Houston Texans free agents and where they are rumored to go

Dec 15, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

NFL free agency season is here and in just a couple days the official start of being able to officially sign free agents to their teams.

For the Texans they have more than a few teams interested in their free agents.

Here is a great free agent rumor tracker created by Fansided, but I want to take a look at the free agents just for the Texans.

• Ben Tate (running back): I’ve read there are a few teams interested in the running back of the Texans who rushed for over 700 yards last season. The Fansided list says the Tennessee Titans, which are a division rival of the Texans and another is the Cleveland Browns as it has been reported through multiple sources.

I do not like Tate going to the Titans at all because it would eventually haunt the Texans in the long run. He was the heart of the offense, and besides Andre Johnson and Duane Brown, he was basically the most consistent player on the offense last season.

I think he’ll end up with the Browns, but I’d rather see him stay with the Texans which is very unlikely.

• Earl Mitchell (defensive tackle): I won’t really care if the Texans lose Mitchell, but they’ll need to draft a player to replace him (or look in free agency), that is for sure. Fansided says the Chicago Bears are interested in the DT, and I believe if they lose Henry Melton, that Mitchell would be a good fit for the Bears in 2014.

• Matt Schaub (quarterback): The Texans are close to cutting Schaub and some of the Teams interested in the QB are the Browns, Jets and Raiders. Of those three teams, if Schaub were to end up in Cleveland with Josh Gordon as one of his wide receivers, and even potentially Tate as a running back, that team would show improvement.

As for who the Texans are potentially interested in, it has been said on more than one occasion they have interest in New England Patriots backup QB Ryan Mallett.

I’m one of the ones who say if the Texans can trade for Mallett at the right price, then go for it. He’s had plenty of time to learn under Tom Brady an how to be a pro. Mallett deserves a shot at being a starter in the NFL, and if he doesn’t cost the farm in a trade, why not go after him?

Another player the Ultimate Texans site said the Texans should be interested in is New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph, describing him as:

"“A load who can play inside or outside in a 3-4″"

Also keep an eye on free safety Malcom Jenkins of the New Orleans Saints as the Ultimate Texans blog wrote:

"“Change of scenery could be good for No. 14 pick of 2009.”"

Thinking about Jenkins, he would be a nice fit for the Texans as they really need to work of their defensive backfield this offseason, because their play in 2013 left for a lot of improvement. Let’s hope the Texans don’t have a repeat of the 2013 offseason and what happened with Ed Reed.

That my friends didn’t work out well.

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