On Friday, the Arizona Cardinals ended Terrell Suggs’ homecoming.
The Redbirds released the Arizona native 13 games into his first season with the team. The Texans would have to put in a waiver claim and wait until Monday to see if anyone ahead of them on the waiver priority has also claimed him. Currently, Houston is near the bottom of waiver priority, as it is determined by record, and the Texans are a game away from a winning season.
Suggs, 37, is best known for his days with the Baltimore Ravens. In 16 seasons at B-More, the pass rusher racked up seven Pro Bowl appearances, a 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, an All-Pro nod and 132.5 sacks.
Suggs decided to forgo his 17th season in Baltimore to return home to Arizona. In his 13 games with the Cardinals, he remained to be a productive edge rusher, tallying 5.5 sacks, 37 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits in 638 defensive snaps.
In 2018, with the Ravens, Suggs tallied seven sacks, 34 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits in 16 starts.
According to Pro Football Reference, Suggs has recorded 14 pressures and five hurries on the 2019 season. Both digits are far cries from his production in 2018 when he compiled 37 pressures and 24 hurries with Baltimore.
Suggs’ numbers should pique the Texans’ interest. Without J.J. Watt (torn pectoral) and Jadeveon Clowney now in Seattle, Houston has struggled rushing the passer. They are 27th in sacks (26) and 31st in pressure rate (18.5%), per Pro Football Reference.
Theoretically, Suggs should improve that reeling pass rush in Houston. Though perhaps not an every-down player, he could rotate nicely with an outside linebacker group of Whitney Mercilus, Brennan Scarlett and Jacob Martin.
If the Texans were to luck into acquiring Suggs off of waivers, they would only owe him less than $3 million of his guaranteed contract via prorated bonuses, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
Bill O’Brien and the five-man general managing council showed boldness in trading draft picks for key veteran pieces. Now, with a playoff run impending, they should consider signing a proven pass rusher.