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Texans exclusive free agency news and rumors

beerlover said:
Where or How do the Browns fit within your parameters?

Jags and Titans made the playoffs.
Click to expand...
The Browns are an enigma to me. I do think they will be a much improved team now that they have a new general manager. The Jags and tAcks made the playoffs for the 1st time in years and they did that more through the draft than FA, especially the Jags. Look at how many times Jax has picked in the top 5 and how many defensive players they've drafted. Bouye certainly didn't take that team over the top. All those top defensive picks did.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/draft.htm
 
DocBar said:
And how many of those guys were big splash signings? BB is absolutely brilliant at getting the most out of players. Hogan, Amendola, Welker, etc. were not highly sought after FAs. Yes, they do occasionally make a splash signing but, by and large, it's a lot of under the radar guys that only become "really good" after spending time in NE.
Click to expand...

Cooks was, Gilmore and that's just last year. Randy Moss says hi
 
DocBar said:
The Browns are an enigma to me. I do think they will be a much improved team now that they have a new general manager. The Jags and tAcks made the playoffs for the 1st time in years and they did that more through the draft than FA, especially the Jags. Look at how many times Jax has picked in the top 5 and how many defensive players they've drafted. Bouye certainly didn't take that team over the top. All those top defensive picks did.
Click to expand...

The Jags added Boyoue, Campbell, Gibson last year. 30 per cent of their defense. They also added Pozlusny.
 
DocBar said:
The Browns are an enigma to me. I do think they will be a much improved team now that they have a new general manager. The Jags and tAcks made the playoffs for the 1st time in years and they did that more through the draft than FA, especially the Jags. Look at how many times Jax has picked in the top 5 and how many defensive players they've drafted. Bouye certainly didn't take that team over the top. All those top defensive picks did.
Click to expand...

Bouye
 
TxnsJuggernaut said:
You make good points sbt but I have seen far too often in seasons past free agents not panning out or fitting in with their teams.
Click to expand...

With Ricky calling the shots this really shouldn't be a surprise. Hopefully Gaine does better. Doesn't mean they shouldn't sign FA's because Ricky wasn't good at his job.
 
steelbtexan said:
The Jags added Boyoue, Campbell, Gibson last year. 30 per cent of their defense. They also added Pozlusny.
Click to expand...
They added two good players, by no means great ones. Posluzny has been with Jax since 2011.
Campbell never lived up to his potential in Arizona and it took him being a cog on a stacked defense for him to reach that potential.

In what universe was Stephon Gilmore a splashy FA signing? Cooks was a good trade but hardly proof that NE is usually a big player in FA. Manning, Joseph and Wilfork say hi to Moss.
 
DocBar said:
They added two good players, by no means great ones. Posluzny has been with Jax since 2011.
Campbell never lived up to his potential in Arizona and it took him being a cog on a stacked defense for him to reach that potential.

In what universe was Stephon Gilmore a splashy FA signing? Cooks was a good trade but hardly proof that NE is usually a big player in FA. Manning, Joseph and Wilfork say hi to Moss.
Click to expand...

We're talking apples and oranges if you think Gilmore wasn't a big FA signing. Look at the contract he got. The difference is those FA signings for the Texans were done 10 yrs ago. Wilfork was near the end when he was signed. Unlike Gilmore, Cooks etc...

After the post that proves the Pats are run one way and the Texans have been run another and you dont agree then it's probably time for me to move on.
 
We don't know how many free agents the Texans made a play on so far this season. It could be that the "prisoners running the asylum," comment by our owner chased them off.

For whatever reason we have only signed one Marquee free agent.

Out of the free agents that are left who would you guys make a play for?
 
steelbtexan said:
We're talking apples and oranges if you think Gilmore wasn't a big FA signing. Look at the contract he got. The difference is those FA signings for the Texans were done 10 yrs ago. Wilfork was near the end when he was signed. Unlike Gilmore, Cooks etc...

After the post that proves the Pats are run one way and the Texans have been run another and you dont agree then it's probably time for me to move on.
Click to expand...

