RSS Texans Team Notes

[Houston Texans]

C.J. Stroud Trade Rumors

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 18: K'lavon Chaisson #44 of the New England Patriots hits C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans as he throws a pass during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

As we’re all well aware, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a disastrous outing in the AFC divisional round against the New England Patriots. The backlash from this, as is often the case in sports fandom, was knee-jerkish and rapidly took on a torches and pitchforks vibe.

On the surface, it’s cheap and easy to say “C.J. Stroud cost the Texans a trip to the AFC Championship game.”

When you go below the surface, you find a variety of reasons that led to Stroud’s ultimate failures in that game.

If you take a step back and look at things objectively, the fail-points in the Texans chain are far more numerous than just 1 guy.

Five reasons the Texans Lost to the Patriots​

• Nick Caley’s offensive scheme was never, not once, Championship worthy in all of 2025. Ever.
• The offensive line that should have kept Stroud from having to run for his life then try and force miracles, was down several starters – and let’s face it – the line was never Championship caliber either.
• Caley’s play calling was never, not once, Championship worthy in 2025. Ever.
• A balanced offense requires a solid offensive line, productive run game, healthy wide receivers and dependable tight ends. None of which were really there in the full 60 minutes of that game.
• As hypothesized, the people speaking into Stroud’s ear might not be saying the things this particular young man needs to hear in order to rise above.

That’s five quick points that all wag the finger in directions other than Stroud. None of which are easily dismissed.

But, a not-so-insignificant number of football fans don’t see those things, just the actual on-field play results. And, that same not-so-insignificant number of football fans are easily riled up by sensationalistic takes from national level talking heads who get paid to sensationalize things. Particularly things that align with a not-so-insignificant number of football fans superficial interpretation of the game.

In no way is this right or wrong, but it is factual.

Unlike the rumor of Stroud being launched to another team for a hand full of magic beans.

During a recent interview, Texans general manager Nick Caserio shared his thoughts on the trade rumors:

Texans GM general manager Nick Caserio called trade speculation about his quarterback C.J. Stroud “moronic” and insisted the team is “not trading C.J.” pic.twitter.com/NDj0RTnVW1

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2026

Now that the Texans have affirmed Stroud isn’t going anywhere, it’s time to address the other 5 bullet points listed above.

• Nick Caley did improve as an offensive coordinator as the season went on. Unfortunately, when faced with a great opponent such as the Mike Vrabel/Terrell Williams duo Caley may once again come up short.
• Lots and lots of talk around the offensive line. Mock Drafters often have the Texans taking multiple o-lineman in the early rounds. Other pundits have them grabbing free agents and even trading for top tier talent. No matter how it shakes out, clearly the o-line needs to be a priority that’s addressed early so they have time to build chemistry. O-line coach, Cole Popovich needs to get the chemistry right – and fast.
• Maybe it’s time to bring in another “senior assistant” who is an Erhardt-Perkins playcalling master.

QBMethod.com on the Erhardt-Perkins offense:

Core Philosophy: “Pass to Score, Run to Win”

1. Possession Football: The Erhardt-Perkins offense is built around the concept of controlling the football. While traditionally seen as a run-first, play-action passing offense, its modern adaptations show that possession football and passing are not mutually exclusive. The primary goal is to maintain control of the ball, whether through running or passing.

2. Adaptability: One of the standout features of the Erhardt-Perkins offense is its adaptability. It does not require a superstar quarterback or elite receivers to be effective. Instead, it focuses on finding players who fit the system and can execute the plays efficiently. This makes it easier for teams to build a competitive offense without relying on high-profile talent.

3. Ease of Learning: Compared to other complex offensive systems, the Erhardt-Perkins offense is relatively straightforward to learn. This simplicity allows players to grasp the playbook quickly and execute plays with precision, even in challenging conditions like bad weather.

