Every-Thing Sports

Potential Texans 2019 free agent targets

Jermaine Every
Mar 5, 2019, 7:10 am
Houstontexans.com

About two weeks ago, Fred Faour wrote an article saying the Texans should go all in this offseason, specifically in free agency. His argument for "pushing their chips to the middle of the table" was compelling. It included players to keep (their own free agents), obvious needs, cap impact, and other needs. While I agree with Fred, for the most part, I'm going to attempt to make a more detailed look at potential free agent targets for the Texans this offseason.

RB Tevin Coleman, 6'1 205lbs

Tevin Coleman

Lynn Bass atlantafalcons.com

All the potential LeVeon Bell talk should be squashed. Bell wants too much money and the Texans (specifically GM Brian Gaine via Cody Stoots) already said Lamar Miller is their starting running back next season, you can't resist the temptation to improve the position. Sure, Lamar Miller has been serviceable, and third year back D'Onta Foreman showed flashes his rookie year, but Foreman hasn't been able to show those flashes after recovering from an Achilles injury and Miller has yet to have more than 1,100 yards or 10 touchdowns in a season. Coleman will command around a $5 million dollar yearly salary which is about $2 million dollars less on average than Miller. Getting younger and more explosive for a cheaper price is a no-brainer.

CB Trevor Williams 5'11 191lbs

Trevor Williams

chargers.com

Corner is a position of more dire need for the Texans. Considering Kareem Jackson is a 30+ year old unrestricted free agent, Jonathan Joseph is eligible for senior living community, and Kevin Johnson is the new Mr. Glass, the position is in need of bodies, and talent. Lance Zierlein has been saying the Texans are looking for size/speed guys at this position. Williams ran a 4.44 40 yard dash coming out of college. Coming off a season-ending knee injury last season after a standout 2017 season, Williams may be had on the cheap relative to some other corners. I expect him to command somewhere around a $5-8 million dollar salary yearly. He may even sign a relatively low guarantee deal, similar to Tyrann Mathieu's one-year prove-it deal last year.

OT Ja'Wuan James 6'6 312lbs

Ja'Wuan James

nfl.com

Offensive line help for this team is more than a necessity. This team needs offensive line help more than most fish need water. James is a former first round pick who's potential former team, the Dolphins, is in disarray. He'll be 27 years old by the time next season starts which is prime age for lineman. He'll likely command upwards of $10 million dollars on average yearly salary, but that can be finagled by structuring the deal to contain more guaranteed money on the first couple years of a four or five year deal. He displayed his toughness by playing through injury last season. That's something you want from guys in the trenches.

WR Phillip Dorsett 5'10 192lbs

Phillip Dorsett

Jim Davis, Boston Globe

Here's another speed guy that could be a potential gamebreaker for the Texans. With Will Fuller and Keke Coutee proving to be fragile as field stretchers opposite of DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans have a need for speed. Sure, a more proven route runner or slot receiver would be a better option if those guys are all healthy, but why not light a fire under them by signing a potential replacement? He'll come cheap given that he's a one trick pony and there are more proven vets on the market that provide a similar skill set. I'm guessing a $2-3 million dollar yearly average at most.

These are just some of the free agents I've looked at on a preliminary basis for the Texans at positions I believe they need to fill. Honorable mention goes to: QB Tyrod Taylor; WRs Cordalle Patterson, Randall Cobb, and Breshad Perriman; as well as CBs Steven Nelson, Bryce Callahan, and Darqueze Dennard.This isn't a prediction or projection list. It's merely me doing some research and trying to project decent fits for a good price considering the free agent market. I don't care if you agree or disagree. I'm simply trying to spark a discussion or debate based around my opinions. Feel free to contact me and let me know how good or bad you think my suggestions are. And as always, thanks for reading.

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COLTS 30, TEXANS 23

Texans vs Colts 1: Good, bad and ugly

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In the battle for the early AFC South lead, the Texans lose a close one to the Colts 30-23. Here are my observations:

The Good

-Deshaun Watson had a good game, minus one play here or there. 23/34 for 308 yards and a touchdown to go along with 32 yards rushing on three carries. The three sacks he took weren't really his fault either. One bad decision turned the ball over, but he kept them to a minimum as well.

-DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills both helped Watson's stat line. The duo combined for 13 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown. Moving forward, if the receiving corps stays healthy, I can see this stat line becoming more of a norm. Awesome to see Hopkins have a capable No. 2 on the other side.

-Phillip Gaines had a decent game. For a guy who was injured and has never found a home, he's seemed to have found one in the Texans secondary room which has doubled as an infirmary. He's always had good size and athleticism, but never stayed healthy. (I wrote this earlier in the 2nd half, and he got carted off with 1:46 left in the game. I jinxed him.)

The Bad

-Midway through the 1st quarter, Jonathan Joseph tipped a sideline pass to Chester Rogers. Rogers ended up catching it off the tip and managed to stay in bounds. JJo made a decent play on a ball, but to no avail. That drive eventually led to the Colts' first score and capped a 12 play, 94 yard drive.

-After settling for another field goal instead of a touchdown before halftime, the Texans came out to start the second half by giving up another touchdown drive. This is how they always end up losing games by not stopping opponents and trading field goals for touchdowns.

-With 9:31 left in the game down 28-16, Deshaun Watson threw an interception on a pass intended for Duke Johnson. Johnson was open, but Watson sailed it over his head and into the arms of Pierre Desir. It was a poor decision in an otherwise good game Watson played.

The Ugly

-Tashaun Gipson left the game with a back injury early on and never returned. Will Fuller was also ruled out with a hamstring injury. Jonathan Joseph banged up his shoulder. At this point, I think I'm going to get in shape again. They may need me to play a few snaps. Expect open tryouts on Kirby soon.

-Awful call by the refs cost the Texans a touchdown on their second field goal. Watson was in the grasp of Justin Houston, but managed to keep himself upright long enough to complete what was though to be a touchdown pass to Hopkins. However, the refs blew the play dead saying he was sacked. Protecting the quarterbacks at all costs cost the Texans here.

-Situational football and clock management are like an incurable disease for Bill O'Brien. Down 28-23 in the 4th quarter with about 3:23 left, O'Brien waited until about 2:44 left to call a timeout and call in a safety and free kick. Good idea, poor execution. Know the situation and call for that safety immediately. Or, call the timeout ASAP without letting so much time run off. Will someone get this man a Coaching For Dummies book please?

After Starting 0-13 in Indy, the Texans won three of the next four. Today's loss shouldn't start a new streak. While Watson ended the game with two interceptions, one is for sure his fault, while the other was a great play made on a tipped/dropped ball. While they didn't run the ball well as a team (24 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown), they held the Colts to 62 yards rushing. Perhaps because Jacoby Brissett torched them for 326 yards and four touchdowns passing. I understand they'll need any warm bodies to play defensive back for them in the next few weeks, but what about a pass rush to help those guys? Oh, I forgot, they traded Jadeveon Clowney for a pack of cigarettes and a gas station tuna fish sandwich. They could've traded him long time ago for better draft picks, but didn't listen to me. Such is life. Hopefully this team will have the "next man up" mentality and guys will step up. If not, it could be a long rest of the season.

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