The state of the Houston Texans’ franchise is in disrepair.
Whether you want to blame Bill O’Brien or Jack Easterby, the reality is that the Houston Texans as a football team just flat-out stink. Eight straight losses and no relief in sight make one wonder when things are going to get better.
When the new league year kicks off next March with free agency, the Texans will get the chance to help alleviate the headache-heavy pain that they’ve put themselves and their fanbase through. With 35 expiring contracts, could the Houston Texans let most of them walk?
This is not what Nick Caserio, Houston’s General Manager had in mind when he signed all of these players in the offseason. So how “Caserio” would it be to bring in another 20-25 free agents and hope for the best? The answer to that question is “very”, as it’s a realistic chance Caserio and David Culley turn everything over and start fresh.
Going into 2022 the Texans rank 13th in terms of most cap space, with just over $43M, per Spotrac. Another way to gain a big amount of cap space would come from cutting Deshaun Watson.
That last linked article goes into more of how a potential cut of Watson would work. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll stay with the near-$43M that the Texans have. These players are ranked in no particular order, just ones that could make an instant impact and could have a realistic shot of signing with Houston.
Houston Texans can upgrade their pass catchers with Chris Godwin as a target
Who knows if Tom Brady is going to return next year, but chances are that he probably will be back in the Pewter and Red. One Buccaneer who won’t be back is Chris Godwin. Godwin had a breakout season in 2019 in which he hit career highs in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receptions. The fact that he’s played behind the old version of Jameis Winston and now Brady is a career contrast unlike any other.
The problem with Tampa Bay is that there are too many mouths to feed. Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and even Scottie Miller all want the ball. It’s time for Godwin to get out and get targets like a true WR1 like he was in 2019.
Godwin can hit those same numbers here in Houston, and there is the cap space to do so. Maybe Godwin’s arrival would help calm Brandin Cooks down while Houston rides out the storm on his contract extension that he originally signed with the L.A. Rams a few years ago.
Those two would combine for a good one-two punch that would make any quarterback’s life easier. When it comes to things in Houston, those “easy” opportunities are hard to find.
The tight end room could use C.J. Uzomah as a much-needed upgrade
The tight end position in the NFL has seen its own sort of weird renaissance. One could argue that the position is garnering the most TV time and game planning respect from defensive coordinators. However, as quick as those TE stars come, they disappear at the same rate or faster than which they came up.
Enter C.J. Uzomah, who is in the midst of a career year. If Cincinnati should let him walk, Uzomah would be an amazing fit wearing the Deep Steel Blue. Uzomah currently has a career-high in touchdowns and is on pace to break his personal record of 439 receiving yards by Week 15 (assuming he hits his 34.8 yards per game each week).
Jordan Akins has done nothing but cost the Houston Texans with drops and mind-numbing penalties that have killed promising drives (see the road game at Indianapolis this year). Uzomah is a much more respectable receiving threat than Akins has ever been.
Uzomah could be the next great tight end in the league, and the Texans should take that chance to sign him to the team. A high-powered offense can help a bad team start to win games and climb out of the proverbial basement. Give Uzomah the contract he desires and go win games.
Anthony Walker would become an instant leader of Houston Texans defense
Anthony Walker Jr. has flown under the radar as one of the better linebackers in the league. The extremely vocal and hard-hitting linebacker out of Northwestern currently plays in Cleveland after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Walker has two 100-plus tackle seasons to his name and has nabbed one interception each of the last three seasons. Walker has also significantly reduced the amount of missed tackles he had from his freshman and sophomore campaigns to become a solid tackler. If he could have a decent unit ahead of him, then Walker is going to shine.
The evolution of Jonathon Greenard and the uptick of his production on sacks will give Walker a chance to thrive in Houston. It’d also let him become the vocal leader of the defense, something that hasn’t really been present since J.J. Watt left.
Walker could be the player that Lovie Smith plans his defense around to help the Texans return to their playoff ways. Walker can provide the leadership needed for a young defense that’s looking for someone to guide them on the field.
The one player who is cut for Walker to come aboard is Christian Kirksey.
Ronald Jones is an RB1 that the Houston Texans wouldn’t trade away
Yes, it’s the second Tampa Bay Buccaneers player on this list, but Ronald Jones has been completely overshadowed by Leonard Fournette in Tampa Bay and Jones isn’t going to get the main job back anytime soon. It’s one of the most confusing backfields in all of the NFL, next to that of the New England Patriots (which both equally frustrate fantasy football players).
Jones has all the capabilities to be a 1,000 yard back. Jones was close in 2020 with 978 yards to his name, including a 98-yard touchdown run that is arguably his second-best career highlight behind winning Super Bowl LV.
Contingent upon drafting an offensive lineman with their first-round draft pick, Jones would easily lay claim to the starting running back spot. Mark Ingram did as good as he could before being traded earlier this year. Jones would not be given up so easily.
Jones can be an effective zone runner and his plant foot that lets him turn on the burners is what made him so dangerous for Tampa Bay in 2020. Why Bruce Arians have hardly used him is only a question Arians can answer.
We’ll take Ro-Jo off of your hands, you can keep Fournette.
Houston Texans get a solid safety in DeAndre Houston-Carson
First things first, this would be such a cool add for the Texans. Imagine part of the player’s last name matching the city for which he plays for. DeAndre Houston-Carson (DHC from this point on) has enjoyed a career year.
While it’s not by much, DHC has broken his record for tackles in a season and has added one interception and 2 fumble recoveries. One of which was returned for a critical touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
Huge TD play by Tribe alum Deandre Houston-Carson in last night’s Monday Night Football Game #TribeinthePros https://t.co/Dw2M179Jtx
— William and Mary Sports Blog (@wmsportsblog) November 9, 2021
DHC is fourth in tackles for Chicago and has been growing into a reliable player this season right before the eyes of Bears fans. It wouldn’t hurt to put forth a good offer to DHC and see what happens. Even if the restricted free-agent tag gets applied to him, Houston should match what Chicago is trying to get.
Anyone would be better than Lonnie Johnson Jr. at the other safety position right now. Both sides of the ball with one or even two of the suggested pickups would make watching on Sundays just a little bit easier.
The Houston Texans have a long way to go this season, but many are looking ahead to it being over. There’s no shame in that. We’ll see how the playoffs and the end of the season affects this list once the Texans’ season is all said and done.