• Job 1 on balancing the offense is the o-line, #2 is running back. In my decades of watching and covering NFL ball, I’ve never seen anything like what’s going on with Joe Mixon. What I have seen is when this much obfuscation exists, the player is never a high-impact guy for that organization again. Based on that, the Texans need to use a high value resource to secure an elite RB1 this off-season.
• This last bullet-point is likely the hardest to quantify and probably the one most fans will never have visibility to, as far as corrective actions. Jerrod Johnson is the Texans quarterbacks coach. Fans will likely not know what the true relationship between Johnson and Stroud looks like until it’s far in the rear view mirror, if ever. Does that mean head coach Demeco Ryans needs another “quarterback whisperer” on staff? Maybe another “senior assistant”? A coach who specializes in QB development and play calling would be a coup, but also hard to find.

If you know anyone who keeps insisting Stroud will/should hit the trade block, aim them at this post. If nothing else, it should spark some interesting discussions that go further downfield than the butt-fumble “trade Stroud nowz!!” silliness.

Update: The Houston Texans and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson have parted ways

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/74256/c-j-stroud-trade-rumors

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: Full Disclosure

Today we deviate from the normal course of breaking down numbers and analyzing players into the theatre of the absurd. So, what follows is a bit of a commentary. Yesterday, a major news story broke concerned embattled running back Joe Mixon and the Texans were likely to part ways. The cut would save the Texans 8.5 million and that is particularly true if they are able to designate him as a failed physical cut.

Of course, none of this is news particularly. Things have been heading this direction for months. In effect, this story exists on two levels. The surface level is what it did to the team this year to go without a bell cow back for the entire season. It raises questions about competence because you have to ask the question: what did the Texans know and when did they know it? This is particularly true when Nick Caserio announced that he thinks Mixon had offseason surgery. Thinks? You can’t be that daft can you?

Of course, that spills us into the second question. What is the appropriate way to get out that message. I might add that this is a common thread in Houston sports. Whether its Rafael Stone telling us that he just doesn’t think this is the Rockets season or Dana Brown or Joe Espada obscuring the facts on another injured Astro, disclosure seems to be a common theme in Houston sports. I would simply point out that none of the professional organizations (except maybe the Dynamo) have figured out the whole messaging side of this thing.

Let’s start with the ridiculousness of this whole situation and break down what we know. We know Joe Mixon has an injury. We aren’t quite sure what the injury is and it has been almost a calendar year. We think it’s a foot injury but we aren’t quite certain. He injured himself while working out. Or he didn’t. The injury is football related. Or it isn’t. They thought he would come back at some point this last season. Or they didn’t.

So, the question at hand is the question of disclosure. When does it make sense to be honest and when does it make sense to lie? Moreover, what is the best way to tell a lie? Yesterday, Nick Caserio said that he thought the offensive line did a great job last season and it was the best one of his tenure. Either that statement is a lie or Caserio is a drunken moron. I don’t think he drinks much.

Maybe there is some class or school sports executives go to in order to learn how to do these things. Those of us that have been following sports for decades know how these things are supposed to be said. You throw out a bunch of generalities that basically amount to nothing. “We feel like our offensive line improved last season, but we are always looking for ways to improve and upgrade our team. We will evaluate the unit as a whole as well as each individual player as we approach free agency and the draft.” It’s not incredibly difficult. That statement took me 30 seconds.

The ultimate question is whether you are better off telling the truth or obscuring the truth. I will just say that I believe they know what is going on with Joe Mixon. I believe they knew the extent of his injury and knew the prognosis going forward. To believe otherwise is to believe abject incompetence and I don’t think you win 35 games (counting the playoffs) in three seasons because you are incompetent. Instead, you either wanted to protect the player or protect yourself.

Let’s start with the player. Without facts on Joe Mixon we are left with speculation. We can start with the absurd. Does he even have a foot? We have no proof of that. We have seen no pictures and he certainly is not sharing. Maybe they are petitioning the league to see if he can play with an artificial foot. That’s obviously ridiculous but without facts you are left with the ridiculous as a possibility. Without facts we don’t know if he will ever play football again, how the injury happened, or what he has tried to do to recover. He may have had surgery? What kind of bush league operation is this?

