This is a slow time of year for NFL rumors but one of the more intriguing ones making the rounds these days is the possibility of the Houston Texans giving a new contract to quarterback Matt Schaub. Schaub is entering the final year of his contract with the Texans and there are a lot of concerns surrounding him as a potential franchise quarterback.
For Schaub, the biggest concern has always been his health. He put together back-to-back years of starting all 16 games for the first time in 2009-2010 before suffering a Lisfranc injury to his foot that cost him the final six games of the season and subsequent playoff run. Schaub claims his foot is 100% healthy and is ready for training camp. When healthy, there is no doubt that Schaub has the talent to produce on the field and is arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He has developed an excellent chemistry with star receiver Andre Johnson and has helped turn the Houston Texans from joke to playoff team with Super Bowl dreams.
However, Schaub is already 31, and is entering the final year of his contract meaning he will be 32 before the 2013 season with a history of injury. Certainly, when Schaub is on the field the Texans are a better team than without him but at what cost? Is he worth a five-year deal at $10-15 million per year? Will there be a better option available either through the draft, trade, or free agency? Texans GM Rick Smith will need to answer those questions before he forks over a large chunk of his payroll to a quarterback with an injury history like Schaub’s.
Right now, Smith has stated that he doesn’t see a new deal for Schaub as a priority and it is hard to fight him on that. Any long-term commitment to Schaub must take into account what kind of return on investment Smith would be getting towards the end of the deal. Would Schaub still be an elite quarterback at age 35 or 36? It is doubtful, especially given his injury history. Smith is smart to not rush into an extension with Schaub. This isn’t a knock on Schaub as a player by any means. But, is he the right quarterback moving forward for the Houston Texans?
Then again, if Schaub stays healthy and leads the Texans deep into the playoffs then Smith might see no choice but to re-sign Schaub. If Schaub has any hope of getting a new, big contract he will have to stay healthy and lead the Texans into the playoffs.
