The Houston Texans had a successful season last year, finishing at 11-5, what needs to happen next to take the next step?
The Houston Texans were well-rounded and pushed through some injuries during the 2018 AFC South championship season. This offseason, the Texans have several needs that need to be addressed. With three picks in the first two rounds, it is a general consensus that the Texans need to address the offensive line and cornerback with those picks.
Having an upwards of $70 million in cap space, between free agency and the draft, the Texans have more holes than just cornerbacks and offensive linemen when it comes to improving the team this offseason.
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Potential pickups are more than capable of stepping in and starting this season, but be prepared to start in the future. Dylan Cole is an undrafted inside linebacker who played a depth role early in his career, though he began to get more snaps in the defense as a coverage linebacker.
The quarterback position is solidified with Deshaun Watson, so the Texans need to build a team around him while he is still on his rookie contract. The running back group was great overall in 2018. Lamar Miller made the Pro Bowl and D’Onta Foreman was a player the Texans invested with a third round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Foreman flashed potential before missing most of last season recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered his rookie season. Miller will be 28 years old before the start of next season, and Foreman has yet to prove himself as a starter. If the right player is available, Texans could add another running back.
The wide receiver group is in good hands with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Keke Coutee. Fuller has struggled with injuries since entering the NFL in 2016, so signing another receiver capable of stretching the field vertically would be a great option. The front office traded for Demaryius Thomas last season, but an Achilles injury ended his stint in Houston, and he has since been released. The Texans have Ryan Griffin, Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas at tight end, but none of them stepped out in 2018 the way the Texans needed them to do. With a deep class of tight ends entering the 2019 NFL Draft, tight end may be worth using a draft pick on.
The offensive line needs to hold up their end of the bargain in protecting Watson. The best offensive lineman is usually considered to be Nick Martin, but he graded out as the fifth best center in the four-team AFC South, according to Pro Football Focus.
2018's highest-graded centers from the AFC South pic.twitter.com/6ElXUgC3tL
— PFF (@PFF) February 10, 2019
The defensive line could use one more player, too. J.J. Watt and D.J. Reader are two of the better defensive linemen in the league, but with Christian Covington and Angelo Blackson hitting free agency, the Texans could use a third defensive lineman to play defensive end.
Jadeveon Clowney will likely be franchise tagged, while Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham are also solid linebackers. Whitney Mercilus didn’t look like himself last year, and it may be time to part ways with Mercilus and move from two pass rushing linebackers to one.
That would be the traditional way to play the 4-3. Cole may be the player to do so, but other players could be targets for the Texans as well.
Depth at cornerback also needs to be addressed. Johnathan Joseph is still a good cornerback, but he lacks the speed to play against players like T.Y. Hilton. After missing on Aaron Colvin and Johnson Bademosi in free agency last offseason, the Texans desperately need to regroup and sign other cornerbacks to fill depth behind Joseph.
Safety is one of the Texans positions of strength, the Texans should stay put if they can bring back the free agents at that position.
Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson are both free agents, and if they can both return, the Texans should be deep at safety for a long time with Justin Reid and Andre Hal also in the mix which could make for an interesting 2019 season.