Houston Texans Restructure Tytus Howard's Contract; Major Move Coming?

The Houston Texans have freed up over $16.7 million in cap space over the past two weeks.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

If the Houston Texans are about to make a significant move, they're free up cap space to do so.

According to KPRC2 Sports, the Texans are restructuring veteran offensive lineman Tytus Howard’s $56 million contract to create $10.3 million in salary cap space. Houston now has over $27 million in cap space heading into April.

Howard, who signed a three-year extension prior to the start of training camp last August, was set to make roughly $14 million base salary, in 2022. The Texans converted roughly $12.9 million of that figure into a fully guaranteed signing bonus.

Howard's new base salary is now the league minimum of $1.125 million, and his salary cap figure is down from $18.71 million to $8.41 million.

This isn't the first money exchange move for the Texans this offseason. Earlier this month, general manager Nick Caserio restructured Shaq Mason’s three-year extension. After being traded by Tampa Bay last offseason, Mason earned a new deal worth $36 million deal. Houston converted his salary into an $8.04 million signing bonus, thus creating $6.4 million in salary cap space.

Oct 3, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) prior to / Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The two moves combined have freed up $16.7 million in salary cap space. The Texans now have the funds to make a more significant move while building a contract extension around players like Nico Collins before the start of offseason workouts.

A former first-round pick, Howard has been one of the league's top right tackles when healthy. In 2022, he finished with a 70. 2 pass-blocking grade by Pro Football Focus and a career-best 64.5 run-blocking grade.

Howard finished last season on injured reserve with a knee injury in Week 12's loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also missed several games after breaking his hand in several places which required surgery before the start of the season.

Houston has the draft capital to land a premier player on the trade block. Despite trading away the No. 23 pick, the Texans own two picks in the second round — including No. 42 — two future second-round picks, and a third-round pick in the top 100.