Tag: 2024 Houston Texans offseason

Jalen Pitre’s breakout season over following recent Texans’ transaction

Jalen Pitre’s season is over for the Houston Texans.

Jalen Pitre’s breakout season has officially reached its end.

The Houston Texans placed the third-year do-it-all defensive back on the injured reserve, thus ending his 2024 campaign.

Houston begins its three-game stretch in 11 days without two of its best defenders starting Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

“Losing a great player like Jalen is a blow,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. “But we feel confident in the guys that we can step up and make some plays.”

Pitre, who suffered a pectoral injury during the second quarter of Week 12’s loss against the Tennessee Titans, knew his season could be over entering the bye week but wanted a second opinion from medical experts. The testing confirmed that immediate surgery would be the best course moving forward.

Back at his natural nickel position, Pitre had transformed into one of the team’s most important defensive players. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans loved his aggressive play style against the run and often used him in the box to blitz.

“Being around the ball, causing interceptions, forcing fumbles, he’s just been a really active, a very instinctive player for us,” Ryans said earlier this month. “He’s been all over the field, and he’s made a lot of plays for us.

In 12 games, Pitre totaled 65 tackles, six tackles for loss, an interception and a career-high eight pass deflections.

Pitre’s loss is a blow, but so is the departure of Azeez Al-Shaair. The middle linebacker is serving a three-game ban for his late hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and will not return to the lineup until Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

The good news? Houston is expected to have back Christian Harris, who was cleared to practice earlier this week. Harris, who finished with 101 tackles in 2023, missed the first 14 games due to a lingering calf injury suffered in training camp.

Watch: Texans WR Andre Johnson arrives at Pro Football Hall of Fame

Andre Johnson has officially touched down in Canton, Ohio in preparation for the Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend.

Andre Johnson has officially touched down in Canton, Ohio.

Johnson, the first major star in Houston Texans’ history, is ready to have his bust cemented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy well beyond his time at NRG Stadium.

The former Pro Bowl receiver sent a message to fans, thanking them for the kind words before Saturday’s enshrinement.

“I’m super excited,” Johnson said. “I got a chance to see some fans earlier, sign some autographs. I can’t wait until Saturday to give my speech. Thank you guys. See you tonight at the game.”

Johnson, the Texans’ all-time leader in every receiving category, waited years for this moment to arrive. It’s fitting that as Houston looks poised to begin a new era of winning behind C.J. Stroud, it’ll see a Hall of Famer represent the franchise forever in Canton.

Drafted No. 3 overall out of Miami in 2003, Johnson spent 12 seasons with the Texans, helping the franchise not only make the playoffs for the first time but also win its first-ever postseason game.

Over his dozen seasons with the Texans, Johnson caught 1,012 passes for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also posted an NFL record 21 games of at least ten catches for over 100 yards in 14 seasons.

Johnson, plus the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame class, will be inducted at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. Coverage will be televised on ESPN.

Texans to host joint practice with Los Angeles Rams during training camp

The Houston Texans will host a joint practice with the Los Angeles, providing the offense and defense an opportunity to improve.

The Houston Texans will get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the league’s top offensive minds this August. 

According to The Athetlic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, the Los Angeles Rams and Texans will hold a joint practice on Thursday, August 22 in Houston at NRG Stadium prior to the final preseason game on August 24. 

Los Angeles bounced back from an injury-riddled 5-12 season in 2022 to make the playoffs last season. In a revenge game for Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions secured the win at Ford Field during the wild-card round. 

Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s return and rookie wideout Puka Nacua’s emergence helped the Rams offense go from 27th in points and 32nd in yards in 2022 to 8th in points and 7th in yards. Head coach and offensive play caller Sean McVay also played a pivotal role in the return to the postseason. 

The Texans will benefit from practicing on both and playing against a McVay-led roster heading into what hopes to be another prominent season behind Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. 

Los Angeles ranked among the league’s upper half in every major offensive category, with the run game ranking as one of the league’s most effective. The Rams did so primarily out of three wide receiver sets.

 

Stroud, the Texans’ main x-factor in 2023 to secure a postseason berth, will also spend the day with the Rams Super Bowl-winning signal caller. Stroud praised Stafford while appearing on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast.

