Regarding Owen Daniels’ current contract stalemate with the Texans, I feel like there are only two possible thoughts going through GM Rick Smith’s head right now.
1 - Crap. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have given Owen and his people what they wanted in the offseason, even if it was more than I was willing to pay at the time.
2 - Well, it’s a good thing I already decided this past offseason that we were going to let Owen walk, because now there’s no way we’ll be able to pay him the money he’s going to want since we also have DeMeco Ryans and several others to worry about as well.
I’m hoping the upcoming labor issues in the NFL hold the key to getting Owen in the fold for years to come, one way or another.
In the offseason, the Texans would have had to overpay to get Daniels under contract long-term. That’s just the way it is in the NFL. The problem now is - if the Texans want to keep Owen, NOW they are going to have to grossly overpay for him. (I don’t use “overpay” to suggest he’s not worth it - I mean that in the context of how the rest of the roster salaries come together.)
If Daniels and his representatives were using Kellen Winslow’s ridiculous deal as a negotiation point as many of us thought they were - then a lot of us were okay with the Texans not giving him his deal. It was just too much money for a guy who was a really good tight end, but wasn’t the top guy at his position.
Well, guess who was right about himself? Owen has gone out and proven that he is, in fact, near or at the top of his position. The price goes up up up with every incredible one-handed TD catch, with every 100+ yard performance, and with every catch for a first down. Let’s check some of Owen’s numbers through seven games in 2009, with the numbers in parenthesis representing his rank among all NFL Tight Ends:
Receptions: 39 (2nd)
Receiving yards: 497 (1st)
Receiving yards per game: 71 (3rd)
Touchdowns: 5 (Tied-2nd)
Receptions for a first down: 27 (1st)
20+ yard receptions: 7 (2nd)
40+ yard receptions: 2 (Tied-1st)
Those aren’t just top-tier tight end numbers, those are ELITE numbers.
Sure, Owen benefits from the system - he’s even said so himself. But he’s only 26 years old, and he’s still getting better. His blocking is better, his route-running is better, and when’s the last time this guy dropped a pass? Here’s a very important factor as well - he’s known to be the hardest worker on the team if you believe what you read over the last couple of years. I don’t think he’s a candidate to turn to mush once he gets his big contract, similar to DeMeco Ryans. I think you can count on both of those guys to continue playing at a high level.
It is apparently team policy that the Texans do not negotiate contracts during the season, and at this point - even if Rick Smith came to Owen with a huge new offer, why would Owen take it? He’s on pace to OBLITERATE all of his career high numbers, and with Tony Gonzalez out of the AFC, Owen is a LOCK to make his second-straight pro bowl.
The bottom line is this - if Owen wasn’t already looking for the biggest contract at his position, he will be now - and he should be.
I think Joel Dreessen can be a starting TE in this league, but I don’t think he’ll ever be Owen Daniels.
I think James Casey can be a starting TE in this league, and I could even see him being as good as Owen one day - but it’s not going to be soon enough for him to be in his prime when this team is set up to make deep playoff runs. I could be wrong about that, but since he’s buried so far down the depth chart right now we have nothing to go on but his raw talent, work ethic, and potential.
All of those of course point to him being a really good NFL player - but right now Owen Daniels is a SURE THING, and he’s as vital to the success of this offense as anyone else.
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Oct 27, 2009 at 12:07:34
If paying Daniels prevents us from signing our other core position players then I say let Daniels walk. We have a potential Daniels clone in Casey. I think they have similar receiving skills. I’m sure Casey would need to work on his pass blocking but being a Rice student, he should have the smarts to manage.
Oct 27, 2009 at 12:26:49
The CBA should protect us because the Texans have all the leverage. They can continue to tender him as an RFA for two more years. That should give them considerable bargaining power in negotiating a reasonable deal. My biggest fear is that they pay these all these guys what they’re worth and it cripples the organization moving forward.
Then again, when I look at the Colts that’s exactly what they’ve done. They have paid every one of their stars and built around them with cheap help.Perhaps that’s the model. I like to think that the Steelers model and Patriots model is usually more effective. Massive depth (see the TE position) and compensatory picks.
I can’t wait to find out though. It’s going to be a very exciting offseason in Houston!
Oct 27, 2009 at 12:56:17
Can anyone explain the CBA and what it means to the Texans in regards to how they handle contracts?
Oct 27, 2009 at 14:32:53
Nitpicking time! Anthony Gonzalez?
