Defensive end Jonathan Greenard is the most interesting internal free agent case for the Houston Texans.
The productive edge rusher formed a formidable duo with NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. in 2023 and finished with a team-high and career-beats 12.5 sacks. However, Greenard will be on the open market unless the team can re-sign him before free agency begins. Considering how well Greenard played, he could command at least $13 million per year.
With all of these considerations, long-time Texans reporter John McClain posted on his social media account that he doesn’t think Houston general manager Nick Caserio will shell out the requisite cash to keep Greenard. Instead, McClain wrote that the Texans will use the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Greenard’s replacement.
I think the Texans will lose DE Jonathan Greenard in free agency and replace him with the 23rd pick by selecting an edge rusher.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 5, 2024
McClain went on to name draft prospects like UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, Missouri edge rusher Darius Robinson, Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton and Texas defensive tackle Brian Murphy II. as possible players the Texans could take with the No. 23 overall pick. Most of these players have been linked to the team in various mock drafts already, but Houston will have to wait and see how the board falls before it makes a decision.
Not paying for Greenard would be a shrewd decision by Caserio, but one that would make sense given the other areas of need on the team – especially on the defensive side. Safety and cornerback are positions which could be addressed in free agency as well, and Caserio has been known to look at inexpensive alternatives rather than breaking the bank for a player.