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A lot of limited thinking in this thread.
Things that aren't being considered:
1. You can't just say "replace Houston with a younger cheaper player who gives you close to the same production." WHO? Who the **** do you think this magical unicorn is? Do you really think there is a 4-3 rush DE who can set the edge, play the SAM, and rush the passer, who is an UFA and will cost less than the $14M cap savings you get by cutting Houston?
2. Extending Houston's deal can EASILY alleviate the cap burden, while assuring your best player on defense remains in a premier spot.
3. Between releasing Houston and letting Ford walk, I will take letting Ford walk. It: 1) saves more money. 2) has no dead cap hit. 3) will almost assuredly land at least a third round pick (either from tag and trade or from a comp pick).
What I would do with Houston is to work out an extension where his entire $21M salary in 2019 is fully guaranteed and converted to a signing bonus. Let's say he signed a three year extension, with a $24M signing bonus (converting his salary this year + $3M more). If it looked something like this:
2019: $3M salary, $6M salary cap prorated. (cap hit $9M, dead money $24M)
2020: $4M salary, $6M salary cap prorated (cap hit $10M, dead money dead money $18M)
2021: $7M salary, $6M salary cap prorated, $1M roster bonus (cap hit $14M, dead money $12)
2022: $9M salary, $6M salary cap prorated, $1M roster bonus (cap hit $16, dead money $6M)
That would be: an increase in money this year for him, lower the cap hit from $21M to $9M. It also virtually guarantees that he will be on the roster for two years, and then 2021 is your big decision year, where he is $14M to keep and $12M to cut. Basically, that would be his last year and you'd cut thim with a $6M dead cap penalty the next offseason, or Post-June 1, where it's $3M each season.
Getting Houston for an average of ~11 million a year is smart and makes sense for both sides. Unless Houston is like "**** you, cut me and I'll sign another HUGE deal." In that case, you have to try and trade him.
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