Houston Texans Player Incentive Tracker
Update on how the contract incentives worked out for Houston Texans players for the 2023 season.
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“AFC South Champs Brian!”
Houston come up with a huge win in Indianapolis to punch their ticket to the playoffs on Saturday night. An additional bonus was Jacksonville losing to Tennessee, moving Houston to the top of the AFC South standings.
The regular season has come to a close. And with the regular season closing we can now examine the outcome of the many player contract incentives in place for the Houston Texans roster.
Quick Primer on Incentives
Contract incentives are bonuses that players can earn by meeting certain performance or participation criteria. Contract incentives are limited, by the CBA, on category and type when applying to player contracts. Nick Caserio utilizes player contract incentives heavily. Conversely, Rick Smith & Chris Olsen never used incentives. The reason to use or not use player incentives is a pure organizational mentality.
Incentives are categorized at NLTBE (Not Likely to Be Earned) or LTBE (Likely to Be Earned) based on the player’s previous season performance. If the player achieved that specific statistical measure in the previous season, then the incentive is LTBE.
LTBE incentives count on the salary cap in the current/respective league year. NLTBE incentives do not count against the specific league year salary cap. If the player achieves the NLTBE portion of the incentive, the amount will be captured in the following league year's annual adjustment. Additionally, the player’s salary cap charge would be adjusted to LTBE in the following year (assuming the player is under contract the following year.
Yes, it sounds confusing. Tracking and maintaining incentive charges is cumbersome. But that’s why I am here. Below I will break down each player and their respective contract incentives; and if the player achieved those incentives.
Notes: The organization can opt to pay out an unachieved bonus. Houston has a few players that just barely missed an incentive. There is no rule preventing the team from paying the bonus, however, by letter of the contract, the team is not obligated. A new contract would be required to facilitate such a payment.
Dalton Schultz
Total: $2,750,000
Offensive Playtime: 65.2%
Receptions: 59
Receiving Yards: 635
Pro Bowl Nomination: No
Total Earned: $0
Case Keenum
Total: $2,000,000
Offensive Playtime: 10.0%
Total Earned: $0
Robert Woods
Total: $1,750,000
—$750,000 for 2023 league year
Receptions: 40
Total Earned: $0
M.J. Stewart
Total: $1,500,000
—$750,000 for 2023 league year
Playtime: 14.6%
Total Earned: $0
Jimmie Ward
Total: $1,500,000
—$750,000 for 2023 league year
Playtime: 44.5%
Total Earned: $0
Eric Murray
Total: $1,500,000
Playtime: 15.5%
Total Earned: $0
Devin Singletary
Total: $1,000,000
Playtime: 55.5%
Scrimmage Yards: 1,091
Total Earned: $375,000
George Fant
Total: $1,000,000
Playtime: 80.6%
Total Earned: $1,000,000
Steven Nelson
Total: $1,000,000
Playtime: 89.8%
Total Earned: $500,000
Denzel Perryman
Total: $900,000
Playtime: 44.8%
Total Earned: $0
Tavierre Thomas
Total: $750,000
Playtime: 30.9%
Total Earned: $0
Hassan Ridgeway
Total: $750,000
Playtime: 5.4%
Total Earned: $0
Sheldon Rankins
Total: $750,000
Playtime: 52.4%
Total Earned: $0
Dare Ogunbowale
Total: $600,000
—$300,000 for 2023 league year
Playtime: 9.5%
Total Earned: $0
Noah Brown
Total: $500,000
Playtime: 40.8%
Receptions: 33
Total Earned: $0
Andrew Beck
Total: $500,000
—$250,000 for 2023 league year
Playtime: 28.4%
Total Earned: $0
Blake Cashman
Total: $500,000
Playtime: 57.6%
Total Earned: $500,000
Neville Hewitt
Total: $300,000
Playtime: 0.3%
Total Earned: $0
Cam Johnston
Total: $200,000
—$100,000 for 2023 league year
Pro Bowl: No
Total Earned: $0
The majority of player incentives utilized by the Houston Texans are tied to playtime. Expect a new batch of player contract incentives during the upcoming 2024 free agency period, and with current player extensions that may occur. Rookie contracts do not specifically contain performance incentives beyond the proven performance escalator.
Any questions? Comment below or send me an email troy@overthecap.com
Data Source: OverTheCap
-TC