Have read that one of the reasons they went with Gipson at Safety is that he does not figure into the comp pick calculations so we will get a 3rd for Honey Badger. So I like the moves from that standpoint. Kicking the tires on a few cast off corners makes sense too. But I too am wondering what they are saving the cap space for? I just read that Indy has only 17 players under contract for 2020 so I get why they aren't spending money, but we have the most players under contract for next year at 40 and still a projected 88M under the cap before rollover.
Supposedly we were in on Saffold and got outbid, why not pony up after you saved money on the two big signings that you did make? Watson doesn't need to be extended for another 2 seasons at least. Are they saving for a big Clowney extension? If you aren't going to address O'line at all, then another decent corner signing would be ideal and at least try to address the lack of inside pass-rusher in some way. Then use the 1st and one of those 2nd's on o'line, maybe the other 2nd on a rookie corner since the DB's we do have are all question-marks.
The thing that frustrates me the most about the Texans is their inattention to the offensive line since BOB has been coach. Now some of that has to fall on Rick Smith, but I have to think some of the decisions they have made have had input from O'Brien.
First, letting go of starters they drafted for financial reasons. How would the Texans offense have been last year with Duane Brown, Brandon Brooks, and Ben Jones as starters? A lot better, I would think. Yes, they might have had to do some restructuring of contracts to fit the timing of when those linemen's new salaries kicked in, but my guess is they could have kept those guys and remained under the cap.
Second, they didn't get their franchise QB until year 4 of BOB and yet they did nothing to build an offensive line to be ready to protect a young rookie franchise QB in BOB's first 3 years. As I mentioned above, they were letting starters go rather than adding pieces.
Third, now they they have their franchise QB, they are getting outbid for viable starters (Solder last year, Safford this year), or not even going after viable starters (Brown this year). With all the extra cap room they have, I agree with your point, what are they waiting to spend it on?
I compare the Texans to my other team the Eagles. The Eagles came into this off season with no real cap space. Yet, through cuts and restructuring they added Malik Jackson, They traded for Desean Jackson, and re-signed FA Ronald Darby. The Eagles did this because they think they have an opportunity to win now so they are doing all they can to make it happen. I don't see the Texans with the same sense of urgency. That's frustrating.