DO THE TEXANS HAVE THE RESOURCES LEFT TO PULL OFF ANOTHER DEAL?
Texans: Ramsey a perfect fit, but what do they have to give?
Sep 17, 2019, 1:27 pm
DO THE TEXANS HAVE THE RESOURCES LEFT TO PULL OFF ANOTHER DEAL?
By now the word is out that Jalen Ramsey wants a trade from the Jaguars and would love to play elsewhere as soon as possible. The word surfaced yesterday and social media was a buzz talking about where he could go and who would want the all-world cornerback? Texans fans came out of the woodwork to declare that Houston is the place Ramsey should want to be, and they will load up the truck for his move to NRG. There's only one problem, well actually a few issues with this possible trade destination and it starts with the fact that the Texans have traded away most of the assets needed to pull off a deal of this magnitude.
It would be great if they had a first round draft pick next year or the year after to entice Jacksonville to engage in conversations, but they don't. They gave those away along with a second round pick that would have been helpful, to get Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil from Miami. Don't get me wrong, both players help this team immediately and make them better, I just think the price they paid was far too high and is now affecting them negatively as they try to improve in other areas. The Dolphins just traded defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers for a future first round pick, a player that could've helped the Texans in a big way. If there was a way Fitzpatrick could've been added to the already consummated trade, it could've made the move more acceptable and beneficial for Houston. The overwhelming sentiment that experts had after the trade was made, was that the Texans acted desperate and gave away far too much.
The same comments and grades that the team and Bill O'Brien received when they made the trade with Miami, they also got when they over paid for running back Duke Johnson. The Browns and Texans agreed on a swap for a fourth round pick that will turn into a third round selection based on Johnson's performance this season. Sources around the NFL thought that Johnson could've been had for a 6th round pick that would have elevated to a 5th. The point being, you added talent to the roster for this season but you over paid and that will cost the team in the future by the picks you gave up and the limitations it placed on the organization's ability to make deals this season.
Aside from all the draft picks the Texans gave away in the two trades with the Browns and Dolphins, let's not forget another move that was made that didn't exactly bring back the returns the fan base had hoped for. It would be wonderful if the team had a former number one overall pick in the draft, a stud defensive end that was available for trade, that was playing at a high level and wanted a big contract the team wasn't willing to give out. You know the guy, Jadaveon Clowney, the guy they gave away for a third round pick and change to the Seahawks? The guy that conceivably could've at least got the Jags to the table to discuss an otherwise unlikely deal between divisional rivals. They could have proposed trading one disgruntled player for another to see if new beginnings for both players would be the formula for a win-win scenario for both teams. Would a trade have been likely, probably not, but it could've opened dialog and given the teams an avenue to explore options.
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
Win Super Bowl: 35-1.