Category: 2023 NFL Free Agency

Texans should consider QB Marcus Mariota as veteran backup

If the Houston Texans wanted a stable veteran presence as they eased their rookie quarterback into the NFL, Marcus Mariota could be the answer.

The Atlanta Falcons are going all-in on Desmond Ridder.

The Falcons announced Tuesday they have released quarterback Marcus Mariota. The former Tennessee Titans 2015 first-round pick went 5-8 for the Falcons and had Atlanta flirting with a playoff spot in an anemic NFC South. The 13 games Mariota started were the most since 2018 when he went 7-6 with the Titans, who finished 9-7 that season.

The former Oregon Duck will be 30 years old on Oct. 30, and it is safe to say he has transitioned into a stable backup phase of his career. Since 2019 when he was benched in the middle of a Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos, Mariota has been unable to return to the NFL consciousness as a starting quarterback.

From 2020-21, Mariota backed up Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders before going to Atlanta to keep the seat warm for Ridder, the Falcons’ third-round pick.

If the Texans were to take Mariota, he would have the background to help Houston’s first-round quarterback manage the expectations of being the young face of a franchise, which is what Mariota had to experience with the Titans as their No. 2 overall pick in 2015. A quarterback room with Mariota and even Davis Mills as the veteran voices would help Houston’s rookie to process the game, slow it down, and learn how to prepare each week.

Mariota could still win the Texans games if called upon. Would Mariota be able to hold up for an entire season? Maybe not, as was the case with the Falcons, but if Mariota had to fill in for a few games, the Texans could manage. Mariota also had the benefit of rookie running back Tyler Allgeier and renaissance man Cordarrelle Patterson shouldering the load in the run game. Dameon Pierce would certainly replace or perform above the expectations of the Falcons’ rushing tandem.

The Texans should only bring in Mariota under the condition he is the backup, and the future lies in the rookie quarterback, who is to get as many first-team snaps as possible. It may not be anything to worry about as it is unlikely rookie coach DeMeco Ryans will take the same course as fourth-year coach Bill O’Brien in 2017 when he had Tom Savage starting ahead of their first-round rookie quarterback for all of the offseason until halftime of Opening Day.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1362]

Could DE Charles Omenihu come back to the Texans?

Charles Omenihu took a step in his development with the San Francisco 49ers under DeMeco Ryans. Would he follow his old DC to the Houston Texans?

The Houston Texans underwent significant roster changes from the past two seasons. Most of them were due to players losing their confidence as the moribund franchise drifted rudderless in the doldrums of a rebuild.

Not every player could grin and bear it. Even receiver Brandin Cooks had his breaking point.

One player that found his way out of Houston was defensive end Charles Omenihu. The former 2019 fifth-rounder from Texas, who had a promising rookie season with 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles followed up by 4.0 sacks in 2020, struggled in Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme. Houston traded Omenihu to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2023 sixth-round pick at the trade deadline.

According to Sam Monson from Pro Football Focus, Omenihu would make sense as an underrated free agent for teams looking for a veteran defensive end. Monson uses the juxtaposition of the New Orleans Saints’ Marcus Davenport to argue that Omenihu, who had a career-high 4.5 sacks in 2022, would be a better deal than Davenport.

Nick Bosa enjoyed a Defensive Player of the Year season for the San Francisco 49ers with 98 pressures across 19 games, but Omenihu quietly had an excellent year on the other side. The former fifth-round draft pick set new career highs for snaps (659), pressures (62) and defensive stops (13), and he now has back-to-back seasons with a 75.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grade. At just 25 years old, Omenihu should be entering his prime and could be a much better gamble than one on Davenport.

There are two hurdles in bringing back Omenihu. The first would be assessing whether he would be willing to give Houston another chance given they hired his former defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, as their new coach. Omenihu has a chance to retain the progress he built with Ryans and doesn’t have to adjust to Steve Wilks’ new system, pending the 49ers re-sign Omenihu.

The second hurdle is Omenihu’s legal issues. Houston may be adding a veteran who would miss time for potential violations of the league’s personal conduct policy. At that point, it would be prudent to allow second-year defensive end Thomas Booker the space to flourish rather than force an Omenihu-Ryans reunion.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1362]

Patriots would make sense as trade partner for Texans WR Brandin Cooks

If the Houston Texans were looking to deal receiver Brandin Cooks, the New England Patriots would make sense as a trade partner.

Bill O’Brien really wanted to work with Brandin Cooks.

When the current New England Patriots offensive coordinator was still the coach and general manager for the Houston Texans, he told reporters on a Zoom call on April 16, 2020 that the former New Orleans Saints 2014 first-round pick brought “a lot to the table.”

