Category: 2024 NFL Free Agency

2024 NFL free agency: Mario Edwards’ Texans contract details

The Houston Texans signed veteran Mario Edwards Jr. to a pretty inexpensive 1-year deal.

The Houston Texans added to their defensive line by signing veteran Mario Edwards Jr. this offseason. Edwards adds nine years and 21.5 sacks of NFL experience to a pretty well-stocked defensive line in Texans.

His deal is pretty inexpensive, too. Edwards signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Houston, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. The deal includes $500,000 in guaranteed money as well.

Here’s the full breakdown:

  • Terms: one year, $2
  • Guaranteed money: $500,000
  • Signing bonus: $200,000
  • 2024 base salary: $1.21 million
  • 2024 cap hit: $1.62 million
  • Annual active roster bonus: $240,000
  • Pro Bowl incentive: $1 million

Edwards, 30, played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 after time with the then-Oakland Raiders, the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears and the Tennessee Titans. He registered two sacks, five tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, 21 combined tackles and one forced fumble in 2023.

This is likely another depth signing for the Texans on the defensive line. Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry are likely locked in as starters, but the second interior defensive position remains up for grabs in 2024.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans’ deal with KR/WR Steven Sims worth $1.3M

The Houston Texans brought back one of their key special teams players from 2023.

The Houston Texans retained a key member of their special teams unit with the re-signing of kick return specialist Steven Sims Jr.

The terms of the deal weren’t originally known, but KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson recently reported the Texans inked Sims to a one-year deal with $1.325 million. The contract comes with a $75,000 signing bonus.

Here are the full terms of the contract:

  • Terms: one year, $1.325 million
  • Guaranteed money/signing bonus: $75,000
  • 2024 base salary: $1.125 million
  • 2024 cap hit: $1.242 million
  • Annual active roster bonus: $100,000
  • Workout bonus: $25,000

Sims Jr. should remain one of the Texans return specialists in 2024. He returned seven total kickoffs this past season: four punts for 49 yards and three kickoffs for 71 yards. Sims also returned a punt for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round loss.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans sign ex-Patriots CB Myles Bryant

The Houston Texans added their third new cornerback this offseason with former New England Patriot Myles Bryant.

The Houston Texans added another depth piece to their secondary.

Houston signed former New England Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander. The terms of Bryant’s deal were not immediately reported.

Bryant, 26, spent the past four years with the Patriots after going undrafted in 2020. He played mostly in a reserve role, although he started nine games in 2023 and played 851 defensive snaps — both of which were career-highs in his four-year career.

Bryant tallied one sack, 77 combined tackles and seven defended passes in 2023. He also allowed a passer rating of 102.0 when targeted, which ranked 15th among slot corners according to Pro Football Focus.

The Texans have a litany of cornerbacks on their roster, but it’s unclear who will start opposite Derek Stingley Jr. in 2023. Bryant is the fourth backup option along with Desmond King and former 2020 first-round picks Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson. Bryant wouldn’t necessarily be expected to start on the outside, though, as he fits primarily as slot cornerback.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans DT Foley Fatukasi’s contract details

The Houston Texans signed defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi to a one-year deal that includes a hefty signing bonus for the six-year veteran.

Before the free agent frenzy began, the Houston Texans signed defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi as a depth piece along the defensive line.

The details about Fatukasi’s contract weren’t reported until today when KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson revealed Fatukasi signed a one-year, $5.212 million deal.

The contract guarantees $1.5 million and includes a $3.125 million signing bonus. Fatukasi’s deal includes two void years in 2025 and 2026 worth $12 million each year.

Fatukasi, 29, remains in the AFC South after a two-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 16 starts in 2023, he had 24 tackles, three for loss and two quarterback hits. Known as a run stuffer, Fatukasi weighs well over 300 pounds and expects to be a rotational player on early downs.

The former 2018 sixth-round pick started his career with the New York Jets. He enjoyed his best season in 2021 under head coach Robert Saleh, whom Texans’ head coach DeMeco Ryans worked with while in San Francisco. 

Following four seasons in New York, Fatukasi signed a three-year deal worth $30 million with the Jaguars. He lasted two years in Jacksonville before they opted to cut him on his 29th birthday and save $3.5 million. 

Fatukasi’s signing was the first of several moves the Texans made along the defensive line. Houston enters next season with three new starters in the front four. 

Steelers dodge expensive bullet with CB L’Jarius Sneed

The Steelers got their new starting cornerback without having to break the bank.

