Texans Forfeit 2023 fifth Round Draft Pick
Houston Chronicle
Orange, California (PSF) - Aspirations in Houston are now at an all-time low with the most recent development. Announced on March 9th, the Texans will lose their 5th-round draft pick for a salary cap violation in 2020. The reason is that in 2020, the Houston-based organization let its players use alternate athletic facilities and didn’t report properly. In 2020 it was peak Covid-19, and many of the NFL teams did not have the correct set-up training facilities yet. Many players at the time did not wish to risk infection by being around others in these facilities. The fees for these facilities came to $26,777 for player benefits and should have been charged to players’ salaries. This has now cost the Texans a 5th-round draft pick, and while it not being the most important of their choices, it does sting. The Texans still have their 2nd and 15th overall picks in the first round of the 2023 draft and are going through yet again another rebuilding season.
NFL
Thinking critically about this decision, the NFL just gave them only a slap on the wrist, but the implications of what this holds for the future may be concerning. In 2020 Covid-19 was rampant, and many organizations and, to be simple, people didn’t know how to carry on with their daily lives during the pandemic. This would be no exception for sports organizations as well. The NFL now decides to fine and revoke a 5th-round draft pick from an already reasonably weak team. I believe, in all fairness, minor charges like this should be available to appeal and be overturned since, in all reality, Covid-19 should have been handled better by the NFL. They had consistent issues with players’ health and safety during those years of play. It doesn’t seem fair that an organization struggling during that time should be penalized while the parent organization was not doing its proactive protocols when Covid-19 hit. The NFL shouldn’t punish the Texans, but should instead look back at their own mistakes during that time. I agree that organizations breaking the rules should be punishable, but during 2020, it should have been excused. Yes, it might not be the worst outcome, but reflection provides better clarity moving forward with the NFL.