HOUSTON – As the NFL legal tampering window launches Monday before the official start of free agency Wednesday afternoon, the Texans aren’t poised to be big spenders in free agency.
Unlike last year when the Texans acquired Danielle Hunter, Joe Mixon, Azeez Al-Shaair and Stefon Diggs during an expensive offseason spending spree, the defending AFC South champions are expected to be selectively aggressive.
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It’s not only because of a tight salary-cap situation that the Texans won’t be the biggest spenders, but that’s a major reason why. Although the NFL salary cap is up to $279.2 million, the Texans have roughly $5.28 million in salary cap space available. That number accounts for restructured contracts for Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins’ salary-cap figure being down $9.8 million to $8.577 million and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair down to $5.259 million.
So, that doesn’t leave a ton of room to spend. The Texans can create more salary-cap space by reducing newly-acquired wide receiver Christian Kirk’s $16.235 million salary-cap figure or by addressing other players’ large cap numbers, including Laremy Tunsil ($28.85 million), Hunter ($23.7 million), Tytus Howard ($23.045 million) and Denico Autry ($10.294 million).
Texans general manager Nick Caserio alluded to the example of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and how they got a great bargain on Pro Bowl linebacker Zack Baun last season before rewarding him with a three-year, $51 million deal this offseason. The Texans may exercise greater fiscal discipline, especially with lots of big-ticket items on their negotiating window in the future, including an expected top-of-the-market deal for All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. this offseason. They do get $9 million in salary cap space later this offseason after designating offensive guard Shaq Mason as a post-June 1 release.
“I mean everyone can massage the salary cap and do what you will,” Caserio said during the NFL scouting combine. “At some point, I mean I’m not a math major but accounting, everything comes due at some point. It’s like our government. I know we’ve got a 40 trillion-dollar deficit, but, at some point, we’re probably going to have to pay for that. You can push everything out as long as you want to, but we look at the team building kind of in a two-year window.
“Alright, 2025-26, where are we and what can we do? It doesn’t mean that if we don’t win enough games in that two years then we’re going to blow everything up, so just try to be strategic and make good smart decisions along the way. You have to understand that you’re going to draft, you’re going to have young players. Okay, so you’re going to keep young players, so other players are going to have to roll off. So, what’s that balance? That’s kind of the game that everyone is playing. It’s a cat and mouse game. You have to bob and weave, and you have to be flexible and you have to be adaptable, so that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Only one NFL team hoists the Vince Lombardi trophy at the end of the season as the confetti falls to the ground.
Everyone else is chasing the Eagles and disappointed they didn’t win a championship.
The Texans are no different.
“Yeah, a lot of respect for the Eagles organization,” Caserio said. “I think the big thing is just every step of the way, just trying to take advantage of your opportunity from a team building perspective. There is no one size fits all formula. We feel like we have a decent team and put ourselves in position each year, last season as well. Other than the Minnesota and Baltimore game, we really had an opportunity to win each game, so what does that tell you? It tells you that we’ve done enough things, we just have to finish games and execute a little bit more consistently.
“If you just keep putting yourself in that position and keep knocking down the door, then eventually it’s going to cave in. We’ve been in the last eight the last two years, so what’s the next step? I don’t know. It’s just about trying to put together a good team. We’re trying to build a consistent program and be a consistent winner. We’ve got one of the best head coaches in the league. We’ve got one of the best quarterbacks in the league. We feel like we have some really good young players, so just try to continue to build and take advantage of our opportunities and be smart about it.”
Previewing #Texans free agency and discussing impact of Christian Kirk addition @KPRC2 Sports Sunday @KPRC2RandyMc @GallantSays #NFL #NFLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/q2ZI97kkv4
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 10, 2025
With that thought in mind, here are some updates on how the Texans could maneuver in free agency:
1. Offensive line
The Texans allowed quarterback C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season before he was sacked eight times and hit 14 times overall in an AFC divisional playoff round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
They fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and offensive line coach Chris Strausser, replacing them with Nick Caley and Cole Popovich.
Now, they need to overhaul the blockers. Especially the interior offensive line.