From the team perspective, I definitely get why we are obscuring the truth. You think there is a competitive advantage that comes from teams not knowing the status of Joe Mixon. Well, at a certain point that becomes ludicrous. If a guy hasn’t played, practiced, or seen at the team facility by October or November we know what the story likely is. Obscuring it really doesn’t serve your interests either. This is particularly true as the trade deadline came and went.

The Texans botched this story from the get go. It doesn’t serve Joe Mixon and it certainly didn’t serve them either. I don’t expect 100 percent full disclosure in every situation. Heck, I don’t know if I expect it in any situation. However, in this case giving us zero disclosure failed the player and it failed the organization and made everyone look dumber in the process. That can’t be good for business.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/74233/value-of-things-full-disclosure

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans trade Juice Scruggs and picks for RB David Montgomery

The Juice Scruggs era in Houston has come to an end. The embattled offensive lineman never quite gained traction in his three seasons in Houston as he played center and guard. Unfortunately for him, he was not able to crack the lineup last season even when the team was shuffling guards. Obviously, the bigger ticket is David Montgomery. He may not completely answer the Texans’ questions in the running back room, but he is the beginning of the answer.

Update on terms: It's the #Texans fourth rounder, OL Juice Scruggs, and a 7th rounder for David Montgomery, per sources.

So, fifth-round value. But a complex deal. https://t.co/jG9nKIFmrL

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2026

Montgomery became available when he expressed displeasure with the time share in Detroit with Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Montgomery has still been productive in a platoon role. He has gained at least 715 yards in each of his six NFL seasons and reached a career high of 1070 in Chicago in 2020. However, his carries have diminished in each of the past three seasons as Gibbs has emerged as one of the best running backs in the NFL

How this impacts the draft and free agency is anyone’s best guess. The Texans were rumored to be in on guys like Kenneth Walker and Breece Hall, but this acquisition would seem to change that considerably. Depending on how they envision the running back room, they may still be in the market for a running back through the draft, but this seems clear that Joe Mixon is no longer in the team’s plans.

Of course, the other part of this trade is the shrinking of the offensive line room. Tytus Howard and Scruggs are now out the door. As things sit now, the Texans are still officially over the cap, but they have about a week to maneuver with restructures and other cuts to get to a spot where they can sign free agents. Clearly, the offensive line is an area of focus. What will they do next?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ice-scruggs-and-picks-for-rb-david-montgomery

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Releasing S Jimmie Ward

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 21: Jimmie Ward #20 of the Houston Texans runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images

And you thought today’s news was over? Think again! ESPN’s Adam Schefter just reported that the Houston Texans have released S Jimmie Ward

Sources: The Texans will be releasing veteran safety Jimmie Ward.

Houston will save $750K on their salary cap. pic.twitter.com/ckz5CZNnvI

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026

According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the Texans now void Ward’s base salary of $2.75 million.

#Texans plan to release veteran safety Jimmie Ward after his contract tolled last season on the reserve physically unable to perform list, and he was scheduled for a $2.75 million base salary in 2026, per a league source @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 3, 2026

A veteran signing at the beginning of head coach DeMeco Ryans’ tenure, Ward would start 10 games at safety in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but had his second year cut short by a season-ending foot injury that required surgery. In June 2025, Jimmie Ward was arrested and faced a felony assault charge stemming from alleged family violence, resulting in his placement on the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt list in August. He was taken off that list in September after a grand jury decided not to indict him, but Ward remained on the Texans’ Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the rest of the 2025 season.

In his 20 Games with the Houston Texans, Ward tallied:

• 98 Tackles, 5 TFLs
• 7 Pass Deflections
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 3 Interceptions for 65 yards
• 1 Interception returned for a Touchdown

Ward’s injury in late 2024 and subsequent significant legal issues made him an unlikely member of 2025’s starting cast, and some of general manager Nick Caserio’s moves last offseason made it clear Houston was ready to turn the page. Trading for Eagles’ safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and drafting S Jaylen Reed in the 6th round were the first steps towards moving on, and S Calen Bullock’s improvement sealed the deal. Any shavings of cap space the Texans front office can scrape from the rinds of the roster will be harvested for future contracts, and Ward was an easy target.

