One Free Agent from Every Other Team the Texans Should Consider: AFC West
By Jason Costa
NFL free agency kicks off March 15th at 4 pm EST. The Houston Texans' new coaching staff and the front office have already started the process by reviewing the roster and their own pending free agents. As their attention starts to turn towards scouting for the draft and free agency, we look at every other team in the NFL and identify one free agent from each team that Houston should take a closer look at signing. We wrap up the AFC with the western division.
Denver Broncos:
Alex Singleton, Linebacker
Undrafted out of Montana State, Singleton made a name for himself over three seasons in the CFL. Philadelphia gave him a shot in the NFL and he's never looked back. In the last four seasons, he has over 100 tackles in each. A tackling machine, he always is around the ball and can often be seen finishing off a play. He gets off blocks quickly and has also shown he can get pressure on the quarterback when sent on a blitz.
2022 Stats per Pro Football Reference:
17 GP, 163 Tackles, 3 QB Hits, 1 FF
Projected Market Value per Spotrac:
1 Year / $1,115,000
Kansas City Chiefs:
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Wide Receiver
Whoever signs JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to be taking a gamble that he isn't a flash in the pan benefiting from playing in Kansas City this past year. He's shown he has the talent and the playmaking ability to be a force but has never consistently put it together until this past season. An argument can be made that his production was just a benefit of having Mahomes and so many weapons in Kansas City. Prior to this season, he was known more for TikTok and trash talk than his play on the field. He's not the greatest of route runners and needs to focus on ball security. But his physical talent and playmaking ability are that of a top-15 talent.
2022 Stats per Pro Football Reference:
16 GP, 78 Rec, 933 Yds, 3 TDs, 3 Fumbles
Projected Market Value per Spotrac:
4 Years / $58,643,976
Las Vegas Raiders:
Andrew Billings, Defensive Tackle
Many will scream about this not being Derek Carr. Carr is going to carry a hefty price tag, and this team is not one above-average quarterback away from contending. Houston is better served to draft a quarterback or to bring in a different veteran whose price tag fits a team needing to load up on talent across the board. Excelling in run defense, Billings is stout and quick. While not the most dominant pass rusher, he has been able to get into the backfield on passing plays. He would play the nose tackle role well in Houston, eating up blockers and stuffing the run.
2022 Stats per Pro Football Reference:
14 GP, 39 Tackles, 1 Sack, 3 QB Hits
Projected Market Value per Spotrac:
1 Year / $1,187,500
Los Angeles Chargers:
Morgan Fox, Defensive Lineman
Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles had top-five offensive lines, and they had the two best defensive lines in football. The trenches are critical in building a winning football team, and Houston is lacking on both sides. Fox is a pass-rushing specialist with a knack for hitting the quarterback and can be seen in the backfield on most plays.
2022 Stats per Pro Football Reference:
17 GP, 38 Tackles, 6.5 Sacks, 11 QB Hits
Projected Market Value per Spotrac:
1 Year / $1,187,500