Stafford played 15 seasons in the NFL and has seen every type of defensive formation thrown his way. Entering his second season, Stroud will likely see an uptick in new formations to trick him now with film on him. 

The practice could also be somewhat of a dress rehearsal for second-round pick Kamari Lassiter. Ideally, the Texans thought he would play on the inside, but his strong showing during minicamp on the outside generated buzz that he’ll stick as the No. 2 corner.

Few pass-catchers will point out flaws in a young defensive backs game like former Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp.

 

Houston has plenty of pass-rushing talent after signing Denico Autry and Danielle Hunter to play alongside Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

The three-hour event should be another exceptional game of chess between McVay and Ryans. The two went toe-to-toe against one another for two seasons when Ryans served as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator prior to his return to Hpuswho spent two years battling in the NFC West when Ryans was with the 49ers, with how the Texans deploy pressure.

Which Texans free agent CB signing has the upper hand?

The Houston Texans signed two former first-round cornerbacks in free agency. Which one has the inside track to be the starter?

The Houston Texans’ voluntary OTAs began Monday, providing the front office and coaching staff the first opportunity to see the offseason acquisitions.

After its surprising 10-7 finish to last year, Houston aggressively upgraded its roster, signing a league-high 26 free agents, including former first-round cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson.

Okudah and Henderson, along with second-round pick Kamari Lassiter, will vie for the starting outside spot opposite rising star Derek Stingley Jr.

Right now it feels like Lassiter, the No. 42 pick out of Georgia, is competing with Desmond King for starting reps in the nickel, meaning Okudah and Henderson will battle it out on the edge.

Does one of the former top-10 picks have the upper hand?

The case for Okudah

After three rocky seasons in Detroit, the Lions shipped him off to Atlanta before the start of the 2023 season. Okudah played in 12 games, starting nine and putting together arguably his best campaign since coming out of Ohio State. 

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Okudah physically fits the mold of Texans head coach and defensive play caller DeMeco Ryans’ vision for an outside cornerback. After Tuesday’s practice, Ryans described Okudah and Henderson as “elite movers.”

In Atlanta’s Week 9 matchup with Minnesota, Okudah (No. 1) is beaten inside by alignment yet has the speed to stick with rookie Jordan Addison throughout his crossing route. He displays an uptick in ball skills by deflecting the pass at the last second for an incompletion. 

The Falcons were heavily a man-based coverage unit, which fits Okudah’s skill set. He’s a sticky defender, especially in press situations. 

Here, Okudah is matched up with Washington’s Terry McLaurin in a late-down scenario. He does a nice job delivering a jab with his inside arm to get contact with McLaurin. The two engage in some hand fighting before McLaurin cuts toward the first-down marker.

Okudah’s length and acceleration allow him to recover and get the defense off the field. 

Another benefit of Okudah is his willingness and ability to tackle. Last season, he posted a 6.7% missed tackle rate, ranking in the top 20 among cornerbacks in the NFL. Having defensive backs willing to lay their bodies down for a stop is crucial, especially after the NFL banned the hip-drop tackle this offseason. 

Play recognition was a positive in Okudah’s game too, as evident on this screen against the Titans. He quickly breaks on the receiver once he realizes it’s a screen, not allowing any potential blockers to get their hands on him before finishing the play against tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo.

The Case for Henderson

The Jaguars took Henderson ninth overall in the 2020 draft out of Florida but traded him just a year and a half into his tenure. He spent the last two-plus seasons with the Panthers, starting 22 games both in the nickel and on the perimeter.

Four years into his career, Henderson’s results have been mixed. The Panthers played more zone coverage in 2023 under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero than they had in Henderson’s first two years with the team, potentially leading to regression. 

From Week 2 to Week 9, Henderson served as the outside cornerback, allowing 11 receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. Henderson played zone coverage on 67.6% of snaps, just slightly higher than Stingley’s rate a year ago.

Henderson is responsible for the wide side of the field and shows solid closing speed, making it a heavily contested catch for Noah Brown. C.J. Stroud delivered a perfect ball, but Henderson displayed his ability to recognize routes underneath and break.