Being released by #Texans, veteran safety Jimmie Ward plans to contemplate whether to continue playing football. Taking classes this offseason @KPRC2 https://t.co/C8Wj77hK7L

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 3, 2026

Who’s next? Caserio traded RT/G Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns and sent C/G Juice Scruggs and a few draft picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for RB David Montgomery, effectively clearing up more cap space whilst bringing in talent on a weak spot of the roster. If he wants to open more room for the impending free agency – where many (including me) are hoping for Houston to be big spenders – then he’ll need to make a few more moves. RB Joe Mixon, anyone? Maybe…WR Justin Watson? Let us know who you think is next down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74302/texans-releasing-s-jimmie-ward

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: It’s moving day

The Value of Things journey began almost five years ago to the day. It began with two guiding principles. The first (and the genesis of the title) is that every player has value. The key to success is for a team to accurately figure out which players have the most value and which players don’t. This becomes a huge deal when you have a good team. A good team has good players. The key is to figure out who the good players are and who the great players are.

The second principle is that we wanted to use dispassionate analysis as much as possible. That means a reliance on facts, statistics, and reason as much as humanly possible. That means waiting a day to digest huge news stories like we had yesterday. The Texans swung two significant deals when they traded Tytus Howard for a fifth round pick and then traded a fourth round pick, future seventh rounder, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs to the Detroit Lions for running back David Montgomery.

We should start with the initial reaction. Like most Texans fans, you felt a gut punch when your best lineman was dealt two off-seasons in a row. The Cleveland Browns immediately gave Howard a three year, 63 million dollar extension. It seems counterintuitive to take your weakest unit and deal the best player on that unit. With guard Ed Ingram officially a free agent, the Texans have only one starting lineman under contract. Jake Matthews could nominally be considered a second, but the Texans almost certainly will want to upgrade the center position. So, they have one starting lineman.

The flip side is that the Texans were paying Howard top ten right tackle money and top five guard money. PFF scores are not the end all be all of human existence, but it does provide a guide for how he has done in the last three seasons under the current regime. In short, calling him the best offensive lineman on the team is both true and misleading. He technically is the best, but that doesn’t mean he was good.

• 2023: 46.8 overall
• 2024: 69.5 overall
• 2025: 62.3 overall, 76.7 pass block, 49.5 run block

The numbers above are pretty consistent in terms of how they are broken down between run blocking and pass blocking. He typically does not allow sacks. He allows some pressure, but he is better than most in that department. Even in his best seasons, he has been fairly ordinary or worse as a run blocker. For those uninitiated to the PFF universe, players with 80 or more are usually Pro Bowlers. Players with 70 or more are solid starters. Players with 60 or above are either below average starters or solid rotational players. When you are below 60 you should not be a starter.

Leave Howard at tackle and you probably will see him live in the high 60s and low 70s in terms of an overall PFF grade. You can do a lot worse at tackle (or any other position on the line), but it is a struggle to see a player like that get top ten overall money at his position. This is particularly true when so many other players on the roster are due to also get top ten overall money at their position. It’s all well and good if they actually are among the best at their position. It is another to be an average player getting a bunch of money.

The second part of the deal is the David Montgomery trade. Montgomery has played in the league for seven seasons, has had 715 or more yards rushing every season and has averaged over four yards a carry routinely. He may not be Joe Mixon, but he is approaching that level. Unlike Mixon, he has only two years left on his contract, so you can easily move on from him after the season if he loses a step or if Woody Marks or another young back supplants him.

In comments, I labeled this as a “take my wife….please” kind of trade. It looks bad at the outset to lose more offensive line depth, but how much did you actually lose? Scruggs has been in the league for three seasons and could not get on the field much last season. This was in spite of the fact that the Texans routinely rotated guards. He could not crack that rotation. Were they wrong?

• 2023: 47.5 overall
• 2024: 63.5 overall
• 2025: 45.5 overall, 57.7 pass blocking, 40.5 run blocking

79 guards had 100 or more snaps in the NFL last season. Scruggs was 76th. According to the grade, he was virtually unplayable in two out of the last three seasons. He is essentially going the way of Kenyon Green. Some people (including here) will kill the Texans because their trade of Green did not work last season be C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not work out. The same could very well happen with Montgomery. The key is you are losing nothing by trading Scruggs. Quite frankly, he was taking a roster spot of someone that could have actually contributed when guys went down.