One of the NFL players many fans and pundits targeted for the Pittsburgh Steelers was Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The Chiefs made it no secret the talented cornerback was on the trading block due in large part to his contract demands as he was going to play on the franchise tag in 2024.

Thankfully, the Steelers didn’t want to be strapped with yet another huge contract on the most expensive defensive in the league and instead, the Tennessee Titans worked a deal for Sneed and are paying him big time.

The Titans sent a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL and will swap seventh-round picks in 2024 for Sneed. A more-than-fair trade. But it’s the contract that Tennessee is reportedly giving him that would have surely scared off the Steelers if they even had any interest. Four years and $55 million guaranteed with a total value of somewhere in the vicinity of $76 million is steep.

Pittsburgh didn’t sit around and do nothing. They traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson for cornerback Donte Jackson giving them a starting outside cornerback to pair up with Joey Porter Jr. and did it for far less investment.

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2024 NFL draft: Texans take a 2nd-round WR in new mock

The Houston Texans had a need a wide receiver and grab one of the best in the 2024 draft with their first pick in the second round.

The Houston Texans won’t make a selection until Day 2 of the NFL draft after the team traded away its No. 23 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. While a trade back into the first round isn’t out of the question, the Texans will have to wait until the No. 42 pick before adding a new young player to their team.

There are a few different directions Houston can go down in the second round, which will be entirely dependent on how the draft board falls.

Defensive tackle is a huge need after Sheldon Rankins left in free agency and the Texans traded away Maliek Collins. Wide receiver is another option after the attempted trade for Keenan Allen. Cornerback remains an issue, too, despite the addition of two former 2020 first-round picks to pair with Derek Stingley.

The Athletic did a post-free agency mock draft and while the Texans didn’t trade into the first round, Houston did add a speedy wide receiver with the No. 42 pick for C.J. Stroud. The Texans drafted Oregon wideout Troy Franklin to play alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell on offense.

From reporter Mike Jones:

“Arming Stroud with another weapon should rank among the Texans’ priorities. Franklin, who had 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior at Oregon, would give him another speedy receiver (4.41 40) who is a precise route runner and possesses good size at 6-2, 176”

Franklin and Dell would be an impressive 1-2 speed punch, while Collins proved to be one of the best receivers in the NFL in 2023. However, Franklin isn’t necessarily the type of receiver the Texans need for their offense.

When Houston tried to trade for Keenan Allen, it was reportedly that Texans were looking for a possession receiver in the mold of Allen who could catch passes in the middle of the field. That’s not necessarily Franklin’s skillset, although he was the best receiver left on the board after Adonai Mitchell and Ladd McConkey went earlier in the mock draft.

The Texans have a need a receiver, though, so the pick isn’t inherently a mistake. We’ll see which direction general manager Nick Caserio goes down in a little more than a month.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans sign CB C.J. Henderson

The Houston Texans added another cornerback who was also a former first-round pick in C.J. Henderson.

The Houston Texans are collecting former 2020 first-round cornerbacks.

The Texans signed C.J. Henderson, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The deal is for one year and worth up to $3.25 million, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. Henderson had met with the Texans earlier on Thursday before the two signs agreed to a contract.

Henderson was the No. 9 pick in the 2020 draft — taken three picks after Jeff Okudah, who signed with the Texans earlier this offseason. Henderson played 10 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2020 to 2021 before being dealt to the Carolina Panthers early in the 2021 season. He missed the second half of his rookie year with a groin injury.

Henderson’s career production numbers haven’t been great. He tallied one interception during his time with the Jaguars before he snagged two with the Panthers in 2022. Henderson has 16 career defended passes. He started 17 games over two seasons for Carolina.

While he hasn’t been productive, Henderson fits the mold of cornerbacks head coach DeMeco Ryans likes in his secondary. He, like Okudah and 2022 first-rounder Derek Stingley Jr, is at least six feet tall and around 200 pounds. Okudah is 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, while Stingley Jr. is 6-foot and 190 pounds.

Could Okudah or Henderson solve the Texans’ hole at outside cornerback? That remains to be seen. Neither have been great starters in the NFL despite their top-10 draft status and playing on multiple teams during their careers.

At the very least, Ryans is collecting depth at a very important position with the potential to add more either in free agency, the trade market or the draft.

2024 NFL free agency: CB Xavien Howard ‘would love’ to play for hometown Texans

The Houston Texans still need another cornerback, and former Miami Dolphins defensive back Xavien Howard continues to express interest.

Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard is a born-and-bred Texan. He’s also a free agent and would fit a very huge need for the Houston Texans at outside cornerback alongside Derek Stingley.