“He’s a tremendous route runner, he’s got great speed, really good deep ball player,” O’Brien said. “If you look at his yards per catch over the years, it’s really high. You’re talking about in the 14 to 15 range.”

Any praise for Cooks was lost on deaf ears among Houston sports fans as it was in the wake of trading All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson and a fourth-round pick.

According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, with O’Brien in New England, they would be a team to keep an eye on as a possible trading partner with Houston as they look to move on from a disillusioned Cooks.

Cooks lasted one year with New England, and he was with O’Brien in Houston for only four games before the coach’s firing. With Patriots wide receivers Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor pending free agents, New England and O’Brien reunite with the veteran Cooks. The Patriots won’t have to part with a first-round pick as they did back in 2017, and Cooks’ contract runs through 2024, which is also the fourth and final year of quarterback Mac Jones’ rookie deal. 

More than half of Cooks’ remaining contract being guaranteed works against his value a bit, though it could also make it more likely he plays out these years as compared to DeAndre Hopkins. Despite the tumultuous past three seasons in Houston, Cook earned an 82.1 cumulative receiving grade, which was a top-30 mark at the position. His 1.90 yards per route run ranked in the top 25, his 66 explosive receptions ranked 17th and his 30 receptions on balls thrown 20-plus yards downfield ranked eighth.

If the Texans did trade Cooks, it would mean they would need a pick from their top-103 in the 2023 NFL draft to replace him.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Houston Texans’ dearth of dead money key to 2023 salary cap space

The Houston Texans have a little over $900,000 in dead money against the salary cap, and the lack thereof is key to their 2023 cap space.

One of the more optimistic aspects of the Houston Texans’ 2023 offseason is their abundance of salary cap space.

The Texans have the fourth-most salary cap space in the league with over $37.1 million. Along with the Texans’ two first-round picks and six selections in the top-103 of the draft, Houston should be able to sign effective veterans in free agency to accelerate the turnaround.

What has been instrumental to the Texans being to have such cap space is their lack of dead money. Consider throughout the 2022 season the Texans lost $52.7 million to 16 players. Houston was constrained in their ability to add talent and had to ride out 2022 for better or worse.

As the Texans are set to enter free agency in March, the Texans owe just $901,995 in dead money, incidentally the fourth-least in the league. Most of the money goes to defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, who was traded to the Minnesota Vikings at the end of preseason.

Having the salary cap space and the draft capital is what will help general manager Nick Caserio and rookie coach DeMeco Ryans form a more competitive roster in 2023.

“We kind of know what good football looks like,” Caserio said. “We’ve got to make it Houston Texans football. What does good football look like for the Houston Texans? I think we philosophically believe in a lot of the same things, so we have to put our imprint on it as we go. And I think that’s what excites us the most.”

The Kansas City Chiefs have the lowest dead money in the league at $98,428. The Philadelphia Eagles have the most with over $46.5 million.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916344]

Could the Patriots connection bring QB Jacoby Brissett to the Texans?

If the Houston Texans want an experienced veteran to backup their rookie quarterback, Jacoby Brissett would be a name to consider.

The Houston Texans have multiple directions they can go at quarterback.

The most likely path is they roll with a rookie signal caller in coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season. However, they still need to address who backs up their novice field general. Will they allow Davis Mills to be the second-stringer as he enters his third season, or will the club go with a proven veteran to provide stability behind their rookie?

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, a name to watch for the Texans is former Cleveland Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett played under the [Philadelphia] Eagles‘ Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo in Indianapolis; and was drafted by Texans general manager Nick Caserio, then a [New England] Patriots executive, back in 2016.

Caserio was with the Patriots in a variety of roles from 2001-20, but his most recent was director of player personnel starting in 2008. The Patriots took Brissett 91st overall in Round 3 of the 2016 NFL draft. As a rookie, Brissett even saw some action as he led New England to a 27-0 win over the Texans at Gillette Stadium on Thursday Night Football in Week 3, his first career start.

The following season New England flipped Brissett for Indianapolis Colts wideout Phillip Dorsett at the end of preseason to provide depth at quarterback with starter Andrew Luck out indefinitely. Brissett compiled an 11-19 record with the Colts over the next four seasons before landing in Miami as a veteran backup for Tua Tagovailoa. Brissett started five games for the Dolphins, going 2-3 in 2021. The Cleveland Browns used Brissett on an interim basis in 2022 as their intended starting quarterback served an 11-game suspension. Brissett went 4-7 for the Browns.

If the Texans thought their team was good enough to stay in the playoff hunt deep in the regular season, adding Brissett would be a consideration. If the Texans are going to give all of their reps to a rookie as is, it may be best to let Brissett sign elsewhere.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1362]

Saints DE Marcus Davenport could be free agent solution to Texans’ edge defense

The Houston Texans could have a free agent solution to their edge defense in New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport.

