Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler was benched on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars after back-to-back interceptions.
Fourteen games into Osweiler's first season as the franchise quarterback, coach Bill O'Brien had seen enough. Osweiler threw two interceptions from his own 25-yard line in the second quarter that handed the Jaguars 10 points. They were his 15th and 16th interceptions of the season. One of the league's biggest free-agent disappointments of 2016, Osweiler has led a Texans offense that entered the game averaging just 17.6 points per game -- 3.6 points per game fewer than the Brian Hoyer-led offense of 2015.
So can the Texans move on from Osweiler anytime soon? It won't be easy. Let's explore the Texans' options:
The Texans signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason that included $37 million in guaranteed money. Osweiler received a $12 million signing bonus, and the team guaranteed his $16 million salary next season.
Releasing him after the season would eat up $25 million of next year's cap, although the Texans could designate him a post-June 1 release and have a $19 million cap hit in 2017 and $6 million cap hit in 2018. The cap is expected to go up to between $163 million and $165 million next year, so it is possible to cut him, but doing so would create major issues. The Texans wouldn't have any room to upgrade their roster in free agency and would be limited in what they can do in re-signing their own free agents, which include linebacker John Simon and cornerback A.J. Bouye.
It's much more likely that the Texans keep Osweiler in 2017 and part ways with him after that season if he doesn't improve. Releasing him before the 2018 season would only cost $6 million in dead money.
Another issue with releasing Osweiler this offseason: It would be tough to find -- and pay -- his replacement. For example, the Texans would find it difficult to pay for a veteran starter such as Tony Romo. Romo might work well in a domed stadium, but the cheapest price for him would be $12 million, roughly what Ryan Fitzpatrick received from the New York Jets this season. Free-agent signal-caller Mike Glennon will likely be too expensive, too.
One option could be trading for New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has one more year on his rookie deal and would cost only around $900,000 for 2017. O'Brien would have an ally in trade discussions with his former boss, Bill Belichick. The Texans picked up Ryan Mallett in a cheap trade in 2014.
The bidding for Garoppolo, however, could be expensive. The Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears likely would show interest. It would probably cost at least a second-round pick in 2017 and maybe a reasonably high pick in 2018, something similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs paid for Alex Smith in 2013.
Because the Texans won't have choices in rounds higher than the Browns and Bears, who are expected to draft in the top five, they might have to offer a first-round pick and possibly something else.
Do the Texans admit their free-agent mistake, or does O'Brien try to make the best of a bad situation and see if Osweiler makes a huge improvement in 2017? Houston has a lot to think about in its efforts to get its offense back on track.