Texans Must Prioritize These Five Free Agents
The Houston Texans are fortunate enough to have the cap space and the draft capital to leap from “happy to be here” playoff hopeful to legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Supporting quarterback C.J. Stroud and complementing his efforts with a strong defense will be integral to matching teams like the Baltimore Ravens, who were simply more talented than a Houston squad that had exceeded expectations.
However, before they make the splash signings that may win them the offseason or make them heavy favorites for an AFC South crown, the Texans will have the opportunity to bring back some of their own success stories from 2023. Who should they prioritize?
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Houston’s best pending free agent, and the one they should prioritize most, is edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.
Greenard was the team’s most productive pass rusher, leading the team in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (15), and quarterback hits (2022). He’s rightfully outshined by star counterpart Will Anderson Jr., but he profiles as a strong second edge rusher, even if his production outperformed his win-rate metrics.
Greenard isn’t expected to break the bank, even at a position of value, and locks in Houston to have one of the league’s better edge duos.
At the second level of the defense, linebacker Blake Cashman is another option the Texans should look to extend. His track record doesn’t suggest a huge payday is in order but he was one of Houston’s better defenders, especially as the year went on.
He’s extremely athletic and has already shown signs of development under head coach DeMeco Ryans. Re-signing Cashman makes more sense than taking on a separate reclamation project or swinging big on a similarly unsure thing.
The Texans’ secondary gave up its fair share of explosive plays, but cornerback Steven Nelson was a consistent performer and a key veteran presence. He set a career-high in interceptions (five) while transitioning nicely into Ryans’ defense.
A shorter-term deal for the 31-year-old should make both sides happy, and as long as his athleticism doesn’t take a quick downturn, he figures to make good on his price point. As long as a Nelson deal doesn’t preclude Houston from making a legitimate splash at boundary corner, he should be back in 2024.
On the other side of the ball, the league has trended away from big-money backs. Running back Devin Singletary wasn’t in line for some cap-space catastrophe of a contract anyway, and his fit in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense grew apparent as the season progressed.
His deal, which may not break $5 million per year, doesn’t have to stop the Texans from searching for an upgrade. A bigger body or more explosive runner makes sense to search for this offseason, even if it demotes Singletary. But Singletary’s technique sets him apart in ways his frame and athleticism don’t let him. He should be a part of Houston’s committee moving forward.
Lastly, the Texans should look to give receiver Noah Brown a raise. This may be the most beneficial team-player pairing on this list. Slowik optimized Brown, who had two back-to-back 150+ yard games with other receivers absent.
He has a history of being a strong run blocker and possesses inside-outside versatility, too. As far as depth receivers go, Brown is toward the top of the list. Presuming no team intends on giving him legitimate starter reps, fans should expect to see Brown back in H-Town.
