The Houston Texans are heading into a crucial offseason, and with a smart financial strategy, they could free up as much as $72 million in cap space without parting ways with any key players. This would allow them to keep their top contributors and still create room to strengthen their roster for the 2026 season.
Currently, the Texans are projected to be over the cap by several million dollars in 2026 (around -$5 to -$9 million in top-51/all space per sources like Spotrac and OverTheCap), with several players carrying significant cap hits, including edge rusher Danielle Hunter, offensive tackle Tytus Howard, wide receiver Nico Collins, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., tight end Dalton Schultz, and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Hunter tops the list with one of the highest cap figures, while others like Howard and Collins also contribute heavily to the team’s total salary. With some strategic restructures, however, the team could free up much-needed cap space and even turn their situation positive.
One of the simplest and safest moves the Texans could make is restructuring Danielle Hunter‘s contract. By converting a significant portion of his base salary into a signing bonus, the Texans could dramatically lower his cap hit for 2026 (potentially saving around $15-16 million), creating immediate financial flexibility. While this strategy pushes some costs into future years, it allows the team to free up space for other priorities in the short term.
Another move could involve restructuring Tytus Howard’s contract. Adjustments here could reduce his cap hit substantially (around $12 million in potential savings), pushing money forward but keeping the veteran lineman in place without tough decisions.
Similarly, the Texans could restructure deals for Nico Collins (potential $14+ million savings), Derek Stingley Jr. (around $15 million), Dalton Schultz (about $7 million), and Azeez Al-Shaair (similar range) by converting portions of base salary into bonuses. These moves would collectively add up to major relief for 2026, though they increase future cap hits in a classic “kick the can” approach that’s common in the NFL.
“We can free up a significant amount of cap space without cutting any key players. This strategy allows us to prepare for the upcoming season without making tough decisions about roster cuts. It’s a smart financial move for the team’s future.” said General Manager Nick Caserio.
If the Texans make a deep playoff run or even reach the Super Bowl, performance-based salary incentives could put additional pressure on the cap, as bonuses and escalators in contracts may increase if the team performs well.
With these strategic moves—primarily restructures on the six mentioned veterans—the Texans could free up around $72 million in cap space for the 2026 season while keeping their key players intact. This financial flexibility will not only allow them to target new talent in free agency or extensions (like for stars such as C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.) but also maintain stability as they aim for a strong 2026 campaign.
