The NFL stripped the Houston Texans of their fifth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft and fined them $175,000 for a salary cap violation.
Earlier this month, the league ruled Houston provided Deshaun Watson “undisclosed compensation” with the use of an alternative athletic facility when he couldn’t work out at their stadium during the pandemic. The league reduced the original punishment of a fourth-round pick and $250,000 fine after an appeal.
Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair still expressed disapproval of the league’s decision at the annual meetings.
“We did argue and stated our case several times through the appeals process,” McNair said, via the Houston Chronicle (h/t Pro Football Talk). “There was a little more informal appeal process before the formal appeals process, and I made several calls because I felt the penalty was too harsh for what happened. At the end of the day, it is what it is, and we’re looking forward to having all of this behind us and moving forward.”
The Texans still possess 11 draft picks this year, including No. 2 and 12. They’ll likely use the first choice to select a franchise quarterback.
Houston has six Day 3 selections despite losing its fifth-round pick. That will give McNair’s organization plenty of more chances to find unheralded contributors a year after snagging running back Dameon Pierce in the fourth round.