While there were reports earlier this spring that Howard and the Texans were mutually interested in a deal, nothing has materialized through the first wave of free agency. But Howard still sounds like someone who wants to return to Texas and play for his hometown Texans. He grew up in Houston and played college ball about three hours north in Waco at Baylor.

Howard told Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller of “The OGs” podcast that he “would love” to play for the Texans in 2024 when asked if they were an option for him.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve always been a Houston Texans fan, but this offseason, I’m very [much a] Houston Texans fan,” Howard said. “That’s definitely a realistic option for me. … They got a helluva quarterback over there. They got little Tank [Dell] over there, too.”

Howard added that he likes defensive coaches — like when he played for Brian Flores with the Miami Dolphins — and would enjoy playing for DeMeco Ryans.

Howard, 30, would fit a very obvious need at outside cornerback for the Texans. While his production has declined over the past three years, Howard had five interceptions in 2021 and a league-high 10 interceptions in 2020. For his career Howard has 29 interceptions, 95 defended passes and 331 combines tackles in eight seasons.

The Texans currently don’t have a true starting-caliber cornerback besides Stingley Jr. Houston added cornerback Jeff Okudah and re-signed Desmond King, but neither offer the reliability in coverage that Howard would provide in the secondary. There are other cornerbacks out there in free agency, though, and the Texans could look to pair Stingley with another young player in the 2024 draft.

But if general manager Nick Caserio wants to add another lockdown cornerback to the defense, Howard would be a tremendous fit. His 6-foot-1, 203-pound frame aligns with the rest of the unity and his veteran experience would go along way in the mentorship of the emerging Stingley.

Money would be the biggest issue. It’s unclear what type of contract Howard is looking for, but he was released by the Miami Dolphins two years after he signed a five-year, $90 million deal. Howard is a big-time player who wouldn’t come cheap unless he’s willing to offer the Texans a hometown discount.

The interest is there from Howard. Now, it’s a matter of if that’s reciprocated by Houston.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans get ‘A’ for their moves from PFF

The Houston Texans made a lot of savvy moves this offseason that at least one pundit liked.

The Houston Texans made massive moves this offseason.

They added a few key pieces like defensive end Danielle Hunter, defensive lineman Denico Autry, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and running back Joe Mixon. Those four replaced the major departures of Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, Devin Singletary and Sheldon Rankins.

Houston also re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz and sent starting defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the San Francisco 49ers. While not included in this analysis, the Texans also traded out of the first round of the 2024 NFL draft to accrue more second-round picks.

For those efforts, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger gave the Texans an “A” grade for their free agency moves.

On Hunter and Autry, Spielberger liked the two-year deals because “it lines up with the two years before Houston may have to reset the quarterback market with an extension for C.J. Stroud. Hunter, Anderson and fellow free-agent addition Denico Autry will be a force up front for DeMeco Ryans’ defense.” Meanwhile, Al-Shaair “adds a tenacity in run defense that benefits any team.”

The Texans still have holes to fill, though — particularly in the secondary, on the interior of the defensive line and are wide receiver. There are plenty of players still available if Houston wants to go down the free agent list. The Texans also looked at trades and should find quality players in the 2024 draft.

All in all, this was a great start to DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio’s second offseason together.

2024 NFL free agency: Texans bring back KR Steven Sims

The Houston Texan retained a keep special teams contributor from 2023 in wide receiver/return man Steven Sims.

With the top players off the market, teams are filling out their rosters with veterans on short-term deals.

Rather than continue to bring in outside free agents, the Houston Texans brought back one of their own. Houston re-sign wide receiver and return specialist Steven Sims Jr., according to KPRC’s 2 Aaron Wilson. 

The soon-to-be 27-year-old played four games in Houston this past season. He returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the Texans’ AFC divisional-round loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Sims had three catches for 25 receiving yards, four punt returns for 49 yards and three kickoff returns for 71 yards. 

Sims spent most of the season on the Texans’ practice squad. Before joining Houston, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Commanders for two seasons apiece. In his career, Sims caught 78 passes for 704 yards and five touchdowns.

Sims, born in Texas, attended Travis High School in Pecan Grove, an hour west of Houston. The Texans led the NFL in kickoff return touchdowns in 2023. Sims led the league in kickoff return attempts in his rookie season with Washington in 2019.

The Texans brought back most of its special teams contributors. Special teams coordinator Frank Ross deploys one of the league’s best units. Sims’ contract details are unknown at the time.