Texans in play for Tony Romo?

The Houston Texans made the postseason and won a playoff game this season, taking another step toward being a true Super Bowl contender. Still, when you go 9-7 in the worst division in football and then need a third-string quarterback starting for the opponent to win, things aren’t perfect.

After spending $72 million on Brock Osweiler last March, Houston thought it was going to put its quarterback problems behind it. Instead, the issues became more expensive and less fixable. The Texans had to bench Osweiler in the midst of a brutal season, one that saw him through as many interceptions as touchdowns. He got the job back for the playoffs, but it was hardly enough to convince anybody he is worthy of another year or two.

However, with Osweiler due $19 million in 2017, he’s not going anywhere. Yet the Texans might have another option in the trade market, with Tony Romo seemingly available. Getting Romo will be no small feat for general manager Rick Smith, who would have to be willing to take on another $14 million in cap at the quarterback position. If he were to do that, Houston would be paying approximately 20 percent of his funds to one spot, including a $19 million backup.

At this juncture, Romo has made it know through his representation that he wants to play on a team with a chance to win the Super Bowl. According to Jason La Canfora, Romo is especially interested in going to the Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos or Kansas City Chiefs.

All of these teams would face potential hurdles in acquiring Romo. Denver has a first-round pick on the roster in Paxton Lynch, who would be put in mothballs for at least another year while Romo runs the show. Part of the reason the Broncos drafted Lynch was to save money at the quarterback spot and build the rest of the team with the savings.

In Arizona, Carson Palmer’s contract makes him impossible to release. The Cardinals would actually lose money by doing so, and owe him $24 million this year. Unless he retires, it’s almost unfathomable Romo goes to the desert. Kansas City might be the most logical fit. The Chiefs can trade Alex Smith to recoup a draft pick and then send a pick to Dallas for Romo. They could also cut Smith and save $9.7 million, meaning that Romo would only cost them an extra $4.3 million in the upgrade.

All told, Houston is a fairly long shot to land Romo, but it’s not impossible. If healthy, Romo would make the Texans and instant contender and perhaps one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LII.