ESPN BREAKING: Texans Must Prioritize These Five Free Agents

The Houston Texans are in a fortunate position to go from being a “happy to be here” playoff challenger to a real contender for the Super Bowl thanks to their cap room and draft capital.

It will be essential to support quarterback C.J. Stroud and provide him with a solid defence in order to compete with clubs like the Baltimore Ravens, who were only more skilled than a Houston team that had performed above expectations.

The Texans will have the chance to bring back some of their own success stories from 2023 before they make the big acquisitions that might win them the offseason or make them strong favourites for an AFC South title. Whom should they give priority to?
Jonathan Greenard, an edge rusher, is Houston’s top pending free agent and the player they should give the most priority to.

As the team’s most effective pass rusher, Greenard led the group in quarterback hits (2022), sacks (12.5), and tackles for loss (15). Although star opponent Will Anderson Jr. outperforms him, he still fits the characteristics of a potent second-edge rusher given his higher production than win-rate stats.

Even at a valuable position, Greenard isn’t projected to blow the budget, and he locks up Houston with one of the better edge tandems in the league.

Linebacker Blake Cashman is another player the Texans should consider extending at the second level of the defence. Although his past performance doesn’t indicate a huge salary is due, he was one of Houston’s stronger defenders, particularly as the season progressed.

He is incredibly athletic and has already improved under head coach DeMeco Ryans. It makes more sense to resign Cashman than to embark on a different reclamation project or to take a major risk on something equally uncertain.

Although the Texans’ secondary allowed a good number of big plays, Steven Nelson, the cornerback, was a reliable player and an important veteran presence. He played well in Ryan’s defence and recorded a career-high five interceptions.

The 31-year-old should be pleased to sign a shorter-term contract because, provided his athleticism doesn’t rapidly deteriorate, he should be able to justify his asking price. Nelson should return in 2024, assuming a deal with Houston doesn’t prevent them from making a significant splash at the boundary corner.

Conversely, the league has shifted its focus away from high-paid backs. Running back Devin Singletary wasn’t going to be signed to some disastrous cap-space deal anyhow, and as the season went on, it became clear how well he fit into offensive coach Bobby Slowik’s offence.

Even though his contract might not pay more than $5 million annually, the Texans might still look for an improvement. Even if it demotes Singletary, it makes sense to look for a bigger body or a more explosive runner this offseason. Singletary’s physique and athleticism don’t allow him to stand out, though, because of his technique. Going ahead, he ought to be a member of Houston’s committee.
Finally, it’s time for the Texans to consider raising receiver Noah Brown. On this list, this might be the most advantageous player-coach combination. Brown was maximized by Slowik, as he had consecutive games of 150 yards or more when other receivers were out.

He has a track record of being a potent run stopper and is versatile both inside and outside the field. Brown is near the top of the list when it comes to depth receivers. Fans should anticipate seeing Brown return to H-Town, assuming no team plans to give him meaningful starting reps.