Uncovering the perfect fit for the Houston Texans

UNDER THE RADAR

NFL free agency is right around the corner and the Houston Texans have a ton of salary cap space. Not to mention, it was announced on Friday the NFL is raising the salary cap to $255.4 million, an increase over 13%.

PFF has the Texans with the 7th-most cap space in the NFL at $67.5 million. So what should the Texans do with all of that money?

Several players have already been connected to the Texans. Houston is the betting favorite to land Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, according to bookies.com.

And Giants running back Saquon Barkley has been rumored to have interest in joining the Texans after he followed many players on social media like Brevin Jordan, CJ Stroud, Nico Collins, and others.

But in the video above, Craig from Sports Talk Extra makes his case for the Texans to address the front seven. But not in the typical way by adding a defensive lineman. He believes DeMeco Ryans will have interest in signing Panthers middle linebacker Frankie Luvu based on an article he read of Texans Wire.

Luvu was originally an edge defender for the Jets, but now is an interior linebacker who has seen a ton of success over the last two years with Carolina. He's recorded over 100 tackles in his last two seasons, and also sacked the quarterback 5.5 times last season, and 7 times in 2022. You don't find many players with both that many tackles and sacks.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman struggled in coverage for the Texans last year, dealt with injuries, and is 31 years old. So with his contract now expired, the Texans should look to upgrade.

Spotrack has Luvu's market value at $11.2 million/year. They believe he will command a deal in the 4-year, $40 million range.

So should the Texans make the deal?

Check out the video above to watch the full discussion.


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The Astros beat the Rockies, 4-3. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Christian Walker homered twice, capped by a tiebreaking solo shot in the eighth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

The game was tied 3-3 with no outs when Walker sent the first pitch from Luis Peralta (1-2) into left center field. Walker also homered in the first inning to make this the 15th multi-homer game of his career.

Jose Altuve also homered for the Astros, who won a second straight after dropping the series opener.

The Rockies had a chance to take the lead when they loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh. Jordan Beck reached on a catcher’s interference call on César Salazar, but Kaleb Ort struck out Brenton Doyle to leave everyone stranded.

Bryan King (4-3) threw a scoreless eighth for the win and Bryan Abreu allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

Altuve and Walker hit back-to-back homers with two outs in the first inning to put Houston up 2-0. Mauricio DubĂłn scored on a bunt single by Salazar to push the lead to 3-0.

The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the third and made it 3-1 when Mickey Moniak grounded into a force out that sent a run home.

Ezequiel Tovar homered into the seats in right field with two outs in the fourth.

Yanquiel Fernández tied it when he belted his second homer this season to right field in the fifth.

Key moment

Walker’s second home run.

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart caught up with Walker after the big win.

Key stat

The Rockies left 10 men on base.

Up next

Colorado RHP Germán Márquez (3-11, 5.67 ERA) is expected to come off the injured list Friday to oppose RHP Cade Horton (8-4, 2.88) in the opener of a three-game series against the Cubs.

Houston RHP Cristian Javier (1-1, 5.40) opposes LHP Tyler Anderson (2-8, 4.73) when the Astros open a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.

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