howard's lack of success in the pro, availability is a player's best ability and if you can stay on the field, you'll hardly make an impact. Throughout his career, he's never played a full season, which certainly had a negative impact on his development. Nevertheless, the Texans gave him a shot and gave him a one-year deal before the start of the 2022 season.
Howard ended up appearing in 13 games with 10 starts in 2022 and reinforced what every team he previously suited up for knew: He's not the playmaker he was in college and he's better suited for a reserve role at this stage of his career. Rightfully, Houston opted not to bring the Alabama native back for a second season and he's now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, having signed a one-year deal in free agency.