The Houston Texans and Lovie Smith have the opportunity to add multiple playmakers on defense in the new league year.
The Texans are bound to have a very interesting offseason with the impending trade of star QB Deshaun Watson, as well as potentially losing fan favorites Laremy Tunsil and Justin Reid. On the bright side, the Texans should receive a plethora of draft compensation for both Tunsil and Watson.
But finding a team that is going to take on Watson’s contract is going to be easier said than done. For some teams, acquiring Watson and Tunsil may mean that cuts or restructures have to happen. So what are the moves Houston can make to improve their defense?
Houston Texans get Chase Young in return for Deshaun Watson
The first step for the Texans this offseason should be the trade of Deshaun Watson. Although we don’t know where he will ultimately end up, one potential destination could be with the Washington Commanders, they have assets that should excite Texans fans.
The premier attraction would be Chase Young who would bring Houston a young pass-rushing star to pair up with Jonathan Greenard and create a terrifying one-two punch in the trenches. Adding someone like Young would give Houston the pass rusher they haven’t had since prime J.J. Watt.
In this mock trade, the Texans receive Chase Young, the 11th and 42nd pick in the 2022 NFL draft, as well as a first-round pick in 2023. It’s very likely the Texans ask for much more than this, but it is a good starting point in a potential Watson trade and a step in the right direction to rebuild their defense.
Do the Houston Texans go bold and draft a safety with the third overall pick?
With solidifying the defensive line the Texans should continue to go all-in on defense in the draft, with the addition of Young, it allows the Texans to select the best defensive back in the draft who will only be 21 years old when the season starts.
Drafting a safety in the top three of a draft may not be ideal to many fans but Kyle Hamilton is far from only being labeled a safety. Hamilton is a swiss army knife that can line up all over the field and take over games, Tyrann Mathieu is someone Hamilton should be compared to, however, Hamilton is six inches taller.
The Houston Texans could also bring the “Sauce” with Sauce Gardner
With the Texans trading Watson to Washington in this scenario they would also receive the 11th pick in the 2022 draft. They’ll have plenty of options available at 11 but if Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is there, there should be no doubt he would be the pick.
The Texans would have their young defensive backs of the future in both Sauce and Hamilton, this would give the Texans a chance to create a daunting defense that would terrorize opposing offenses for seasons to come.
Would Quandre Diggs return to his home state of Texas to play for Lovie Smith?
The last piece to add on to the Texans defense would be Quandre Diggs who is set to become a free agent this offseason. After spending his first seven years with Detroit and Seattle, Diggs will be one of the better defensive backs available this offseason.
Although Diggs suffered a broken leg in the season finale, there was no denying he was having a career year. Diggs tied his career-best in interceptions and tackles. Help both Kyle Hamilton and Sauce Gardner if we were to select them, and create a potential “big 3” in the Texans secondary.
Lovie Smith is a defensive-minded coach and adding players like Young, Hamilton, Gardner, and Diggs would go a long way to improve the defense. It all depends on where Watson is traded to fully determine what players Houston can add. However, adding those 4 players to the defense would be a dream come true to Texans Fans.
It will be interesting to see how Nick Caserio plays his cards with trades, free agents, and the draft.