Houston Texans Free Agents: Is Wade Smith finished with the Texans?

Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans guard Wade Smith (74) blocks against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Wade Smith is an unrestricted free agent who is 32 years old and just completed his 11th season in the NFL.

The offensive guard for the Texans played in all 16 games last season as he’s played in 138 games during his career, including 98 starts.

In Smith’s career, he was with the Miami Dolphins from 2003-2006, followed by stops with the New York Jets (’06-07), the Kansas City Chiefs (’08-09) and since the ’10 season, Smith has played with the Texans.

In his time with the Texans, Smith hasn’t missed a start, so he’s reliable when it comes to being in the lineup with 16 or more starts (including postseason) the past four seasons.

Smith’s contract that expired was for four years, $12 million. If he is re-signed by the Texans, it won’t be for more than two years, I would say, but I’m not an expert on contract negations.

Before the start of the ’13 season, Smith had arthroscopic knee surgery.

In his end of season grades, Houston Chronicle’s John McClain gave the Texans offensive line a C- for their season. He wrote:

"“Duane Brown, Wade Smith and Chris Myers were coming off Pro Bowl seasons. For whatever reason – and injuries probably had a lot to do with it – the linemen didn’t play as well as they did in 2012.”"

I have to agree there, and at times this past season I was rough on the play of the offensive line as well, but I will give them the benefit of a doubt as a group for what was going on around them.

I’m not sure if the Texans will re-sign Smith for the fact he does have a lot of wear and tear on his body by playing guard in the NFL, and in football age, 32 years old isn’t young.

Plus, the Texans will have David Quessenberry back next season after finishing his rookie year on the injured reserve, so if the Texans don’t re-sign Smith, Quessenberry could be that replacement.

As a fan of the Texans, do you want Smith to return to the offensive line?

I don’t really have a problem with bringing Smith back for a year or two at the most as he is a former Pro Bowler, has been in the league for 11 seasons and that type of experience is tough to come by. Of course, it has to be at the right price.