Oct 27, 2009 at 14:39:03
Pay Owen and demeco
f dunta in his azz
let walter walk if he is too expensive. Jj could then be #2. That’s kinda scary actually
Oct 27, 2009 at 14:40:22
Nitpicking 2, Owen dropped a pass last week in the red zone I believe on a five yard out. Hit him in his hands and he had it, then dropped it as he got hit. Doesn’t really take anything from your point though. Just sayin’.
Oct 27, 2009 at 14:41:26
K W is such a great blocker. JJ probably is not
Oct 27, 2009 at 14:51:37
Ravens jets chargers Texans
what do these teams have in common…
Oct 27, 2009 at 15:34:36
I’d challenge that Owen is getting better. He’s gettting more balls thrown his way, certainly, but his blocking is just as unspectacular as it’s always been. You already got nitpicked on the dropped ball thing but I can remember at least a few others this year alone.
All of which doesn’t detract from your main point, but I don’t think we’re in screwedville without Owen Daniels. He’s very good at what he does and I hope we keep him, but he’s not a complete tight end and it’s not that hard to find tight ends who can catch somewhat fewer balls for a lot cheaper than Daniels is asking. Billy Miller never made a bushel of money. The Texans, to me, seem to have PLENTY of guys who can catch the ball. If we mathematically have to sacrifice Daniels to go get a dominant nose tackle or safety…well, I love Owen and I’d hate to see him go, but that makes logical sense to me.
Oct 27, 2009 at 16:01:59
If it’s between Owen and a dominant nose tackle or safety - then I’m with you.
This is more about how his price is going up than it is about how I think he’s an absolute must have for the team. I do think he’s got as much to do with the success as anyone else does.
Sure he’s getting more balls thrown his way, I think mainly because the running game has been garbage, and of course Andre’s getting as much attention as always.
As to his blocking - I really think he’s improved - but aren’t you doing game charting? If so you’ve seen more than I have and I will certainly take your word for it.
But to your bigger point - yes, I’d rather have Dreessen or Casey + a dominant DT or S than Owen and what we have now.
Oct 27, 2009 at 22:15:34
Re: “Anthony Gonzales” - He means “Tony Gonzalez”. It took me a second to realize who Chris was talking about, too.
Oct 27, 2009 at 23:12:42
His birth name was Anthony Gonzalez…
Oct 28, 2009 at 01:01:56
I think the CBA issue will help us a great deal. I don’t mean by giving us the ability to tender OD and Demeco as RFA’s either. If 2010 is in fact an uncapped year, we can still offer large deals to these two without hurting our future cap situation. We can front load a great deal of the money in 2010 when there is no cap, making the following years more manageable. I think we will see alot of this in contracts signed this next offseason.
Oct 28, 2009 at 04:55:26
Yes, still doing the charting. It just doesn’t seem like it lately because I’ve been dealing with family hospital drama. Hahah.
Oct 28, 2009 at 12:33:12
Can anyone tell me if the Texans, as an organization, are fans of the sign-and-trade philosophy? If we really chose to let Owen go, I’m sure he’d at least be worth a second round pick (just like Kellen Winslow).
Also, I swear I heard from the Chron that Bob McNair will throw his money around if 2010 goes uncapped. To me, that means signing all the important members of our team, including Ryans, Walter (K-Dubz is lightyears ahead of Jacoby, who’s a better fit for the slot role), Owen Daniels, and Dunta (I hate to say keep him, but can you name a cornerback that will be a UFA next year that is definitively better than Dunta?), and then possibly spending money on some other free agents that can help us. Can someone confirm or deny this?
Oct 28, 2009 at 13:44:13
He’s just a tight end. When’s the last time you saw a team overpay a tight end and win the super bowl?
Oct 28, 2009 at 19:39:52
Dunta (I hate to say keep him, but can you name a cornerback that will be a UFA next year that is definitively better than Dunta?),
I can name several street free agents that would probably play better than Dunta has this year
Oct 29, 2009 at 15:46:08
How bout bethea from the colts as the texans future safety
then in the draft go DT and interior o line plus a big back
I’d love cj spiller though
Oct 30, 2009 at 18:50:06
I remember thinking, when I first heard how much $ he wanted on his contract renewal, “this guy is good, but he’s not that good.” Well, I’ll gladly eat crow if he keeps playing like this. He’s tearing it up. He’s gonna cost us a pretty penny to keep him but, he’s worth every obscene penny. He’s playing waaaaayyyyy better than Dunta, no disrespect. But Owen keeps wowing every game. Dunta’s playing well/decent but I’m not starstruck.