...........and the Patriots lucked into a sixth round QB who turned into GOAT. Yeah. Let’s not forget that much.
 
Texans find alignment and perhaps an identity
A new alignment might help re-establish an identity on Kirby Drive that has been missing from the Texans
By Brian T. Smith, Houston Chronicle
March 17, 2018 Updated: March 17, 2018 9:10pm

Alignment.

That was the word that best captured the in-flux Texans at the end of a highly frustrating and disappointing 2017 season.

Bob McNair's franchise finally chose sides, sticking with and extending Bill O'Brien as coach, while parting ways with longtime general manager Rick Smith. O'Brien got the GM he wanted in rising name Brian Gaine - who had once been pushed out of NRG Stadium under the old regime - and the Texans began to remake themselves in the vision of a fiery coach entering his fifth year.

The man holding the playcard and the guy calling the front-office shots were at last on the same page. Add in a young franchise quarterback (drafted by the old GM, of course), a recognition of glaring holes (offensive line, defensive secondary) and the promising return of key missing names, and the 4-12 Texans suddenly possessed a critical asset that had been MIA on Kirby Drive.

Alignment.

We've seen that word play out during the early days of free agency. Three offensive linemen, a versatile cornerback and a special-teams specialist added as the big money flowed. Then a big splash and potential major steal Friday night, as a safety best known to Football America as the "Honey Badger" decided the Texans were the best home for his many talents.
THE REST OF THE STORY
 
steelbtexan said:
The Jags added Boyoue, Campbell, Gibson last year. 30 per cent of their defense. They also added Pozlusny.
Click to expand...
We get JJ back - and if he is even 90%, he will have a pretty big impact on the game.
Dillon also will be back and add solid depth to the ILB corp. I like this kid - he's got a future.
And Mercilus.
I predict our D will once again assert itself as one of the three best in the league. Barring injuries. (touch wood).
 
TxnsJuggernaut said:
We don't know how many free agents the Texans made a play on so far this season. It could be that the "prisoners running the asylum," comment by our owner chased them off.

For whatever reason we have only signed one Marquee free agent.

Out of the free agents that are left who would you guys make a play for?
Click to expand...

Not much out there.

Suh, Hankins,Gaines, Luke Wilson, are just a few off of the top of my mind.
 
bah007 said:
FA is for patching holes, not for buying a new boat. That's what the draft is for.

The bulk of your money should be going to re-signing homegrown talent. That's a proven championship method.

Big FA spenders almost always end up in cap hell and end up forced to let some of their good guys go down the road because they can't get out of bad deals.
Click to expand...
Agree in principal but Texans were not in Championship mode before FA period. Colvin and Mathieu could be 5-6 year starters which is average for draft picks also. The Oline guys we picked up are just bridges but each could play out their contracts so I am okay with them if they perform as coaches hope. If we do as well in draft as this crop of FAs it will be a very good off season. A first and two seconds and perhaps our third round in 2019 should be very interesting selections and could get us to where you and I want to be. i wanted Gaines and O'Brien to show they were working together picking wisely and spending the cap space well and as of now IMO, they have. Of course, we could have a player turn out to be Giacomini, or a Jeff Allen out of position, Nick Martin could turn out to be Su'a Fila and Watson could be injured again. All or any could occur but for now I'm remaining hopeful; good job!
 
JB said:
What is their record over the last 5 years?
Click to expand...

Not good and I'm not going to look it up. But you're making my case for me, they change the way they do business, going after top tier FA's and not surprisingly they became winners.
 
steelbtexan said:
Not good and I'm not going to look it up. But you're making my case for me, they change the way they do business, going after top tier FA's and not surprisingly they became winners.
Click to expand...

And how many high draft picks did it take?
 
JB said:
And how many high draft picks did it take?
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Lets see, the Vikes didn't have a 1st rd pick last yr and fixed their OL in FA.

