THE PALLILOG

How exciting Texans solutions are coming into focus as needs, options narrow ahead of draft

How exciting Texans solutions are coming into focus as needs, options narrow ahead of draft
This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting off-seasons in Texans history. Composite Getty Image.

For Astros fans, ongoing concerns include the future uniforms to be worn by Alex Bregman if he hits free agency at the end of the approaching season and Kyle Tucker if he hits the market after the 2025 season. For Texans fans, the additions and subtractions of free agency are much nearer at hand. This coming Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (Yay! Clocks go forward an hour this Sunday!) the free agent spending spree officially begins, though many deals will be agreed upon a couple of days earlier.

The biggest decision the Texans had to make for this free agency cycle was what to do about Jonathan Greenard. With no contract extension, to use or not use the franchise tag on him was the question. No tag was the answer. Given his injury history and up and down career production the Texans didn’t see Greenard worth the more than 21 million dollars he’d have counted on the books. He counted under a million and a half last season. The soon-to-be 27-year-old Greenard timed his breakout 12 and a half sack season perfectly, but how much of that was attributable to attention drawn on the other side by NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson? Conversely however, if Greenard is not retained or a suitable replacement landed, how much tougher does life get for Anderson?

The Texans made a quantum leap forward last year, another leap is within reach, but far from a sure thing. Speaking of quantum leaps, the ever-richer National Football League boosted the team salary cap by more than 30 million dollars for the 2024 season to $255,400,000 per team. The Texans start free agency among the top six teams in cap space. The other five (Patriots, Titans, Commanders, Cardinals, Bears) finished last in their divisions.

Several of the dreamiest Texans’ free agent possibilities are already off the table. Galveston native/former Texas Aggie star Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans took a two year 52 million dollar extension with the Bucs. Franchise tags were used on Ravens’ defensive tackle (and also former Aggie) Justin Madebuike, Bengals’ wideout Tee Higgins, Jaguars’ edge rusher Josh Allen, Panthers’ edge rusher Brian Burns, Chiefs’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, Bears’ cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and Bucs’ safety Antoine Winfield Jr. All are kept off the open market. So who are a few guys available who would address Texans’ needs?

Offensively, the buzzy name is running back Saquon Barkley. The three years older Derrick Henry is in play too. Devin Singletary had a fine season overall but money aside, no one should prefer him over Barkley or Henry.

Guard is the sorest upgrade need offensively, unless Kenyon Green is to prove himself something other than a bust. Tytus Howard was not very good at guard and has declared himself a RIGHT TACKLE ONLY. The Rams’ Kevin Dotson may be the top guard on the board. The Dolphins’ Robert Hunt is in range. The Texans have notable ground to make up on the Ravens. Both Baltimore starting guards are free agents, either veteran Kevin Zeitler or run game masher John Simpson would be a Texans’ improvement and Ravens' decline.

Defensively, if the Texans do not re-up Sheldon Rankins they have a glaring need for a tackle to line up next to Maliek Collins who has one year left on his deal. It’s hard to envision them ponying up the gobs of cash it would take to lure Chris Jones from the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Chiefs. The Dolphins have salary cap issues and a massive extension looming for quarterback Tua Tagavailoa, so they did not put the tag on Christian Wilkins. Miami is an attractive situation and the door is not closed on Wilkins staying there, but if the Texans (or any other teams) bid aggressively, he could be had.

Cornerback Steven Nelson led the Texans in defensive snaps played and had a very solid season. He is 31 years old but showed no slippage. If not keeping Nelson the Texans need a starting level CB to pair with the studly but thus far not exactly durable Derek Stingley Jr. (eight games missed as a rookie, six more in his second season). Corner Kendall Fuller seems a good Nelson comp and is two years younger. He’s been with Washington the last four seasons. Stephon Gilmore turns 34 early next season but played very well for the Cowboys. Ex-Cowboy Chidobe Awuzie graded out well with the Bengals.

Safety Jalen Pitre had a disappointing second season, while free agent signee Jimmie Ward was hurt too much, missing seven regular season games. Kamren Curl is just 25 years old after four seasons with Washington. He’d be an unglamourous but strong addition. The Giants’ Xavier McKinney might be a pricier alternative.

