Patriots reportedly send tackle Marcus Cannon to Texans

New Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has struck a deal with his former club.

The New England Patriots have agreed to send veteran right tackle Marcus Cannon to Houston, as first reported Sunday afternoon by Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.

The two sides will reportedly exchange 2021 draft selections in fourth round, fifth round and sixth round as part of the trade, which will be finalized after the new league year opens at 4 p.m. ET on March 17.

New England’s longest-tenured offensive lineman, Cannon, 32, opted out of the 2020 season amid Covid-19 concerns. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound bookend had been scheduled to carry cap numbers north of $9.62 million and $6.35 million over the remaining two years of his tolled contract.

His departure nets $2.566 million in dead money and $6.276 million in cap space for New England, according to PatsCap’s Miguel Benzan.

Cannon appeared in 134 games and made 80 starts across his regular seasons and postseasons with the Patriots. Arriving in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, the Odessa native and Texas Christian product would overcome non-Hodgkin lymphoma to become a second-team All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion.

Cannon received the Ed Block Courage Award during his first campaign in New England. During his final one on the field, he eclipsed 1,000 offensive snaps. His absence last season saw impending free agent Jermaine Eluemunor as well as rookies Mike Onwenu and Justin Herron start on the right side.

The Patriots recently reacquired fellow tackle Trent Brown from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade involving 2022 draft capital.