Tag: Texans free agency

Get to know Devin Singletary: Another ‘Motor’ to the Texans’ offense

Find out more about the “Motor” the Houston Texans added to their backfield with Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary.

Devin Singletary earned the nickname “Motor” with the Buffalo Bills, and the running back could provide the same drive for the Houston Texans’ offense.

There is no doubt the Texans found success on the ground last year with rookie Dameon Pierce, who earned the “Angriest Run of the Year” for his efforts. However, there wasn’t hardly any depth behind Pierce, and it showed in the four final games the fourth-rounder was on injured reserve.

Enter Singletary, who is a conscious attempt to upgrade the running back stable.

Nick Wojton from the Bills Wire stopped by to provide a feel for Singletary’s game. Here is what the former 2019 third-round pick could bring to the Texans’ backfield.

Get to know Andrew Beck: The Texans’ answer to Kyle Juszczyk?

The Houston Texans’ signing of tight end-fullback Andrew Beck may give new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik his very own Kyle Juszczyk.

In serious need of more offensive talent after their dreadful 2022 campaign, the Houston Texans searched far and wide for the best free agents that could bolster the unit next season.

Enter former Denver Broncos tight end-fullback Andrew Beck, who may prove to be one of the team’s most versatile offensive assets in 2023 after making a name for himself as a gritty blocker in the Centennial State.

Broncos Wire editor Jon Heath detailed Beck’s highs and lows from his 51-game tenure with the Broncos from 2019-22. Here is why Beck could play a pivotal role in new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s scheme.

Get to know Mike Boone: How the Broncos RB can mesh with Texans’ offense

What can the Houston Texans expect from former Denver Broncos RB Mike Boone? @byjonheath from @thebroncoswire provided valuable insight.

The Houston Texans are in the midst of a completing a rebuild.

Part of the job is gathering the materials to pull it off, namely free agents on short-term deals.

Among the Texans’ most surprising signings was veteran running back Mike Boone, who spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos as valuable depth in their backfield.

Broncos Wire managing Jon Heath provided insight as to how Boone might be able to help out in new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense. Here is a look at a different perspective on the Boone signing.

Get to know Hassan Ridgeway: How the run-stuffing DT can help the Texans

The Houston Texans signed former San Francisco 49ers DT Hassan Ridgeway. @KyleAMadson from @TheNinersWire explains what help Ridgeway could provide.

The Houston Texans secured themselves a dominant defensive line presence when they signed Hassan Ridgeway in free agency.

The former Mansfield High School product is coming back to the Lone Star State, but established himself as a space eater in run defense. At 6-3, 305 pounds, Ridgeway could prove to be one of the Texans’ best free agent acquisitions.

Kyle Madson, managing editor of the Niners Wire, stopped by to lend insight as to what the dynamic defensive tackle might bring to the table in 2023.

Texans’ signing of Case Keenum ranked 10th-best QB move of the offseason

The Houston Texans’ signing of Case Keenum has earned praise as the 10th-best quarterback signing of free agency.

The Houston Texans already acquired a quarterback in the 2023 offseason.

As part of the opening of the new league year and free agency, the Texans signed Case Keenum to be the backup for their incoming rookie quarterback. The 2023 NFL draft will sort out the details of who exactly that signal caller will be.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the Texans’ two-year deal with Keenum is considered the 10th-best quarterback move of the offseason.

It’s a backup match made in heaven: A Texas native now on his third stint with the team, Keenum is an underrated off-script mentor whose experience in all kinds of systems — he’s started for six different clubs — should be instrumental to whichever top prospect Houston selects early in April’s draft.

Of course, Benjamin listed 15 quarterback transactions in all. Nevertheless the move was one that met the needs of where the Texans were at to start free agency. Houston wasn’t going to be big players for former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr or former San Francisco 49ers signal caller Jimmy Garoppolo. Houston is still in the midst of a rebuild, and adding that type of veteran talent could trap the Texans in a state of suspended mediocrity.

Not only does Keenum have experience with a variety of systems, but he has been a part of the Texans’ glory years. Although the former Houston Cougar was merely an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Texans in 2012 and was stashed on the practice, he was in the locker room at NRG Stadium when Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Arian Foster, Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, and Duane Brown were vocal leaders and leaders by example for the organization.

As long as Keenum isn’t playing for the Texans in any significant capacity, he makes for a good backup.

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Texans’ focus under DeMeco Ryans is to fortify the trenches

The aim for the Houston Texans with the arrival of new coach DeMeco Ryans is upgrading the offensive and defensive lines.

As a defensive-minded coach, DeMeco Ryans understands the importance of the play in the trenches.

Ryans earned the 2022 NFL assistant coach of the year honors thanks to his work as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive end Nick Bosa and the 49ers defensive line helped make Ryans look fabulous as a coordinator as San Francisco smothered opposing offenses with 3.4 yards per carry, tied for the lowest in NFL, and gave up 5.0 yards per play, tied for third most in the league.

Ryans also bore witness to the 49ers offense with 4.7 yards per carried, tied for the eighth-most in the NFL, and tied for fourth-most in the league with 5.9 yards per play.

If the Texans want to follow the San Francisco model, it will have to start upfront on both sides of the ball.

“The O-line, D-line, as I talked about earlier, that’s the important piece to building a football team,” Ryans told reporters March 27 at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. “You have to build it from inside out, and to add interior defensive linemen, to add really good offensive linemen to our team, that’s going to be vital to us moving forward and being successful. That’s where it all starts.”