Like Okudah, Henderson is 6-1 and weighs over 200 pounds, but he’s more compact. While Henderson played a lot of zone coverage last season, he came into the NFL profiling as a man cornerback. 

Henderson mirrors and matches Sehawks’ DK Metcalf’s pitter-patter off the line of scrimmage and then beats the physical receiver to his spot on the inside.

The physical coverage throws Metcalf off, and he settles for a noncompetitive curl route in favor of Henderson. 

Henderson gets in trouble when matching receivers down the field, especially in zone coverage. He is overly reliant on his athleticism to carry him in matchups, occasionally leading to him getting beat deep.

Regardless, Henderson’s fluidity in coverage at his size makes him worth a flier on a one-year deal. 

The Verdict

Barring any other veteran cornerback signings, Okudah will — and should — start Week 1. Houston has a higher financial commitment in Okudah, albeit $2.7 million, and his film is much cleaner.

The decision to bring in two players lauded for their man coverage skills is interesting. Since he started play calling in 2021 with San Francisco, Ryans’ most used coverages are Cover-3 and Cover-4.

Stingley can hold up in man coverage, suggesting a potential uptick in man defense in the upcoming season. 

Texans sign rookie RB Jawhar Jordan

Former Louisville running back and sixth round pick Jawhar Jordan agreed to his rookie contract with the Houston Texans on Thursday

Before the Houston Texans begin their two-day rookie minicamp, six of their nine players selected in last month’s draft have agreed to their rookie contracts, including their speedy tailback 

The Texans and running back Jawhar Jordan agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $4.185 million that includes a $165,436 signing bonus, according to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson. Jordan, the No.205 pick, should compete for resp on special teams and serve as the No. 3 rusher entering training camp. 

Jordan, 24, started his college career at Syracuse University before transferring to Louisville for the final three years. In the last two seasons, he had 323 rushing attempts for 1,943 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jordan’s 13 rushing touchdowns last year led the ACC.

The versatile back joins a room composed of Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Gerrid Doaks. 

“I think my game is versatile. I’m a strong runner. I see the holes well. I’ve got speed, too, and a little bit of wiggle. Once I get the ball in my hand, I’m a threat,” Jordan said after being drafted. 

Houston’s run game lacked explosiveness a year ago, with its longest rush being 24 yards. At 5-foot-9 and 193 pounds, Jordan provides a change of pace from the bruising running styles of Mixon and Pierce.

Jordan had 15 rushes for 15 yards or more yards in his final year at Louisville.

“We really like the juice that he has out of the backfield,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Think he can make plays with tremendous speed. We’re looking to add some speed to our backfield. We think he provides that for us. He also provides some special teams value, as well, as a returner. Really excited about the role that he’s shown that he was able to do at Louisville, and excited about seeing him come in and compete here.””

Texans sign rookie LB Jamal Hill

The Houston Texans agreed to terms with rookie linebacker Jamal Hill, who was selected with the 188th pick in last month’s NFL Draft

The Houston Texans have stayed busy before minicamp kicks off on Friday, ironing out rookie deals with the 2024 draft class, including one of their two sixth-round draft picks.

The Texans and former Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill reached an agreement on his rookie deal, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. Hill’s contract is around $4.21 million for four years, with a $ 189,392 signing bonus. 

Hill, the 188th pick, is expected to make significant contributions on special teams while honing his skills as a linebacker. It’s worth noting that he transitioned from safety to linebacker ahead of his senior season, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. 

 

“I’ll do whatever they want me to do on special teams,” Hill said after being drafted. “I think that will be my path my first few years in the NFL. I’m just happy. I’m overwhelmed. I’m happy to be a Texan. The best part of my game is running and attacking.”

Hill, 23, started seven games for the Ducks last season, recording 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two sacks. For his career, he totaled 145 tackles, 15 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hill ran a 4.41 40-time at his pro day, which would have been the fastest among linebackers at the NFL combine. He missed only 6.9% of tackles last season, suggesting he’ll be a reliable special teams option for coordinator Frank Ross.

While Hill has experience as a safety, the Texans believe his future is at the linebacker position. 

