July 22, 2008
All But One Rookie Signed
by Keith Weiland
Keith@IntheBullseye.com

The paper pushers at Reliant Park had a field day on Monday, getting three of their remaining four unsigned draft picks to agree to contracts. High five!

Cornerback Antwaun Molden, running back Steve Slaton, and defensive tackle Frank Okam joined the earlier signees - safety Dominique Barber, quarterback Alex Brink, and linebacker Xavier Adibi - as property of one Gary Kubiak, camp warden.

I'd share with you the thrilling signing bonus details, but I don't have any yet. I can say that these are all four year deals, and if they're anything like other recent rookie contracts, that fourth year is voidable based on performance milestones. Voidable years help in reducing the rookie pool cap numbers.

So that leaves just left tackle Duane Brown as the lone unsigned rookie. While the future of the collective bargaining agreement makes this year's first round signings a bit more intriguing, I expect Brown to ink a five-year deal before practice on Friday with guarantees in the neighborhood of $6.3 million.

With the flurry of signings, I have uploaded the cap page to reflect the activity. The Texans have a rookie cap allotment of $3,477,820 in 2008, leaving roughly $1.15 million as a potential cap figure for Brown pending contract structuring.

With three picks ready to ink these deals, the Texans will need to make three cuts from their roster to keep to the 80-man limit entering training camp. Once Brown signs, Kubiak will be forced to make another difficult call on a fourth player.

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