As for Montgomery, he was the 21st rated back in the league according to PFF. He was even better in 2023 and 2024. Montgomery has shown decent receiving skills in his career in addition to his running ability. He also at least proficient as a blocker in pass protection. So, he can be a three down back if the Texans choose. In his best seasons, he has lived between 200 and 250 carries. That ends up being somewhere between 12 to 15 carries. We could easily foresee Woody Marks getting the same kind of workload.

What will be interesting is to see where they go from a third running back standpoint. We can imagine Dare Ogunbowale will be back as a special teams demon and British Brooks is likely to be back as a fullback. That leaves one spot for a third complementary back. Could it be Jahwar Jordan or do the Texans still add a running back in the draft? At the very least, it probably takes them out of the Kenneth Walker/Breece Hall/Travis Etienne business. Under the circumstances, they probably don’t need a 9-10 million per season back. Montgomery will do just fine for six.

The bottom line is that there is still a ton of work to do. When evaluating any move you have to ask two questions: does it make sense and does it make your football team better? Considering the money, the deals make perfect sense. You save some money and add a position of need at the same time. Does it make your team better? In the interim the answer is clearly no. Your offensive line is worse today than it was yesterday. The good news is that the Texans aren’t playing a game this week. They have time to add more lineman. Obviously, Nick Caserio’s track record there is shaky, so there is plenty of room for skepticism, but when you have an empty palate, you have infinite possibilities.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/74305/value-of-things-its-moving-day

 

[Houston Texans]

BREAKING: Texans Trade Tytus Howard to Cleveland Browns

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 07: Tytus Howard #71 of the Houston Texans exits the field after an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Houston was already expected to target the offensive line in free agency, but things just got a whole lot more interesting. Dianna Russini of the The Athletic just reported the the Texans are trading starting RT/LG Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a 5th-round pick:

TRADE: The Texans are trading OL Tytus Howard to the Browns, per sources. The 29-year-old has started 16 games in each of the past two seasons for Houston and was set to enter the final year of his deal in 2026.

— Dianna Russini (@diannarussini.bsky.social) 2026-03-02T12:51:06.406Z

With big extensions on the horizon for Houston, headlined by Will Anderson Jr., the Texans are getting ahead of the cap crunch.The Texans dealt Cam Robinson to the Browns in 2025, and now trade them another tackle in Tytus Howard.

— Dianna Russini (@diannarussini.bsky.social) 2026-03-02T12:56:12.234Z

This comes as another absolute stunner from Texans general manager Nick Caserio, who seems to like getting the roster shakeup started early via these trades. It was only a single year ago that Caserio made the entire league pause with his decision to trade LT Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. That was one of his first big moves in “fixing the offensive line,” and even though trading away one of your best players at the position group may seem counterintuitive, it clearly only wet his appetite.

Sources: The #Texans and #Browns have agreed to terms on a trade to send starting RT Tytus Howard to Cleveland in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Much-needed OL help. Plus, Howard gets a new 3-year, $63M extension in a deal done by @malkikawa and Ethan Lock of @FirstRoundMgmt. pic.twitter.com/3X2PprFIjN

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2026

This time around though, instead of Caserio obtaining a package of draft selections like he did with the Tunsil trade, Houston will actually only be receiving a 5th round pick for Tytus Howard! Talk about an underwhelming return!

