HOUSTON – The Texans, in need of some salary-cap space heading into the season, created a total of $2.832 million in total cap savings by restructuring veteran safety Eric Murry, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and punter Cameron Johnson’s contracts, according to league sources.
All three deals were simple restructures.
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Murray’s adjusted contract has a $1.465 million signing bonus, creating $732,500 in salary cap space.
Murray originally signed a three-year deal worth up to $20.25 million in 2020. Now second on the depth chart at safety, Murray had 74 tackles, one interception and four pass deflections last season.
Fairbairn’s $3.45 million base salary was converted into a $2.415 million signing bonus with a new base salary of $1.035 million that lowers his original salary cap figure of $4.3 million to $3.042 for a net cap savings of roughly $1.25 million.
Signed to a four-year, $17.65 million contract extension in 2020 that included a $3 million signing bonus with $9 million guaranteed, the former Lou Groza Award winner from UCLA missed the first three games of last season on injured reserve with a muscle pull.
He has been extremely accurate, connecting on 15 of 19 field goals last season and 13 of 16 extra points. He has hit 119 of 142 career field goals (83.8 percent) and made 161 of 177 career extra points.
Johnston, who is playing under a three-year, $8.017 million deal and had a $2.842 million salary cap figure and a $2.3 million base salary, was restructured to give the Texans an additional $837,000 in salary-cap space.
A former Australian rules football player and Big Ten Conference Punter of the Year, Johnston has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnston had a 47.2 average last season with a 42.2 net average and had 36 downed inside opponents’ 20-yard line.
He has a career average of 47.1 yards.
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and a contributor to KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.