Wade should bolster Texans OL

Originally Published: March 3, 2004

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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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Continuing the upgrade of an offensive line unit that two years ago surrendered the third highest sack total in league history, the Houston Texans on Wednesday reached contract agreement with right tackle Todd Wade, ESPN.com has confirmed.


	Wade

The former Mississippi star, a second-round pick in the 2000 draft, had played the first four seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins. He will sign a five-year contract that is worth $25 million and includes a $10 million signing bonus.

Such money is unusually high for a right tackle, and until only a few years ago, not even left tackles merited that kind of compensation. But even weeks ago, during negotiations with the Dolphins, agent Tom Condon felt confident that, if Miami would not meet his contract demands, some team would pay Wade $10 million in upfront money.

Wade, 27, has been a starter since his rookie season in Miami, and has missed just one game in four years.

He is a solid drive-blocker with better foot speed than most strongside tackles, but likely not enough to move to the blindside protection spot.

The loss of Wade further weakens a Miami unit that has now seen three starters from 2003 depart with a fourth having gone into the free agent market.

To possibly counter Wade's departure, the Dolphins will entertain Kansas City Chiefs right offensive tackle John Tait on Wednesday evening and Thursday, ESPN.com has learned. Tait, 29, is a five-year veteran and former first-round draft pick.

The Chiefs have designated Tait as a "transition" free agent, meaning they retain the right to match any offer he signs with another team. If Tait signs an offer sheet with another club, Kansas City would have seven days to match it. If they declined to match all of the principle terms of the offer sheet, Tait would go to the other team and the Chiefs would receive no compensation.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.