The Eagles suplemented their team with shrewed trades and FA. Jeffery/Smith/Ajay/Darby etc... I wish the Texans would make these types of moves, because that's what it will take to win a SB. Maybe this will start to happen with Gaine in charge.
 
steelbtexan said:
Wrong, Cooks trade
Amendola fa
Gilmore fa
Chung fa
Lewis fa
Gillislee fa
Burkhead
Hogan
Harrison

Do I need to go on and on?

Look at Philadelphia /Jags/Minny and how they were built and get back too me.
Click to expand...

This supports your view that teams can be built through free agency but disproves your theory of signing top tier FAs since nobody on that list was top tier when they were signed
 
michaelm said:
This supports your view that teams can be built through free agency but disproves your theory of signing top tier FAs since nobody on that list was top tier when they were signed
Click to expand...

Gilmore was a top level FA.

I think you're misunderstanding me, I think it takes a combination of getting 1-2 top level players, either in FA/Trade and 3-4 good players in FA. Then you need to hit on atleast 2-3 draft picks every yr. This allows you to build the depth to win a SB. Example: Philly loses ILB Hicks and he was replaced by FA signing Bradham. Pats lose Edleman and Amendola takes his place. The Texans dont have that kind of depth because they dont do things the way those teams do, so when injuries inevitably hit the Texans are screwed.
 
steelbtexan said:
Gilmore was a top level FA.

I think you're misunderstanding me, I think it takes a combination of getting 1-2 top level players, either in FA/Trade and 3-4 good players in FA. Then you need to hit on atleast 2-3 draft picks every yr. This allows you to build the depth to win a SB. Example: Philly loses ILB Hicks and he was replaced by FA signing Bradham. Pats lose Edleman and Amendola takes his place. The Texans dont have that kind of depth because they dont do things the way those teams do, so when injuries inevitably hit the Texans are screwed.
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Dola didn't replace Edelman at all or make any kind of impact like that until the playoffs and he really stepped it up. Throughout the season Dole was pretty bad. He's always hurt. There is no replacement for Jules. That dude is simply a beast in the slot. The Pats picked up Dola many years ago to replace Welker. Dola got hurt right away that season, and Jules by pure luck stepped up and became what he was. They expected Dole to become that guy, and Jules finally hit his full potential and the rest was history.

I wouldn't call Gilmore a top FA either. He was a big disappointment for the Patriots. He had a few good games where he was really good, but he was inconsistent all season. He was that typical CB that was good on another team that got an over inflated value in the off season. CB's every year get crazy inflated values once they become FA's, and very few match up to their large contracts that a lot of them get paid once they've been paid pretty high when they're the top 3 Cb's on the market of an off season. The Pats should have paid that money to Malcom Butler last off season. He was more reliable.
 
michaelm said:
This supports your view that teams can be built through free agency but disproves your theory of signing top tier FAs since nobody on that list was top tier when they were signed
Click to expand...

All of those guys were merely average on other teams for the most part. They played with Brady and were able to become gadget players in the Pats offense. Put them on any other teams and most would have been nobodies unless they end up with Aaron Rogers and had a nice complimentary role. Chung had previously already been on the Pats for years so they were able to get him back for cheap and Harrison ended up in their lap for next to nothing before the playoffs.

I like that strategy in FA for the most part though. I think it's a good one if the HC knows how to find the right players that work well in that system. So far we've not seen that at all from OB though. To be fair, OB's had nothing but garbage QB's so that didn't help but I'm really not sure that OB could navigate that well this way. Would you agree with that?
 
Texecutioner said:
Dola didn't replace Edelman at all or make any kind of impact like that until the playoffs and he really stepped it up. Throughout the season Dole was pretty bad. He's always hurt. There is no replacement for Jules. That dude is simply a beast in the slot. The Pats picked up Dola many years ago to replace Welker. Dola got hurt right away that season, and Jules by pure luck stepped up and became what he was. They expected Dole to become that guy, and Jules finally hit his full potential and the rest was history.