“They sold me on the vision of playing linebacker and how I can help my team and NFL teams in the future,” Hill said. 

Should Texans Trade For Saints Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore?

In a recent article Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay mocked the Texans acquiring Marshon Lattimore, but is it a move they should consider?

The Houston Texans have been one of the league’s more active teams this offseason as they prepare to build off last year’s surprise playoff run. 

Even after landing Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with its first selection in last month’s draft, cornerback remains a position of need. And with the Texans following the “all-in” persona, perhaps they’re willing to part with another mid-round pick for a high-profile prospect.

In the latest article Bleacher Report, Alex Kay positioned a trade that would send four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to Houston in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Lattimore, 27, could come with a lower trade value since the Saints are up against the salary cap. New Orleans will be a league-high $72.8 million over the cap in 2025 due to its refusal to rebuild since the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterbak Drew Brees. 

The Saints have been in a comparable spot for years but always got under the salary threshold by trading some of their highest earners and Lattimore fits the description. He’s slated to make $14.6 million in 2024 before the per-year price jumps to $31.4 million in 2025 and $28.6 million in the final year of the deal. 

Moving on from Lattimore seems more reasonable after the New Oreleans selection of Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2. The Alabama product has the tools to be a day-one starter, making Lattimore flexible to ship elsewhere. 

Houston continues to be in the market for veteran talent as it tries to put together a deep playoff run while franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud remains on his rookie contract. 

Below is why the Texans should and should not trade for Lattimore. 

Why The Texans Should Make A Trade

Since being selected with the 11th pick in the 2017 draft, Lattimore has been one of the league’s best defensive backs. In seven seasons, he’s had 15 interceptions along with 86  defelcted passes and two defensive touchdowns.

Houston has spent the offseason throwing several darts at the position, hoping one sticks opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. During free agency, the

Texans took chances on one-year deals with former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. In the draft, they took Lassiter, who has experience both in the slot and on the boundary. 

Lattimore would immedietly start opposite the third-year Stingley while Lassiter settled into the NFL. Lassiter likely would compete with veteran Desmond King for first-team reps at the nickel.  

Houston’s already made multiple win-now moves throughout the offseason as it prepares for a first-place schedule after winning the AFC South. Next season, the Texans face seven teams ranked in the top 10 for passing yards from a year ago.

And keep in mind that the Bears just added No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Jets welcome back Aaron Rodgers in their hunt for a postseason berth. 

While the Texans had an above-average defensive unit a year ago, their pass coverage numbers were underwhelming. Opponents averaged the sixth-highest (6.5) net yards gained per pass attempt against Houston’s secondary last season. Houston’s upgraded its pass rush, but adding Lattimore would take the defense from the middle of the pack to the upper echelon. 

Lattimore might be a veteran, but he’s still in his prime entering Year 8. His addition would bring a veteran presence to a young but prosperous defensive back room. 

Why The Texans Should Not Make A Trade

Despite still having $23 million in 2024 cap space and a projected $46 million next offseason, Houston needs to plan beyond this fall when discussing extensions to players who prospered a season ago. 

Nico Collins is in the last year of his deals and will command a significant pay raise. So will Stefon Diggs, whom Houston traded a 2025 second-round pick for to Buffalo earlier this offseason. Even after voiding the final three years of his contract, the four-time Pro Bowl target remains in talks toward a new deal. 

Christian Harris, Denico Autry and Jalen Pitre will be free agents entering 2026. So could Stingely and fellow former first-round pick Kenyon Green if GM Nick Caserio elects to pass on picking up their fifth-year options. 

In 2026, four of Houston’s anticipated offensive line starters, including All-Pro Laremy Tunsil, will hit the market.

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and Stroud’s second contracts will likely be near the top of their position group if they continue their trajectory toward stardom. 

More to the point, acquiring Lattimore is an immediate splash move, but it also impairs Houston’s spending limits in the future.

Injuries have also limited Lattimore to playing in half of the Saints’ games the past two seasons, making him a risky option with a significant hit against his team’s salary cap. 