It would be an expensive endeavor to sign a Will Fries, the top-rated guard on the market, or Teven Jenkins, James Daniels and Aaron Banks. The Texans could likely afford an older proven veteran, though, like Kevin Zeitler, who had one of his highest graded seasons last year for the Detroit Lions or Jacksonville Jaguars lineman Brandon Scherff. Adding leadership qualities to the line could help mentor the younger players, too.
The Texans are in the market for a swing tackle, too.
2. Defensive line
There’s mutual interest in a potential reunion between the Texans and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, per league sources.
Rankins played last season for the Cincinnati Bengals and ended last season on the non-football illness list. He’s fully healthy now. The Texans were outbid by a few million dollars last year as Rankins left in free agency to join the Bengals. His asking price is expected to more in their range this year.
Update: The Texans agreed to terms with Rankins on a one-year, $7 million deal.
The Texans have had contract discussions with third defensive end Derek Barnett, per sources. Barnett returned two fumbles for touchdowns last season as a valuable rotational piece. If he doesn’t garner a hefty offer elsewhere, he could return to the Texans.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, released by the Washington Commanders, would be an excellent fit in coach DeMeco Ryans’ aggressive scheme. However, he could be paid a lot more by teams like the Arizona Cardinals or the Minnesota Vikings.
If the Texans add another defensive tackle in free agency to work in tandem with Tim Settle Jr., they’ll likely capitalize on a deep interior defensive line draft.
Foley Fatukasi, a starter last season, will have a delayed market due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery, per sources.
Mario Edwards Jr., who played well when he returned from a four-game NFL suspension, is expected to hit free agency.
3. Wide receiver
Diggs is making a sound recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is expected to have a healthy market as a free agent.
Having acquired Kirk, a classic slot wide receiver, via a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans don’t really have a need for Diggs and he is regarded as likely to sign elsewhere for more than Houston would pay.
The Texans are still expected to explore adding to the position, via free agency, or the draft where there’s a lot of promising players available, including Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Free agents that could possibly fall into the Texans’ price range could include Demarcus Robinson, Mack Hollins, Josh Palmer, Dyami Brown and Darius Slayton. Cooper Kupp and Keenan Allen are older, pricey players. The Texans did try to trade for Allen last year, making an offer to the Los Angeles Chargers, before he was dealt to the Chicago Bears.
Wide receiver Robert Woods told KPRC 2 he’s interested in re-signing with the Texans and the door is not closed on his potential return, per a league source.
4. Defensive back
The Texans’ ultra-talented secondary is absolutely loaded with young talent, especially Stingley, cornerback Kamari Lassiter, safety Calen Bullock and nickel Jalen Pitre.
They’re all under contract along with veteran safety Jimmie Ward.
Eric Murray is a free agent and he and the Texans are expected to maintain dialogue, per sources, about having him back. Murray is interested, but it will come down to price. He recorded 75 tackles during the regular season and returned an interception for a touchdown in a playoff win over the Chargers.
Ward is under contract, but the Texans are concerned about his durability.
Adding another safety, perhaps Jaguars free agent Andre Cisco on a short-term, prove-it deal is an attractive scenario.
Backup nickel Myles Bryant is a free agent and the Texans like what he did in spot action on defense last season. He’s also adept at special teams, as is free agent safety M.J. Stewart. Either player returning or both wouldn’t be a surprise.
5. Restricted free agents/others
The Texans don’t plan to issue tenders to any of their restricted free agents, including tight ends Teagan Quitoriano and Dalton Keene, linebacker Jake Hansen, defensive tackle Kurt Hinish and offensive lineman Zach Thomas, per league sources.
At least three of those players are expected to return on deals below the $3.263 million tenders.
That includes Hinish, who signed a one-year, $2.35 million maximum value deal with a base value of $1.8 million, Hansen and Thomas, per sources. with active discussions about bringing back Hansen and Thomas as solid depth pieces.
The Texans are interested in re-signing backup linebacker and special-teams ace Neville Hewitt, and it’s a mutual interest, per a source. No deal is imminent at this time. It’s a similar outlook for reserve linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips and cornerback Jeff Okudah. At this point, all three of those veteran players are headed to free agency along with Stewart and unsigned former Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Weeks.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
