The Texans contacted free agent quarterback Jay Cutler with “mild” interest, but head coach Bill O’Brien prefers incumbent Tom Savage to Cutler, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. After the Brock Osweiler fiasco of 2016, Houston’s front office decided to yield to O’Brien, and discussions with Cutler ended.
Cutler hasn’t generated much of a market thus far during the free agent period, as only the Jets have expressed real interest. New York isn’t an option after signing Josh McCown, leaving the Texans as one obvious suitor. But Houston reportedly wasn’t interested in Cutler — or another veteran quarterback, Colin Kaepernick — even after learning Tony Romo was no longer a possibility. At present, the Texans have only two signal-callers on the roster: Savage and Brandon Weeden.
That depth chart figures to change in the coming weeks, however, as Houston is fully expected to land a quarterback in the draft. O’Brien “absolutely loves” Texas Tech passer Patrick Mahomes, and the Texans may indeed select Mahomes if he falls to No. 25. Other options in the draft might include Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer in the first round, or Davis Webb, Nathan Peterman, or Brad Kaaya on Day 2 or 3.
Cutler, meanwhile, is still considering the possibility of retirement. If no other clubs jump in with interest, Cutler’s decision to hang up his cleats may not be voluntary.