Houston Texans: Shaq Barrett needs to be on the roster in 2020

There is an outside pass rusher available in free agency named Shaq Barrett who can instantly improve the pass rush in 2020.

Shaq Barrett and the Houston Texans can make each other better starting in 2020, and hopefully they both know that, too. You might be asking: why does Barrett need to be on the roster of the Texans next season, and even for a few years after that? The reason is simple — he can play in a 3-4 defense, and he knows how to get to the quarterback.

This past season in his one year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Barrett totaled 19.5 sacks, finally reaching and even surpassing his potential compared to his first five years in the NFL, all with the Denver Broncos, where he totaled 14 sacks in that span of time.

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If Barrett could play with the likes of J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and others on the Texans defense, he could be the player that not only finally replaces Jadeveon Clowney, but Barrett could surpass the numbers Clowney put up during his tenure with the Texans.

Barrett broke out to lead the NFL in sacks in ’19, but he also had 45 solo tackles, 19 tackles for loss and has more QB hits in ’19 (37) than he did in his five seasons with the Broncos (35). Sure, Barrett was playing for a contract last season as he had a one-year deal with the Buccaneers, but Barrett could also be the player for defense the Texans need to put the over the hump when the big games are on the line.

If the Texans have thoughts on ever reaching the Super Bowl, defense will get them there. The offense has the ability and talent to score points with a high-powered defense that puts pressure on teams like the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, and now the Texans must watch out for the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South because they aren’t a pushover, either.

Barrett also brings another veteran presence if he were to possibly join the Texans, and he is a player head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien respects as he spoke about Barrett before their Week 16 game this past season against the Buccaneers, as quoted by Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle in mid-December:

"“He’s a very difficult guy to handle,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s got really good athletic ability. His skillset is similar to Von Miller’s. He can bend, he can rush, he can get around the corner really fast.“Very explosive, very, very good athlete, uses his hands really well. He’s an excellent player. Yeah, he’s a problem.”"

Imagine if Barrett can have that same type of production with the Texans offense? Really, imagine the front seven the Texans would have with Barrett. Here is what it could look like:

DE: Angelo Blackson
NT: D.J. Reader
DE: J.J. Watt
OLB: Whitney Mercilus
ILB: Zach Cunningham
ILB: Benardrick McKinney
OLB: Shaq Barrett

Plus with the depth behind them like Charles Omenihu (DE), Brandon Dunn (DE), Brennan Scarlett (OLB) and even Barkevious Mingo (ILB – free agent), that isn’t a bad roster of players to send out each week in the NFL.

If Barrett reaches the open market, that is one thing, but he might stay in Tampa Bay as he was quoted at the Pro Bowl by Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com as saying that he wants to stay in Tampa Bay:

"“I don’t know where it’s going to end up at but I’m confident that I’m going to be where I should be, which is Tampa. It’s up to Tampa Bay right now, whatever they want to do.”"

Barrett, the Buccaneers and many other NFL teams (including the Texans) could have a big decision to make.

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If Barrett does reach free agency and the Texans can talk with him, they had better because they are going to need pass rushers if they ever want to compete at a high level in the playoffs for many years to come.

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