Andrew Norwell should be a top target for Texans in free agency

Andrew Norwell has been an excellent offensive lineman in his four year career. An integral part of the Carolina Panthers offensive line that has helped an offense that can be dynamic. Norwell is not expected to return to Carolina which opens up the possibility for him to come to Houston.

The Texans need to improve their offensive line. Even with carefully orchestrated offensive schemes, the quarterbacks for Houston were under constant pressure in 2017. The athleticism of Deshaun Watson was able to cover up a large portion of their deficiencies, but overall this group needs improvement. As time goes on Watson will only be able to do so much and will need to rely on contributions of others.

Norwell is an incredibly proficient guard. Pro Football Focus grades Norwell as high quality and ranks him as the third best guard. Due to this high grade he will be in high demand. Additionally he will not come cheap. Luckily the Texans have the cap space to sign a player such as Norwell. Houston has approximately $65 million in cap space at this moment in time. Last season Kevin Zeitler received a contract from the Browns that averages $12 million per season. Norwell should command at least that much. This is a number that is not out of the question for the Texans to reasonably offer.

Improving the offensive line is critical for the success of the Texans this season and for the future. It would allow the running game to be productive and most notably protect Watson. Both of these aspects must be considered when addressing free agency this offseason. Signing Norwell would be the first in many steps to improve after a disappointing 2017 season. A playoff push is not out of the question in 2018, signing Norwell would be an excellent way to make it a reality.