FREE AGENCY FRENZY
Let's discuss 3 targets in free agency the Texans must consider
Mar 10, 2021, 8:57 am
NFL free agency is right around the corner.Photo by via: commons.wikimedia.org
File:Chidobe Awuzie.JPG - Wikimedia Commons
With a new coach and general manager, the Houston Texans will try to bounce-back from arguably their worst season in franchise history. Rebuilding a team after a 4-12 season is always a daunting task, but it becomes a more difficult job with little to no draft capital. The Texans' first opportunity to improve a team that significantly failed to meet their expectations will come with the start of free agency, set to begin on Wednesday, March 17.
The Texans are not in a position to obtain a game-changing talent. But one who could be an adequate addition to their roster. With a little over $16.7 million in cap space, here are three potential targets the Texans should consider signing this offseason.
Alex Smith, QB
Whether Deshaun Watson rescinds his trade request or not, the Texans will be looking for someone to fill their backup quarterback role. The team departed from both A.J. McCarron and Josh McCown a few weeks ago — leaving Watson as Houston's only active quarterback. Normally, the pursuit of a backup QB would not be a major priority. But given the ongoing drama and threats of sitting out from Watson, the Texans must find a suitable quarterback if they have any hopes of competing in 2021.
Of all the available quarterbacks hitting the open market, Alex Smith would make the most sense for the Texans. He would be a valuable insurance policy playing behind an All-Pro quarterback — should Watson decide to play this coming season. Or someone who could step in as the Texans starter under center should Watson choose the latter. But most importantly, Smith is a player who would not demand too much money in free agency.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback took home Comeback Player of the Year honors after his return from a broken leg last season. Smith took the helm as the Washington Football Team's starting QB midway through the season and finished the year with a 5-1 record — which included leading Washington on a five-game win streak to close out the regular season. In eight games played, Smith threw for 1,582 yards and six touchdowns with a PFF grade of 66.0. Joining the Texans would reunite the three-time Pro-Bowler with current head coach David Culley, who served as the assistant head coach during Smith's time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Other potential targets: Tyrod Taylor, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton
Chidobe Awuzie, CB
The Texans had an all-time atrocious defense in 2020, and it's safe to assume the majority of their signings will take place on the defensive side of the ball. The entire secondary could use a complete retooling, but none more so than at cornerback. Bradley Roby was the Texans' only quality corner last season. He posted the team's highest overall PFF grade (71.6) among all defensive backs and sealed one of the Texans' three interceptions on the season.
The one player who could improve Houston's subpar talent at cornerback would be Chidobe Awuzie. Sticking with the theme of 2020, last year was a nightmare for Awuzie. Injuries limited the California native to eight games during his contract season, which may result in Awuzie signing a one-year deal in hopes of cashing in on his talents next offseason.
Awuzie, a four-year corner out of Colorado in 2017, was establishing himself as one of the league's best young defensive backs prior to his injury-prone season. In 2019, Awuzie registered a career-best 79 tackles (48 solo hits) and allowed 56 receptions in pass coverage for the Dallas Cowboys. While appearing in all 16 games, Awuzie posted an overall PFF grade of 72.2 and 70.5 in pass coverage.
Awuzie's expected market value is $8.5 million heading into free agency. Signing Awuzie would take a significant amount of the Texans' cap space. But acquiring the 25-year-old defensive back could be Houston's most notable signing this offseason.
Other potential targets: Mike Hinton, Xavier Woods and Kevin King
Davon Godchaux, DT
The Texans' defensive line was just as appalling as their secondary in 2020. They gave up a league-worst 160.3 rushing yards per game with 12.0 sacks on the season. And that was a defensive line that featured a healthy J.J. Watt. With Watt no longer at the helm in Houston, upgrading the defensive line might've turned into the Texans' most vital offseason objective. It's going to take more than just signing one player but acquiring Davon Godchaux would be a step in the right direction.
Similar to Awuzie, Godchaux could be a one-year rental for the Texans after battling injuries throughout the 2020 season. He has never been a huge sack guy with 3.0 through his first four years in the league. But his ability to defend the run cannot be disputed. Since coming out of LSU in 2017, Godchaux has notched an average PFF grade of 69.0 in run defense. His best came during the 2018 season when he recorded a career-best 83.3 PFF grade in stopping the run.
Godchaux's arrival in Houston would fill a year-long void left by the departure of D.J. Reader — who was arguably the Texans' best defender at stopping the run outside of Watt.
Other potential targets: Sheldon Rankins, D.J. Jones and P.J. Williams
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It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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