 

The same injuries have hurt Lattimore’s versatility in coverage. When Lattimore has been in coverage the past two seasons, the opposing receiver’s average yards per reception is 11.3, the lowest mark of his career. 

New Orleans is no longer asking Lattimore to carry receivers downfield. Instead, it’s transitioned him to playing more underneath coverage. It’s hard to imagine the Texans wanting to bring in an oft-injured, expensive, scheme-dependent cornerback rather than find a cheap stop plug.

Caserio has also done well in this area in recent years, gaining quality play from veteran options such as King and Steven Nelson, who could return on another short-term deal. 

Should Texans extend Nico Collins before 2024 season begins?

With Nico Collins entering the final year of his rookie contract, and annual salaries rising, The Houston Texans should extend him now.

NFL free agency started over a month ago, and the NFL draft happened last week, leaving fans to wait for rookie minicamp and offseason training activities to start.

Now enters one of the quietest times of the year for fans, but it doesn’t mean teams aren’t working hard behind the scenes to improve their rosters.

The Houston Texans are in a good spot after an extremely active offseason. Houston filled several holes in free agency and through offseason trades, bolstering its roster to compete with the elite teams in the AFC for years to come.

There’s more work to do, and with $23.6 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, the Texans have plenty of ammunition to secure deals. But what about taking care of one of their own?

Wide receiver Nico Collins is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because he was not a first-round pick, he cannot receive a fifth-year option.

Houston’s options are either to make him a deal, put him on the franchise tag after the season, or watch him walk in free agency.

Collins had a breakout third season, totaling 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns while becoming quarterback C.J. Stroud’s primary target. The former third-round pick is in line for a cushy new contract that reflects his level of play.

On “The Athletic Football Show“, co-hosts Nate Tice and Robert Mays argued that Houston should look to make a deal sooner rather than later. So what’s the holdup?

 

Injuries, inadequate quarterback play, and an overall bad environment for a young wide receiver hurt Collins in his first two seasons. The results were 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns across 24 games. 

Houston may want to see another year of production before they hand out wide receiver one money to Collins. The acquisition of former All-Pro Stefon Diggs adds to the target competition, so how Collins plays alongside a fellow upper-echelon wideout may factor into its decision.

However, it’s a dangerous game to wait and see. Around the league, teams are locking up their young receivers, with Indianapolis signing Michael Pittman Jr. to a three-year deal worth $70 million, including a $46 million total guarantee, and Philadelphia inking Devonta Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract.

Neither Pittman nor Smith reached Collins’ level in 2023, though both have been sturdy options in their respective passing games, hence why Tice and Mays argue the Texans should get the deal done now before the asking price expands to top-10 status next offseason. 

“He (Collins) looks like a top-10 guy now, and I would give him Devonta Smith pay, so he plays like A.J. Brown,” Mays said.

Smith’s $25 million annual salary serves as a good benchmark for a potential Collins extension. However, as more time passes, more teams iron out deals. 

The Lions inked Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million contract – the largest annual average for a receiver until Brown’s three-year, $96 million extension –  on Apr. 24. St. Brown’s contract includes $77 million in guarantees the second most behind Brown’s monster deal which guarantees him $84 million. 

Star receivers like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase are awaiting new deals, and both will likely reset the market by this time next offseason. 

The price tag for receivers — more specifically leading targets — only continues to grow. In 2019, Julio Jones’ three-year, $66 million was the largest extension. Today, Jones’ 22 million salary would rank lower than  Diggs’ $22.5 million pay, which currently is the 12th highest-ranked contract among receivers, according to Spotrac. 

While the logic of waiting another year and making Collins prove he’s elite holds some merit, what if he takes another step in Year 4?

In games featuring Tank Dell, Collins posted 50 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Over 17 games, the average comes out to 85 catches, 1,360 yards, and eight touchdowns. 

Diggs’ arrival only takes more attention off of Collins. An improved run game and better health along the offensive line bodes well for the offense as a whole and for Collins to raise his efficiency level, which was top five in nearly every metric last season.

Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth-best receiver last year, and he finished top in yards after catch per reception and yards per route run. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio hasn’t been keen on giving lucrative contracts. In three years, the largest contract he’s dished out was to All-Pro Laremy Tunsil worth $75 million over three years. 

