Bill O'Brien told the media today that he doesn't think the team will add a GM to the mix. This is a surprise to me and plenty of fans of the Houston Texans. After doing The Sean Salisbury Show the day after the Texans' loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round after having a 24-0 lead, a majority of Texans' fans seem like they'd rather he be fired than stay in his current role of de facto GM/head coach/play caller. Now O'Brien did say he hasn't met with owner Cal McNair about a final decision. But it seems like he feels very safe moving forward as the team's head coach.
Bill O'Brien has been under a microscope of the media and fans since last year's wild card round game in the NFL Playoffs where the Colts came to Houston and beat the Texans 21-7. Now after a game in which they realistically should've lost to the Bills and a game in which they did lose to the Chiefs 51-31, I came away saying that he should be fired by the organization and the remake this entire organization this offseason heading into Deshaun Watson's new contract.
When O'Brien sent his punt team out there on 4th and 4 with about 11 minutes left down 17 points on the KC 42 yard line, that was the final straw for me. He had to waste a timeout after Watson had to convince him to go for it. If a head coach of a NFL team doesn't know that you should be going for it in that situation, then he shouldn't be the head coach of your football team.
The Texans have a a big group of unrestricted free agents including some big names. Plus the team is looking to start negotiations with Pro Bowl QB Deshaun Watson and LT Laremy Tunsil, who they acquired before the season in a trade with the Dolphins.
Some other names the team considers as pieces they'd like to return on long term deals could be their big nose tackle DJ Reader, who could get a big time raise. Reader could be looking at a deal similar to Chicago DT Eddie Goldman at 4 years/$42 million with $25 million guaranteed. Another name from the defense that made an impact this season is cornerback Bradley Roby, who only signed a one year contract last offseason. Roby will be 28 years old this upcoming season and could get offers that knock the Texans out of range.
Some other names that will be unrestricted free agents are Carlos Hyde, Jonathan Joseph, Darren Fells, Ka'imi Fairbairn and Lamar Miller among others. The Texans will have around $60 million in cap space according to Spotrac.com.
If the Texans are to work out deals for Watson, Tunsil and Reader, that could eat up a lot of the salary cap room they have. Some other guys who could get extensions are Will Fuller and Zach Cunningham, both who will be in the final year of their rookie deals in 2020.
No matter if the Texans hire a new GM or not, they have a lot of big decisions to make this offseason as they try to build off another AFC South division title.