Pre-draft, I would like Texans to add - IOL / LG Chris Paul (Houston native)* - OT Yosh Nijman (athletic AF; could be developed into nice swing tackle) - OL Brady Christensen (athletic AF; coming off injury; has literally played every OL position) - IOL James Daniels (just snake bit as an NFL player with injuries)* - OL Jamaree Salyer (surprised he is still available)* - re-sign Derek Barnett (or go big with Von Miller?) - IDL Jonathan Allen (AL ties with Cap; depends on asking price) - SAF Kyle Dugger (prolly not with Reed B on board; thought he was BDN's best find) - SAF Mr. Simone Biles (aka Jon Owens) (only because his wife is Htown Royalty)
Yeah, a couple years ago IDL was a huge weakness. Then guys like Fatukasi, Settle, Edwards, Autry and others kind of surprised and turned it into a strength. But those guys have slowly eroded away. Hopefully Logan Hall can fill in some of that gap, and Rankins/Togiai stay healthy.
I think with as good as the edges are, the Texans can get away with average IDL guys. Rankins & Togiai are legit, but the team / coaches have a way with taking JAGs // castoffs and making them look good.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/nick-caserio-free-agents-guard-22071368.php One day after the NFL’s legal tampering period began, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio reached out to Elgton Jenkins with an offer. Jenkins, a two-time Pro Bowl guard, had just been released by the Green Bay Packers as a cost-saving measure. He was looking for a new team. Jenkins had several suitors, and the Texans, who were looking for a left guard, were among them. The Texans presented a competitive offer for Jenkins, a league source said, but were ultimately outbid by the Cleveland Browns with a more lucrative one — a reported two years, $24 million. … While the Texans signed [Smith] with the idea that he could be their starting right tackle in 2026, they also like his background as a guard in college, and won’t yet rule out the idea of trying him out at guard at some point in the offseason, if needed. … Houston still has two holes at guard on its offensive line — one of which will likely be the starter at left guard, and one the primary backup at right guard. The expectation is that Houston will sign at least one in free agency so the Texans don’t have to go into the draft with an obvious need, forcing them to reach for a player. Among them are veterans Joe Bitonio, Kevin Zeitler and Wyatt Teller, all three players still solid starters, but considered on the back end of their careers. One league source said Bitonio, 35, is still undecided on whether he wants to play another season of football. Teller, Bitonio’s former teammate in Cleveland, is a more realistic option the Texans could pursue.
Very interesting. Jenkins would have been a plus starter at guard. But unless Cleveland was offering a lot more money, he’s a loser for picking them over a contender and a much better city.
I really thought with as big of a catastrophe as the line was last year they would come out guns a blazing...instead they have signed four defensive guys and one offensive linemen who is really a replacement for one they let go. It's crazy to think about.
I know FA isn’t over and I know there could still be trades, and of course there’s the draft, but I have to say that I’m disappointed so far. I was happy we resigned Rankins and Ingram. And I do think Blankenship was a good signing. But i thought the entire referendum on this offseason would come down to our ability to sign at least two plus starter or even mid starter o-linemen. It’s not a high bar. We signed one and we kept one of our own, but of course we traded our best o-lineman away for the 2nd yr in a row. if it’s dumpster diving from here onward that’s a fail. One cannot have any confidence in this GM’s ability to draft good o-linemen and we still have gaping holes there. Ideally u can’t really depend on rookies anyway. It was our biggest need by far and it simply hasn’t been addressed adequately as of now. Let’s hope there’s more in store.
The packers had just released him because of a failed physical. He just had a bad leg fracture in November. It would have been dumb to get him for the amount Cleveland did
