The Houston Texans pulled off the biggest move of free agency by trading away Brock Osweiler and picks to the Cleveland Browns and free up cap space.
In a move more characteristic of the NBA or the MLB, the Houston Texans somehow negotiated a trade in which they shipped quarterback Brock Osweiler and his massive contract off to the Cleveland Browns. The move, which included a 2018 second-round draft pick and other additionally picks, was essentially to clear space to pursue a free agent quarterback, most likely Tony Romo.
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This trade, so uncharacteristic of the NFL, is already the best move of free agency. There are some strong player acquisitions already being announced, but this was an inventive solution to a cap problem that the Texans desperately needed to get out from under.
Credit to the Browns (who are making waves in free agency) for going along with such a deal. Eating salary in order to secure a second-round pick is an excellent way to keep stocking the team with quality young talent.
Most importantly, however, is that the Texans are now in the driver seat again with the quarterback situation. Without Osweiler’s contract hanging over the team, the Texans are free to go hard for any quarterback they so wish. While the Romo situation continues to unfold, there are other players like Jay Cutler that hold some intrigue for a team that simply needs moderate competency to take a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
The #Browns have just traded for Brock Osweiler, sources say (as @AdamSchefter reported). He goes from the #Texans with a 2018 2nd rounder.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
To say that Osweiler’s deal after limited time with the Denver Broncos was a mistake would be an understatement. It was a colossal failure of magnitudes that teams don’t often make. Nobody thought the Texans could get out from under it, yet somehow they did.
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While the Texans may not be able to get everything they want out of free agency (losing a player like cornerback A.J. Bouye to a division rival hurts), they are now able to get a quarterback. In the NFL a team is only as good as its quarterback, so it’s tough to understate how important this.
Now it’s simply time to make the right decision as to who that quarterback will be.