Takeaways of Houston Texans swings and misses in free agency

Houston Texans swings and misses in free agency may foreshadow what is yet to come in the 2019 NFL draft.

Despite the lack of big moves made by the Houston Texans front office in free agency, they are well aware of the positions that need to be addressed in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Texans have had quite a quiet offseason making moves that have kept them in a flexible financial situation moving into the 2019 season.

Texans brought back the majority of their players on defense except for defensive backs Kareem Jackson, Tyrann Mathieu, and defensive lineman Christian Covington. Jackson and Covington were both allowed to test their market in free agency meanwhile Texans were unable to retain Mathieu after the Kansas City Chiefs made him one of the highest paid safeties in the NFL in the first day that free agency opened.

Since the start of free agency, the Texans have signed young veteran quarterback AJ McCarron, free safety Tashaun Gipson, tight end Darren Fells, and left tackle Matt Kalil. However, there is more than meets the eye with these moves as Texans general manager Brian Gaine swung and missed with some notable big names that were expected to earn a significant amount of money in free agency.

Mike Silver of Sports Illustrated reported that Gaine was in the running to sign former Los Angeles Rams guard Roger Saffold meanwhile in The Lefkoe Show Podcast, Trent Brown revealed that the Texans were one of the final three offers that he had on the table before he signed with the Oakland Raiders to become one of the highest paid offensive tackles in the NFL.

Despite missing out on both veteran offensive lineman, Texans targets in free agency indicate that they are open to upgrading several positions on the offensive line and adding more competition before the start of their training camp. Their interest in offensive linemen in free agency is certainly foreshadowing what is yet to come in the 2019 NFL Draft that starts on the 25th of April.