I wouldn't call Gilmore a top FA either. He was a big disappointment for the Patriots. He had a few good games where he was really good, but he was inconsistent all season. He was that typical CB that was good on another team that got an over inflated value in the off season. CB's every year get crazy inflated values once they become FA's, and very few match up to their large contracts that a lot of them get paid once they've been paid pretty high when they're the top 3 Cb's on the market of an off season. The Pats should have paid that money to Malcom Butler last off season. He was more reliable.
Click to expand...

BB knew he had to keep Amendola healthy for the playoffs and he even sat out some games. Where he contribute during the regular season was a sure handed positive yardage PR. Then healthy Amendola had a huge post season.

Gilmore got better as the season wore on which is expected from a guy learning a new system. He was their best CB in the playoffs, which is what he was brought in for.
 
steelbtexan said:
BB knew he had to keep Amendola healthy for the playoffs and he even sat out some games. Where he contribute during the regular season was a sure handed positive yardage PR. Then healthy Amendola had a huge post season.

Gilmore got better as the season wore on which is expected from a guy learning a new system. He was their best CB in the playoffs, which is what he was brought in for.
Click to expand...

Dola played almost all season so I'm not sure where you're getting that from. The Pats needed to win every game all season to keep up that #1 seed throughout the playoffs that the Steelers were trying to have. Plus, Hogan got hurt in mid season and Mitchell missed the entire year. They didn't have that luxury to just keep Dola out. They needed him every game. Dola is just always banged up. He was with the Rams, and he's been that way ever since he's been a Patriot.
 
Texecutioner said:
Dola played almost all season so I'm not sure where you're getting that from. The Pats needed to win every game all season to keep up that #1 seed throughout the playoffs that the Steelers were trying to have. Plus, Hogan got hurt in mid season. They didn't have that luxury to just keep Dola out. They needed him every game.
Click to expand...

I got my yrs mixed up.

He was on a snap count early last yr.
 
steelbtexan said:
Wrong, Cooks trade
Amendola fa
Gilmore fa
Chung fa
Lewis fa
Gillislee fa
Burkhead
Hogan
Harrison

Do I need to go on and on?

Look at Philadelphia /Jags/Minny and how they were built and get back too me.
Click to expand...
So all those players became the highest paid player in history at their position when they became Patriots? Fact check: none of them did. Gilmore was a big signing, he became the 8th highest paid CB - but not even the top pay for a free agent CB that year.

As for the Eagles, Jags, and Vikings: who gives a crap how some one year wonders were built? The Texans (as unsatisfactory as they have been) have been to the playoffs more times in the last 7 years than any of those teams.

steelbtexan said:
We're talking apples and oranges if you think Gilmore wasn't a big FA signing. Look at the contract he got. The difference is those FA signings for the Texans were done 10 yrs ago. Wilfork was near the end when he was signed. Unlike Gilmore, Cooks etc...

After the post that proves the Pats are run one way and the Texans have been run another and you dont agree then it's probably time for me to move on.
Click to expand...
Patriots just put pieces around Tom Brady. Brady was drafted in the 6th round, so the Patriots were hoping he would be TJ Yates - if they had any idea he would be the GOAT they would have traded up in the 1st round to get him.

If Brady had turned out to be Yates, Belchick would be in the Wade Phillips, Dom Capers, Romeo Crennel carousel of "let me be a coordinator and I'll prove I can be a head coach." If Yates had turned out to be Brady the Texans would have 2 to 4 Super Bowl wins and everyone (well, except you) would be praising the way Bob and Ricky McNair run the Texans as the ideal model for any sports franchise.
 
Fred said:
So all those players became the highest paid player in history at their position when they became Patriots? Fact check: none of them did. Gilmore was a big signing, he became the 8th highest paid CB - but not even the top pay for a free agent CB that year.

As for the Eagles, Jags, and Vikings: who gives a crap how some one year wonders were built? The Texans (as unsatisfactory as they have been) have been to the playoffs more times in the last 7 years than any of those teams.


Patriots just put pieces around Tom Brady. Brady was drafted in the 6th round, so the Patriots were hoping he would be TJ Yates - if they had any idea he would be the GOAT they would have traded up in the 1st round to get him.