The Houston Texans may be trending in the right direction with the hiring of DeMeco Ryans as coach, but they are still amid a rebuild.

Part of coming out of a rebuild is getting veterans in place to fill roster spots until younger talent with greater potential comes along. Bill Parcells use to refer to these players as “hold down the fort guys.” Houston may need to a few more in the 2023 offseason.

According to Matt Bowen from ESPN, one free agent fit who would be ideal for Houston is New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport.

New Houston coach DeMeco Ryans needs edge defenders for his system, and Davenport fits here given his physical traits in both base and sub-packages. Davenport could be schemed to isolate in one-on-one pass-rush matchups or deployed on stunts/slants from the Texans’ loaded fronts. And at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds, he can also set an edge against the run. While the production declined for Davenport in ’22 (0.5 sacks, 20 pressures), he did record nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 2021.

The former UTSA Roadrunner and San Antonio John Paul Stevens High School product would be getting a little closer to home if he signed with the Texans. Ryans is going to be using a 4-3 front the same as Lovie Smith was deploying for the past two seasons, and having the 26-year-old would be helpful in the pass rush rotation.

Setting the edge against the run would be where Davenport could be most helpful. The Texans were horrendous at stopping the run with 5.1 yards per carry surrendered, the fourth-most in the NFL, and 170.2 rushing yards surrendered per game, the worst in the NFL. If Davenport’s presence helped Houston become respectable as a run defense again, it might be worth the signing.

Adding Davenport would also mean Houston had two young yet veteran defensive ends as Jonathan Greenard enters the final season of his rookie contract. Houston would be channeled to use their twin first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft to fix areas other than edge defense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916344]

Texans should consider Colts WR Parris Campbell as free agency fix for passing game

If the Houston Texans want to fix their passing game in free agency, Indianapolis Colts WR Parris Campbell has to be a consideration.

The Houston Texans’ receiving corps may look different in 2023.

Never mind that the Texans may have a new quarterback. The Texans could have a different composition among their receivers if Brandin Cooks finds a way out.

Houston has an extra first-rounder at No. 12 overall thanks to their 2022 offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns. As a result, they could add firepower to their passing game with a rookie wideout. However, if the Texans want to use that first-rounder for a defensive player, then they may need to rethink how they upgrade the passing game.

According to Gordon McGuinness from Pro Football Focus, one overlooked free agent at receiver for 2023 is the Indianapolis Colts’ Parris Campbell, who had a 60.8 PFF grade.

Before the potential wave of releases, this looks to be a very weak free-agent wide receiver class at the top. But for teams in need of a dependable WR3, and perhaps even a WR2 if he can stay healthy, Campbell is an option. He has dropped just six of the 103 catchable passes thrown his way since entering the NFL.

Campbell caught 63 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns through a career-high 17 games, 16 of which he started.

The tricky part for Houston would be determining if Campbell could remain available enough to be a viable part of the passing game. The Texans would be in a bind if they added Campbell with the expectation to be an integral part of the passing game and his availability issues impacted them. Perhaps the Texans would need to re-sign a proven veteran like Chris Moore if they went with Campbell.

Houston has the fourth-most salary cap space in the NFL with $37.1 million. Even if the Texans find a way to increase their salary cap space, the extra capital provides an opportunity to elevate Houston out of the rebuild in coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916718]

Why S Eric Murray could be the Houston Texans’ salary cap casualty

The Houston Texans may say goodbye to safety Eric Murray as they look to save salary cap space.

The Houston Texans have the fourth-most salary cap space in the NFL heading into the 2023 offseason. With over $37.1 million in space available, the Texans have plenty of capital to sign free agents or keep veterans they like.

However, general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t want to waste the McNair’s money on players who aren’t maximizing their contracts. Decisions will have to be made ahead of free agency.

According to Michael Renner from Pro Football Focus, one salary cap casualty on the Texans’ roster could be safety Eric Murray.

Murray’s status as a key special teams contributor may keep him around, especially with general manager Nick Caserio coming from a New England Patriots organization that put more emphasis on retaining quality special teamers than perhaps anywhere else.

That said, Murray logged just 118 snaps on defense amid the emergence of young contributors like second-round pick Jalen Pitre, so a pay cut may be required to stay in Houston.

Murray would cost the Texans $1,357,500 in dead money against the salary cap, but would save the Texans $4 million in salary cap space.