It would make sense for Collins’ deal to be in a similar range. A three-year extension would come off the books right as Stroud enters his sixth season, which, if the Texans use the fifth-year option, would be the first year of his perceived monster deal. 

Nobody expected Collins to be a number one option heading into last season, but now it’s clear he can be for years.

The clock is ticking for Caserio and company to complete a deal. 

Watch: Highlights of new Texans OT Blake Fisher

The Houston Texans acquired what some believe has the potential to be the best tackle prospect in the NFL Draft with the 59th pick

The Texans selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher with the No. 59 overall pick of the second round in the 2024 NFL draft on Friday evening.

Fisher, 21, is a proven standout, totaling 27 starts at Notre Dame, 26 of which came at right tackle. He made program history by becoming the first true freshman in Notre Dame history to start at left tackle in 2021.

Fisher was a teammate of current Texans offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson while at Notre Dame and remains close friends with him after his departure from South Bend. 

There’s a high ceiling with Fisher and versatility to move him around. He can start at either side of the line and said he’s willing to shift inside to guard if asked.  At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Fisher is a fluid mover. He posted the fourth-highest broad jump at 9 foot, 6 inches during the NFL Combine.

With five starters likely set for the start of the season, there’s no rush to put Fisher in. He’ll have the opportunity to sit and learn behind two talented tackles, Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.

Plus, investing in the guys protecting a franchise quarterback never hurts. 

“My game is dominant,” Fisher said to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson

‘Top tier destination’: Texans legend J.J. Watt is a fan of Stefon Diggs trade

J.J. Watt has been pleased with the future of the Houston Texans over the past two offseasons.

J.J. Watt served as the final piece of the turning of times at NRG Stadium when the Houston Texans selected him 11th overall in 2011. Prior to his arrival, Houston had only one winning season.

Perhaps the arrival of Offensive Rookie of the Year and wunderkind C.J. Stroud sends a second wind through the franchise that ends with a Lombardi Trophy. Regardless, Watt is excited to see what unfolds in the Texans’ future.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year took to Twitter on Wednesday following the Stefon Diggs trade, praising the AFC South franchise for its two-year turnaround. Last season, Houston added Stroud, along with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and former Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans as head coach.

A year later, the Texans added Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, Diggs and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.

The Texans were looking to build off their first double-digit win season in four years and saw the opportunity to splurge with Stroud still on his rookie contract. After failing to sign a premier running back at the start of free agency, general manager Nick Caserio traded a seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Mixon.

Mixon, who will turn 28 in July, is coming off another 1,000-yard rushing season and has shown no signs of slowing down. The Texans believe his best years are still ahead and plan to use him as their bell-cow back after agreeing to terms on a three-year extension worth $27 million.

“I’m not thinking about a drop-off,” Ryans said of Mixon at the owners meetings last week. “I’m thinking about the positives and the things that [he’s] done in his career. He’s been consistent throughout his entire career — a guy who can move the chains for you, a guy who can open up the passing game with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He just opens up the things that we can do offensively.”

Defensively, the addition of Hunter should be considered an upgrade — on paper at least — over the departed Jonathan Greenard. He’s coming off a career-high 16.5-sack season with the Minnesota Vikings and led the league with 23 tackles for loss.

Signed to a two-year deal worth up to $51 million, Hunter looks to become the first Texans player since Watt to record back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns on Houston’s defense. He also will serve as a teacher and confidant for Anderson, who broke Watt’s rookie sack record this past fall.

“He’s exciting,” Hunter said of Anderson during his introductory press conference last month. “Has a lot of tools. I was with him earlier, and he just can’t stop jumping, how eager he is to go out there and rush the passer together. Very good kid. I’m excited just to be able to go out there and teach him a lot of things that I know and become a better player.

One of the greatest defensive linemen of the 2000s, Watt guided Houston to five playoff appearances in 10 years. On top of winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards, Watt also recorded 101 of his 113 career sacks as a member of the AFC South franchise.

Watt was the second player added to Houston’s Ring of Honor this offseason, joining Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson. He’ll join Johnson in Canton, Ohio, when eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028.