If Brady had turned out to be Yates, Belchick would be in the Wade Phillips, Dom Capers, Romeo Crennel carousel of "let me be a coordinator and I'll prove I can be a head coach." If Yates had turned out to be Brady the Texans would have 2 to 4 Super Bowl wins and everyone (well, except you) would be praising the way Bob and Ricky McNair run the Texans as the ideal model for any sports franchise.
Click to expand...

That's one way to look at things.

Or you could see how the successful teams do things and try to emulate them. Gaine has done a pretty good job of trying to emulate BB. Lets see how he does in the draft.

Do you think that Suh will be the highest paid DT? I dont. 8-15 would be about right for him.

Bottom line for me is, what the Texans have been doing will never bring a Lombardi to this city. It's time for change and I actually like what Gaine has done so far seeing that he really hasn't spent $$$$$ in FA.

BTW, I would love to e a one yr wonder when compared to what we've seen over the last 15 yrs.
 
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usatsi_10716468.jpg


Jets moves make Christian Hackenberg available as potential Texans backup QB
1.5kSHARES
By: Jeff Risdon | 13 hours ago

























00:38



The Houston Texans have an opening behind Deshaun Watson on the quarterback depth chart. Right now the only other QB on the Texans is Taylor Heinicke and his one NFL pass attempt. Heinicke could very well win the job with a full offseason in the Texans system, but expect GM Brian Gaine to at least bring in competition.


A familiar name to both college football fans and Texans coach Bill O’Brien is now available: Christian Hackenberg. The former Penn State wunderkind played for a season under O’Brien with the Nittany Lions and achieved much of his considerable hype in that freshman season.

Hackenberg was a second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2016, but he’s proven to be a colossal bust thus far. Despite an ever-rotating carousel of career backups and late-round picks around him in New York, Hackenberg cannot earn any first-team reps.
 
usatsi_10716468.jpg


Jets moves make Christian Hackenberg available as potential Texans backup QB
1.5kSHARES
By: Jeff Risdon | 13 hours ago

























00:38



The Houston Texans have an opening behind Deshaun Watson on the quarterback depth chart. Right now the only other QB on the Texans is Taylor Heinicke and his one NFL pass attempt. Heinicke could very well win the job with a full offseason in the Texans system, but expect GM Brian Gaine to at least bring in competition.


A familiar name to both college football fans and Texans coach Bill O’Brien is now available: Christian Hackenberg. The former Penn State wunderkind played for a season under O’Brien with the Nittany Lions and achieved much of his considerable hype in that freshman season.

Hackenberg was a second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2016, but he’s proven to be a colossal bust thus far. Despite an ever-rotating carousel of career backups and late-round picks around him in New York, Hackenberg cannot earn any first-team reps.
 
The Jets organization has been a mess. Hackenburg might've been in the wrong system. Coaches have got to be more flexible with their offenses when they spend top picks on QB's. They should always incorporate some things that made them so successful in the college game to warrant being a RD1 or RD2 pick.

As for Hackenburg...this would be an easy signing for a season. I'd still sign Weeden as the primary competition for QB2. Heinicke and Hackenburg could compete for QB2 and QB3 respectively.
 
This is being brought up time and time again so I'll address it. Here are the Super Bowl starters for the Eagles and how they were acquired:

QB - FA (2 yr/$11M)
RB - FA (1 yr/$1.3M)
WR - Draft
WR - FA (1 yr/$9.5M)
WR - Trade
TE - Draft
LT - Draft
LG - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
C - Draft
RG - FA (5 yr/$40M)
RT - Draft

DE - Draft
DT - Draft
DT - Trade
DE - Draft
LB - Draft
LB - FA (2 yr/$7M)
CB - Trade
CB - Draft
S - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
S - FA (5 yr/$37M)
S - FA (5 yr/$40.5M)

I was going to do this exercise for all of the final four teams but it seems unnecessary at this point so someone else can do it if they feel like doing the research. The point is made. This team was constructed mostly through the draft. Some players were acquired through trades, in which draft picks were used to complete the trade. The majority of the FA signings are short, low-risk deals. Only three of the 22 starters were acquired as high-priced FAs.

