INDIANAPOLIS -- Populating the Texans' roster with significant amount of second-contract players is the optimal goal for general manager Rick Smith.
Beyond being careful to draft and acquire the right kind of talent and character, executing that strategy involves a series of negotiations and salary-cap management.
The Texans have 62 players under contract for this fiscal year and are projected to have $23.47 million in salary-cap space under a salary-cap limit of $167 million. The defending AFC South champions don't have a ton of breathing room financially, but they do have some flexibility to accomplish some of their player retention goals.