The Texans have done what they can through the first wave of free agency as they signed former 49ers defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and former New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Houston even traded for Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Shaq Mason to beef up the offensive line, which already boasts three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil along with 2019 first-round tackle Tytus Howard and 2022 first-round guard Kenyon Green.

“If we can’t play well up front, we’re not going to be a good football team,” said Ryans. “We want to continue to add up front as much as we can on the defensive end, offensive side, add as much depth as we can, because you lose those guys at times, so you have to have enough depth, you have to be able to rotate guys on the defensive side, and you have to have solid guys in the offensive line that you can count on and that can run the ball behind those guys and they can also protect.”

Last season, the Texans were the fourth-worst in the NFL defending the run at 5.1 yards per carry. Houston also was the second-worst in the NFL running the football at 3.7 yards per carry.

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Texans considered ‘most improved’ team in free agency

The Houston Texans are considered to be the “most improved” team in free agency after the first wave.

The Houston Texans made a flurry of moves in free agency as general manager Nick Caserio seeks to cap off the rebuild.

With the Texans making their way through the first wave of free agency, all that remains to be filled on the roster is quarterback, receiver, edge defender, and arguably center.

According to Will Brinson from CBS Sports, the Texans are the “most improved” team to come out of free agency.

Surprise. When we talk about “biggest improvement” we need to remember this isn’t “who got the best players” it’s “who improved the most.” And I think you can squint at the Texans — particularly with their No. 2 overall pick and a QB likely coming — and see a team capable of winning 8+ games if everything breaks right. Adding Noah Brown, Dalton Schultz and Robert Woods (elite blocker, by the way) in the pass game, bringing back Laremy Tunsil and scooping the underrated Devin Singletary to pair with Dameon Pierce … this offense is interesting if they hit on the QB or Davis Mills surprises (don’t write him off yet). Defensively they piled up veterans and if you believe in DeMeco Ryans, it’s reasonable to think this team is a sneaky division contender. 

Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on March 20 that the Texans will continue to evaluate players.

“We’ll continue to evaluate players throughout the course of the league, and if there is an opportunity out there that makes sense, then we’ll certainly consider it, which is what we have done here kind of on a yearly basis,” Caserio said.

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Texans sign former Steelers receiver Steven Sims

The Houston Texans have signed former Washington and Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Steven Sims to a one-year contract.

The Houston Texans have added more receiver depth and a kick returner to their veteran laden roster.

Houston signed former Washington and Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Steven Sims to a one-year contract Friday.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the deal has a maximum value of $1.7 million with a $1.5 million base value. $500,000 of that base value is guaranteed.

Sims played in only one game for the Steelers in 2021. The bulk of his work was in 2022 when he recorded 14 catches for 104 yards and carried 13 times for 70 yards. He also averaged 25.5 yards per kickoff return with 5.5 yards per punt return.

While with Washington from 2019-20, Sims averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return and even scored a touchdown during his 28 games. Sims averaged 6.2 yards per punt return, and caught 61 passes for 575 yards and five touchdowns through 28 games, four of which he started.

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Breaking down the Texans’ one-year contract with C Michael Deiter

Here is a look at the Houston Texans’ one-year contract with center Michael Deiter.

The Houston Texans have shored up their center depth with Michael Deiter.

The former Miami Dolphins 2019 third-rounder started 23 of 57 games for the AFC East club during his four seasons in South Beach.

Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV obtained details of the contract. Deiter signed a one-year deal worth $1.23 million with a $125,000.

Deiter has a base salary of $1.08 million with a $550,000 split salary. Deiter can earn a $27,500 workout bonus with a $1.08 million base salary veteran benefit. Deiter will count $1.092 million against the salary cap.

The former Wisconsin product joins Scott Quessenberry as the only other center on the Texans’ roster. Quessenberry signed a one-year deal to return to Houston.

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Ogbonnia Okoronkwo considered the Texans’ biggest loss in free agency

The Houston Texans’ allowing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to walk is considered to be their biggest free agency loss.

The Houston Texans have done well to acquire free agent talent.

The Texans fortified their offensive line trading for guard Shaq Mason, added key linebackers with Cory Littleton and Denzel Perryman, provided a lieutenant from DeMeco Ryans’ San Francisco 49ers tenure with safety Jimmie Ward, and gave their new quarterback a target with Dalton Schultz.

According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, as well as the Texans have done in free agency, their best player they let get away was defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

It’s a bit puzzling as to why Houston didn’t do more to try to keep Okoronkwo, but perhaps they did and he just wanted to go elsewhere. After a slow start heading into the team’s Week 6 bye, Okoronkwo exploded out of the gate from Week 7 on, with his 88.5 pass-rush grade ranking sixth among edge defenders from that point on.

Okoronkwo’s 22.9% pass-rush win rate ranked seventh and his 17.5% pressure percentage ranked eighth among edge defenders over the same span, and he became a starter for the first time in his career in Week 11 without a drop-off in down-to-down efficiency. He may not be a 1,000-snap player, but the value of 500-700 snaps at this level is worth quite a bit, and Cleveland may have landed a steal here.

Defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire said on Dec. 15, 2022, that Okoronkwo brought “pure energy” to the unit.

“He’s energy, pure energy,” said Cesaire. “If you look at him, he’s always got a smile on his face. He loves the game. You can tell he really loves the game. The way he rushes, the way he attacks the line of scrimmage. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he’s got the biggest heart. He’s a guy that you trust and rely on each play.”

The Texans have significantly addressed all positions on the roster through the first wave of free agency, save for quarterback, receiver, and defensive end.

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