Either way, now that Howard is gone, the Texans have now officially traded away their best offensive linemen in consecutive offseasons, clearing the road for cap spending elsewhere and for the offensive line to be in an even more dire state than it was during the 2025 regular season. The o-line was a controversial subject all season long as coach Cole Popovich rotated players around trying to find the best combination for a subpar group. He eventually found a decent starting five with Aireontae Ersery at LT, Howard at LG, Jake Andrews at C, Ed Ingram at RG, and Trent Brown at RT, but that combination was doomed to be short lived. In his 2025 season, Tytus Howard finished with:

• 18 Games (18 Starts, including playoffs)
• 10 Starts at RT, 5 Starts at LG, 3 Starts at RG
• 1,162 total snaps
• 0 Sacks, 1 Hit, 25 Hurries
• 62.3 PFF Grade (49.5 RBLK, 76.7 PBLK)

Tytus Howard came to Houston as a much-maligned first round pick (23rd Overall) by former head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien. A relatively unknown prospect out of Alabama State, many saw Howard as a reach by O’Brien, who made the 2019 offseason all about protecting the edges of then Texans QB Deshaun Watson. Howard would arrive in Houston first in April, and then Tunsil would arrive a couple months later after a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins. Tunsil and Howard would go on to be the lone bright spots on Houston’s offensive line since then, with Tunsil being his standard exceptional self and Howard forming into an average to great pass-blocking RT. Over time, he would go on to be one of the Texans most versatile linemen, recording several stints at LG as the team contended with this enigma at that position that they just can’t shake. Howard’s natural position certainly wasn’t LG, but he was decent enough there to warrant playing him instead of anyone else.

Now former #Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard to @KPRC2 on trade to #Browns
'I just appreciate the support over the last seven years. I'll always be a Texan forever. I'm excited to go to Cleveland and turn the city up and help change the program and win some games.'

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 2, 2026

'I wasn't surprised,' #Texans Tytus Howard to @KPRC2 on trade to #Browns for fifth-round draft pick. 'They're trying to get younger and pay some guys. I ain't mad. I kind of knew it was going to happen' Signing a three-year, $63 million deal with $45 million in new money

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 2, 2026

With Howard now gone, the Texans’ problematic offensive line now dives straight back into the crisis state it was suspended in last offseason. Caserio dealt with that nightmare by signing C Jake Andrews, G Ed Ingram, G Laken Tomlinson, T Trent Brown, T Cam Rombinson, and then drafting T Aireontae Ersery. The Robinson and Tomlinson signings are better left forgotten, but all of his other moves resulted in either interim starters or (in case of the Ingram and Ersery) permanent starters along the front. Caserio and his staff have obviously been emboldened by the “success” they wrought from this strategy and are trying to run it back in 2026, but I have my doubts. It took me months to reconcile with the Tunsil trade, and it would have taken longer if Ersery had not quickly filled in the LT spot as a rookie. I expect the Howard trade to be just as prickly of an issue, if not worse considering we have yet to see Ersery blossom into a star. For the second year in a row, everything now hinges on this free agency cycle and the upcoming NFL Draft, which, to me, doesn’t seem like the greatest way to run a railroad.

What do you think, though? Was this trade necessary considering the cap crunch Houston is bound to be in with all of their young stars? Or, was Tytus Howard worth keeping around? Are there tackles on the free agent market or in the draft that you wouldn’t mind seeing in Battle Red? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74279/breaking-texans-trade-tytus-howard-to-cleveland-browns

 

[Houston Texans]

BREAKING: Texans Re-Sign RT Trent Brown

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 12: Trent Brown #77 of the Houston Texans looks on from the field during an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Texans aren’t finished with their pre-free agency transactions. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson and ESPN’s Adam Schefter have reported that the Texans are re-signing RT Trent Brown to a one-year, $7 million extension:

#Texans hold on to pending free agent offensive tackle Trent Brown, a former Pro Bowl selection and the biggest player on the roster with one-year, $7 million deal @KPRC2 https://t.co/i1lwj7UUdF https://t.co/gao0QQlPyt

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 5, 2026

OT Trent Brown and the Houston Texans reached agreement today on a one-year extension worth up to $7 million, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/6y4BGDtJ91

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2026

Brown, 32, was initially signed to a one-year, $3 million deal by the Texans last year to be a swing tackle for the team, but eventually became the starting RT by week 10. Upon manning the starting job, Brown became one of Houston’s best linemen, using his sheer size and power to make a mighty pass blocker and run blocker. His final statistics for the 2025 season were:

