Texans Rumors: Mario Williams, Arian Foster, Chris Myers

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle takes a look at the Texans key free agents and how things may play out for each of them. McClain notes that the Texans spent about $20 million over last years salary cap of $120 million so the team will have to get below that number before the start of the new league year.

Mario Williams

McClain mentions that the team is more likely to attempt to re-sign Williams to a long-term deal rather than use their franchise tag on him because the tag would require them to pay Williams $22.9 million next season.

Given that they’re already in a tough financial position, re-signing Williams to a more cap-friendly salary would be about their only option here.

Arian Foster 

Unlike Williams, Foster will be a restricted-free agent in the coming months which would normally  play into the Texans hands but the new CBA agreement changed the maximum tender from a compensation consisting of a first and third-round pick to just a first-rounder.

McClain writes that the team wants to lockup him and mentions that Foster is happy in Texas but adds that a team could “front-load a deal” which would make it tough for Houston to match it. They would get a first-round pick as compensation but would lose Foster in the process.

Chris Myers

As for center Chris Meyers, McClain puts him in the group of players that the Texans will not “break the bank.”

Charlie Campbell of Watlerfootball.com mentions that there’s been a lot of talk regarding Myers which could be an indication that there will be an active market for his services come March. Campbell lists the Falcons as a possible suitor.