The Texans won’t fill all their gaps in free agency, but remember they have the NFL Draft to come as well. They are on a clock of sorts, with a three-year window remaining of having C.J. Stroud under contract dirt cheap by the standards of upper echelon QBs. Stroud’s cap figure for 2024 is 8.25 million, 25th among NFL QBs. In 2025 and 2026 the cap numbers are just 9.89 million and 11.54 million. Come 2027 if playing under the fifth year option the Texans have on him, Stroud’s cap number projects to jump to the 40 million range. Closer to 50 million if he makes the Pro Bowl either of the next two seasons as a non-injury or Super Bowl participant replacement.

Our second season of the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast is off and running. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics weekly. On our regular schedule the first post goes up Monday afternoon. You can get the video version (first part released Monday, second part Tuesday, sometimes a third part Wednesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available at initial release Monday via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Vikings host the Texans this Sunday. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Though they have plenty of work to do, the Houston Texans are feeling good about their 2-0 start after dropping their first two games last season.

The Texans scored just three points after halftime Sunday night, but a smothering defensive performance allowed them to hold on for a 19-13 win over the Bears. The victory has them in early control in the AFC South after the Colts, Titans and Jaguars have all opened the season 0-2.

It’s the first time since 2016 that Houston has won its first two games.

“I definitely know that Texans football was not what we put on the field (Sunday), at least in the second half,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “We’ll definitely be better, for sure."

Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown, but the Texans punted on five of their seven possessions in the second half and fumbled on another drive. Their only points after halftime came on a field goal early in the fourth quarter.

“Second half we were just flat,” Stroud said. “Just needed a big play or just needed (to) stack plays really. We just couldn’t find our rhythm.”

One thing that slowed the Texans on Sunday was their inability to run the ball effectively. Houston managed just 75 yards rushing against the Bears after leading the NFL with 213 yards in Week 1.

“They had a lot of penetration,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We weren’t able to have the lanes that we had the previous weeks. Something we have to clean up on the offensive side and make sure we just continue to get a head on the hat no matter what they show us.”

The running game was slowed because of an ankle injury to Joe Mixon, who had 159 yards rushing in the opener. He was injured early in the third quarter and returned near the end of the period, but had just two carries for 5 yards the rest of the game as he dealt with the injury. He finished with nine carries for 25 yards.

Ryans said that Mixon got “rolled up” and that it’s too early to know if he’ll play next week.

What’s working

The Texans were relentless in their pressure on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams Sunday night. Houston pressured Williams, the top overall pick in the draft, on 36 of his 37 pass attempts, according to NextGenStats.

Defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for 17 pressures and the Texans piled up seven sacks, which is tied for the second most in franchise history.

Houston had six different players with a sack Sunday night and the team’s nine sacks through two games ranks second in the NFL behind Minnesota’s 11 entering Monday.

What needs help

The Texans must get their running game back on track next week, which will be a tough task if Mixon can’t play. They could be without their top two running backs Sunday with Dameon Pierce dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the game against Chicago.

Stock up

K Ka′imi Fairbairn has been great this season, with Ryans crediting him for Sunday night’s win. He was 4-for-4 against the Bears, making kicks of 59, 56, 53 and 47 yards. He also made three field goals of 50-plus yards in Week 1 to become the first kicker in NFL history to make five or more field goals of 50 yards or longer in a two-game span.

His 59-yard field goal on Sunday night was the second-longest in franchise history behind a 61-yard kick he made in 2021.

“He’s been consistent,” Ryans said. “He’s on it. He’s the reason why we’re standing here. We talk a lot about offense and defense (but) the kicking game is the reason why we won this game.”

Stock down

RB Cam Akers. Pushed into action because of injuries, Akers fumbled on the Chicago 4 with about 6½ minutes left Sunday. The Bears recovered the ball and it led to a field goal that got them within a score with less than three minutes left.

Injuries

Mixon and Pierce are the main injuries the team is dealing with this week.

Key number

252 — Entering Monday, wide receiver Nico Collins leads the NFL with 252 yards receiving, which is the second most in franchise history in the first two games of a season. Collins, who had a career-high 1,297 yards receiving last season, had 135 yards receiving and a touchdown Sunday night for the seventh 100-yard game of his career.

Next steps

Stroud and Houston’s offense will look to clean up their play and move the ball more effectively when they face an early test in a visit to the Minnesota Vikings, who are also 2-0, on Sunday.

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