The former Kansas City Chiefs 2016 fourth-round pick generated 27 combined tackles through 17 games for Houston.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916344]

Kliff Kingsbury could provide excellent takeoff point for DeMeco Ryans, Texans’ rookie QB

Kliff Kingsbury could prove himself to be an excellent takeoff point for the Houston Texans’ rookie QB and also new coach DeMeco Ryans.

he Houston Texans front office interviewed former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury for their offensive coordinator position. The announcement came as a bit of a surprise after Kingsbury had previously announced he would be leaving the country and taking some time away from football during the 2023 season.

The offensive guru has been coach for each of the last 10 years. He was the coach from 2013-2018 at his alma mater, Texas Tech, where he’d broken records as a quarterback, before taking over the Cardinals from 2019-2022. Prior to that he was an offensive coordinator for Texas A&M, helping to lead the offense that saw freshman Johnny Manziel capture the Heisman Trophy.

The hire is an intriguing one at face value and one that has caused a split in the Houston fanbase over whether or not it would be a wise hire for DeMeco Ryans’ first offensive coordinator. The country just witnessed the collapse of the Cardinals just one season after making the playoffs and handing quarterback Kyler Murray a massive extension.

Is that what Houston should lean into?

Some further reading into Kingsbury’s resume and exactly what his presence would mean for the Texans reveals a coordinator who may be the perfect fit for Houston’s newest head coach.

To begin, Ryans has never had the responsibility of serving as a football team’s head coach. That is a title Kingsbury has held for a decade now and a role in which he is intimately familiar. He would serve as a presence that Ryans could lean on for experience and, alongside his former staff member Matt Burke, would provide important experience for Ryans coaching staff.

There’s also reason to believe that the Texans would see an entirely different version of Kingsbury. The coach would no longer be responsible for recruiting to the whims of high schoolers as he was at Texas Tech, nor would he be responsible for the front office responsibilities that have come in the NFL. He would solely be tasked with working with a young quarterback and crafting an offense that can score points and compliment the defensive prowess Ryans is hoping to install.

Kingsbury, with the recent bad taste of that Arizona venture, might also be slow to find another NFL head coaching opportunity. It’s a coordinator hire who could very reasonably see three seasons and be alongside the early development of whoever Houston chooses to select with the second overall pick.

Speaking of young quarterbacks, Kingsbury brings quite the resume. Alongside Manziel’s Heisman Trophy, he played a key role as Patrick Mahomes coach before he was drafted in the first round in 2017 and also helped Murray capture NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019. He would be an excellent asset alongside Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud as Houston hopes to accelerate the learning curve of their future young franchise quarterback.

Kingsbury was coincidentally the first coach to ever extend a scholarship offer to Young, but that’s another story.

His win loss record at both Texas Tech and in Arizona was an underwhelming one but, alongside fewer responsibilities, there’s reason to believe things could be different in Houston. Former Arizona general manager Steve Keim struggled in the draft the last five seasons and also wasted a multitude of assets on wide receivers.

The presence of Nick Caserio and his stout New England background would almost ensure roster construction would go in a different direction.

Meanwhile, for all of the young quarterback’s talent, Kingsbury was tied to a Murray who seemed disinterested in growing as an NFL passer over the last few seasons. Infamously, the Cardinals worked to include a forced study clause in his contract last offseason. The work ethic of top quarterbacks in this draft could make for an offense that could evolve as those passers grew in the league.

All of this to say, removing the win-loss goggles from the Kingsbury perspective presents an appealing option for the Houston Texans. Ryans would gain a coordinator who he can trust fully to compose an offense and call plays in addition to a veteran coach that he could lean on. A rookie quarterback would have an offensive guru with a proven track record of success.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916344]

Texans considered a ‘non-fit’ for Raiders QB Derek Carr

According to CBS Sports, the Houston Texans aren’t considered a good fit for Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr as he looks to continue his NFL career.

The Houston Texans are in need of a quarterback, and Derek Carr is in need of a place to continue his NFL career.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the two sides wouldn’t make a good fit as the Las Vegas Raiders signal caller looks for a new team in 2023.

We genuinely believe Carr likes the idea of picking up where his brother left off. He even said previously that he wished the Texans would’ve drafted him in 2014. DeMeco Ryans‘ addition as head coach certainly helps. But they’re too clearly in rebuild mode for any kind of title-chasing.

Even if Carr liked the idea of picking up where his brother, David, left off after completing his 76-game career with Houston from 2002-06, general manager Nick Caserio might not be onboard with the notion. Consider that Carr is leaving a Raiders organization that has two of Caserio’s New England Patriots and college connections in coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. Carr may be leaving the same problems he encountered in Las Vegas waiting for him when he gets to Houston.

Teams that are title-chasing already have a franchise quarterback in place, whether their evaluation is accurate or not. Carr would have to accept that his presence on an NFL roster is a continuation of what he had with the Raiders. After all, the league is built around the quarterback.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601916718]