Draft - 10
Trade - 3
Low risk FA - 6
Splash FA - 3
 
bah007 said:
This is being brought up time and time again so I'll address it. Here are the Super Bowl starters for the Eagles and how they were acquired:

QB - FA (2 yr/$11M)
RB - FA (1 yr/$1.3M)
WR - Draft
WR - FA (1 yr/$9.5M)
WR - Trade
TE - Draft
LT - Draft
LG - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
C - Draft
RG - FA (5 yr/$40M)
RT - Draft

DE - Draft
DT - Draft
DT - Trade
DE - Draft
LB - Draft
LB - FA (2 yr/$7M)
CB - Trade
CB - Draft
S - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
S - FA (5 yr/$37M)
S - FA (5 yr/$40.5M)

I was going to do this exercise for all of the final four teams but it seems unnecessary at this point so someone else can do it if they feel like doing the research. The point is made. This team was constructed mostly through the draft. Some players were acquired through trades, in which draft picks were used to complete the trade. The majority of the FA signings are short, low-risk deals. Only three of the 22 starters were acquired as high-priced FAs.

Draft - 10
Trade - 3
Low risk FA - 6
Splash FA - 3
Click to expand...

In reality their QB in the Super Bowl was their backup. The guy that got them most of their wins for the season (Wentz) is the normal starter and will be again this season. So, I guess if you want to "split hairs"...... :D
 
OptimisticTexan said:
The Jets organization has been a mess. Hackenburg might've been in the wrong system. Coaches have got to be more flexible with their offenses when they spend top picks on QB's. They should always incorporate some things that made them so successful in the college game to warrant being a RD1 or RD2 pick.

As for Hackenburg...this would be an easy signing for a season. I'd still sign Weeden as the primary competition for QB2. Heinicke and Hackenburg could compete for QB2 and QB3 respectively.
Click to expand...

I think Hackenburg is still under contract with the Jets. If so, that would mean a trade unless the Jets release him.
 
bah007 said:
This is being brought up time and time again so I'll address it. Here are the Super Bowl starters for the Eagles and how they were acquired:

QB - FA (2 yr/$11M)
RB - FA (1 yr/$1.3M)
WR - Draft
WR - FA (1 yr/$9.5M)
WR - Trade
TE - Draft
LT - Draft
LG - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
C - Draft
RG - FA (5 yr/$40M)
RT - Draft

DE - Draft
DT - Draft
DT - Trade
DE - Draft
LB - Draft
LB - FA (2 yr/$7M)
CB - Trade
CB - Draft
S - FA (1 yr/$1.6M)
S - FA (5 yr/$37M)
S - FA (5 yr/$40.5M)

I was going to do this exercise for all of the final four teams but it seems unnecessary at this point so someone else can do it if they feel like doing the research. The point is made. This team was constructed mostly through the draft. Some players were acquired through trades, in which draft picks were used to complete the trade. The majority of the FA signings are short, low-risk deals. Only three of the 22 starters were acquired as high-priced FAs.

Draft - 10
Trade - 3
Low risk FA - 6
Splash FA - 3
Click to expand...

That's going to be more or less statistically aligned with most teams because other than the year that NO traded literally all of their picks for Ricky Williams, I can't think of a team that had less draft picks than free agents.
How many teams have ever signed more FA than players drafted?
 
OptimisticTexan said:
The Jets organization has been a mess. Hackenburg might've been in the wrong system. Coaches have got to be more flexible with their offenses when they spend top picks on QB's. They should always incorporate some things that made them so successful in the college game to warrant being a RD1 or RD2 pick.

As for Hackenburg...this would be an easy signing for a season. I'd still sign Weeden as the primary competition for QB2. Heinicke and Hackenburg could compete for QB2 and QB3 respectively.
Click to expand...

Hackenburg was only successful that one year will Bill O'brien...he should not have drafted in the 2nd round. He has some physical attributes, but is probably just not good QB. this pre-draft documented by many.
 
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