Who Could Earn a Mid-Season Contract Extension with the Texans?

Nick Caserio is willing to talk but who is worth the contract extension?

Nick Caserio is ready to do business. Well, willing is probably a better word.

Speaking during the bye week for the Texans the team’s general manager explained he is open to talking with players about extending their contracts while the season is going.

“We've done it a few times here over the last few years, Cashman as an example, a player we extended, added a year to his contract in November. There's some give-and-take that's involved.”

Cashman is Blake Cashman who is coming off the best linebacking performance of the season for the Texans. He was primarily a special teams player last season before getting a new deal in December of last year.

Caserio said the process is “organic” and the dialogue can start from both sides.

“If the player is doing well, maybe the agent will reach out, try to get the ball rolling. We may be internally already having those conversations. But we know we have a certain number of players whose contracts are going to expire at the end of the year, and sometimes you have to let it play itself out and then have those conversations in February and March. Maybe there's some players where you go to them and say, hey, would you be open to potentially adding a year or two to your contract.”

DeMeco Ryans and Caserio met Tuesday and had discussions about the roster and the future of some of the potential free agents. The Texans want to remain “open-minded” and listen to conversations on potential deals, but Caserio acknowledged that is hard.

He said maybe a “handful” of players fall into that category and they have to realize they will lose players to free agency.

Below I listed everyone who is set to be a free agent for the Texans.

I grouped them into four categories.

Let’s Make a Deal!

• The Texans would love to talk to this player and not have them test free agency where some team is likely ready to overpay them. A deal here is unlikely but possible and the cost is about what the market would pay the player.

There’s Something Here for Both of Us

• The Texans like this player and this player likes the Texans. There is a chance for long-term growth here for the player as he fits and the Texans like the potential of this player to give them a little break on money.

It Would Be Nice, But It isn’t a Must

• The Texans wouldn’t say no to a conversation but there is more for the player to prove and an upgrade might be possible or necessary. The players could also very clearly see a raise and better position for themselves by hitting free agency.

Roster Churn

• These players have a similar player that could replace them or wouldn’t need to have the conversation in the season to eventually bring them back.

Now remember this is for deals during the season, not would I bring these players back in the offseason. The players are prioritized within the categories from player I would most want to player at the bottom of that category.