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Offensive Needs

We need to fill 3 roles on offense: OL, WR, and TE.

1. Wide Receiver

Another offensive option would be to draft a WR. Neither Kevin Walter nor Jacoby Jones really stepped up and made an impact when WR Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub went down last season. Although the Texans boast arguably the greatest running back and running attack in the NFL, those guys barely averaged 10 yards per catch. It is safe to say when their contracts are up they will not be in Houston. Andre is getting old, we have to face the facts, his last injury involved no contact. So why not draft a WR that Andre can mentor and hopefully help become is eventual replacement? Perhaps in WR Stephen Hill or WR Kendall Wright we can draft our feature WR of the future. This will give Schaub a new target that he desperately needs, seeing as TE Owen Daniels and Andre have had their 2 worst career season in a row due to injuries. It will also open up the field for the run game, and seeing as Gary Kubiak can coach, and Foster and Schaub know how to run play action as well as or perhaps better than anyone else in the NFL, this will be beneficial to the offense as a whole. The last and only Texan WR first round pick was Andre Johnson.

2. Offensive Line

We need to replace our offensive line due to the departure of RT Eric Winston. The Texans front office could go get Mike Adams OT out of Ohio State. The guy is 6’7 and weighs over 300 lbs. The Texans would be investing in a giant wall that can protect QB Matt Schaub as well as block for RB Arian Foster. Winston was getting older, producing less, but was valued nonetheless. The Texans front office let Winston walk either because they trust that OT Rashard Butler could fill his role, or they plan on drafting someone in the 1st or 2nd round. Houston gave Arian the big bucks this summer and signed him long term, so it wouldn’t it be nice to have a new talent on that OL for him to grow with? The Texans have had a solid line for the past 2 years, but they lost their leader, although they didn’t lose too much talent.

3. Tight End

I love myself some Big O. When near 100% TE Owen Daniels is among the very best at his position in the NFL. Daniels and Schaub are just as in sync as Johnson and Schaub. He is quick and has great hands, but his quickness has been receding ever since he injured his knee. He has taken a hit in production in the past year, but has still had some spurts of production. TE Joel Dreesen last year was one of the most undervalued players in the league, and was probably the best 2nd string TE in the NFL last year. Now he is off to play with QB Peyton Manning in Denver. TE Coby Fleener’s draft stock has risen since the performance of Gronk and Graham last season. A stud TE is valuable, and Kubiak knows how to coach a two TE play action set better than most. This guy can even pull sumo wrestlers, and no that is not a joke for some odd reason.

October 09, 2011; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Mario Williams (90) prepares for a game against the Oakland Raiders at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

OLB Mario Williams 

If Mario chooses to test the waters of free agency it is a safe bet that he will be the highest paid defensive free agent ever. He is only 27 and in his past 5 seasons he has accumulated over 10 sacks a season. He was the #1 pick the ’06 draft, and has missed a majority of the past two seasons, regardless, any team in the NFL would pay up for a high caliber pass rusher. His position is one of the top 3 highest paid in the NFL, which is why if GM Rick Smith chooses to Franchise Tag Williams, it will cost the Texans more than $22 million in cap space.  So his situation will likes go 1 of 3 ways. 1. We franchise Williams for a large sum of cash, but risk being able to sign Foster and/or Meyers. 2. Mario likes Houston so much, that he is able to restructure a smaller contract. 3. He goes to another team for a larger pay check. 

RB Arian Foster

Foster was probably the #1 reason for the Texans playoff success last season. No Texan has been more consistent than Foster in the past 2 seasons. In his 3 seasons in Houston he has accumulated over 3000 rushing yards, and only 257 were accumulated in his 2009 season. Foster is priority number one for the Texans front office, and if it is not, it should be. He proved his worth when QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson went down, whom are the back bone of the Texans offense. He is a restricted free agent, which lessens my worries of the Texans letting go of Foster. If the Texans front office were to resign Foster, it is likely he will get a huge new long term contract, with Top 5 RB salary numbers. 

C Chris Meyers

If the Texans sign Foster it is highly likely the Texans sign Center Chris Meyers as well. He has been the key the success of Arian Foster. The Texans for a majority of their franchise have had a shotty offensive line, i.e. David Carr era, but since the hiring of Rick Dennison and the starting of Meyers, the Texans have had a Top 3 offensive line. With the QB injury woes of last season, I see it highly likely the Texans invest in the protection of Center Chris Meyers. 

With the increased production of DE J.J. Watt and OLB Connor Barwin, it is a safe bet to assume that unless Mario takes less money he won’t be returning to the team. The end of free agency will probably leave the Texans with Meyers and Foster still on the team. Which raises the question of the future of WR Jacoby Jones and WR Kevin Walter. The 2012 draft, has a lot of talent in the WR and Defensive line areas, so look for the Texans front office to determine their 1st round #26 in those areas.