• 8 Games (8 Starts, including playoffs)
• 547 Total Snaps
• 1 Sack, 4 Hits, 12 Total Pressures
• 6 Penalties
• 69.0 PFF Grade (66.0 Pass Blocking, 71.5 Run Blocking)

#Texans won every game Trent Brown started last season, including #Steelers playoff game. Slated for full offseason, as Bastrop native has been working out and rehabbing ankle injury from playoffs at NRG Stadium. Mentored Aireontae Ersery and other younger players @KPRC2 https://t.co/7U3mxNxqcT

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 5, 2026

Down the stretch, Brown became an unlikely asset for the Texans, developing into a true complement to the rushing attack against opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. Although, before arriving in Houston, Brown had developed a significant injury history, missing all but 3 games for his lone season with the Cincinnati Bengals due to a torn patellar tendon, and only appearing in 11 of a possible 17 games for the Patriots in 2023. Even last year, Brown missed the beginning of the season whilst rehabbing his patellar tendon, and then missed Houston’s divisional-round matchup against the New England Patriots with an ankle injury.

Despite the recent injuries, this deal signals Houston’s trust in Brown to stay on the field and be a major contributor yet again in 2026. They’re best combination of linemen in the regular season included him as a starter, and it looks like the Texans are fixing to have him do the same next year, especially considering Tytus Howard’s departure that was reported earlier this week. Only time will tell if he’s able to start a full season again, but if he can turn the clock back to his 2022 season in New England or his 2019 pro-bowl season with the Oakland Raiders, the Texans will be in good shape in the tackle department in 2026.

What do you think, though? Will Trent Brown have another good year with the Texans, or will he decline? Will he be able to start a full year at RT, or will injuries haunt him for another year? Or, will Houston still be looking for another player for the RT spot in free agency or the draft? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74337/breaking-texans-re-sign-rt-trent-brown

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Free Agency Analysis: Offensive Line

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Wyatt Teller #77 of the Cleveland Browns is introduced prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on December 28, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Texans are a good team as currently constructed, but they have a chance to reach a truly elite level if they can bolster a few position groups — and it all starts with free agency.

When you look at the roster, it’s clear the offensive line needs significant upgrades. Houston has its left tackle in Aireontae Ersery, who was drafted in the second round last year. However, there have been whispers that he could slide over to right tackle, which would create another need at left tackle.

Outside of Ersery, the Texans likely need at least three new starters up front. Their left guard last season was Tytus Howard, who was traded to Cleveland in a somewhat surprising move considering he had been a solid player.

At center, Jake Andrews handled the starting duties but struggled for much of the season, and it feels likely Houston will look to upgrade that position.

At right guard, the Texans had Ed Ingram, who they acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings. Ingram played well for Houston, but he’s now headed for free agency and could receive a better deal elsewhere, meaning the Texans may be preparing for his departure.

Houston recently re-signed right tackle Trent Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million. Brown played well when healthy last season, but he dealt with several injuries and was unavailable for the Divisional Round, which only made things more difficult for quarterback C.J. Stroud.

It’s possible the Texans envision Brown as their Week 1 starter, but it’s more likely he will serve as a depth option.

The good news is Houston has the flexibility to create significant cap space through a few contract restructures as free agency begins next week.

Expect the Texans to add multiple offensive linemen, though they may avoid paying top dollar for one single player. Rumors have already surfaced about potential interest in former Browns All-Pro Wyatt Teller and Colts right tackle Braden Smith.

If Houston can come away from free agency with even one of those players — along with another starting-caliber lineman — they’ll be in much better shape as they move closer to the 2026 NFL Draft and finally take that next step.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...on-texans-free-agency-analysis-offensive-line

 

[Houston Texans]

Offseason Thought Experiment: Should the Houston Texans get a new backup QB in Kyler Murray?

Welcome to the silly season of the NFL calendar. The new league year is almost here, but before then, or even some time afterwards, there is time for some somewhat off-the-wall discussions/thought experiments based on recent happenings in the NFL world. With that, let’s kick back, take an adult beverage or two, and have at it.

This past Tuesday, the Arizona Cardinals indicated that they were going to cut QB Kyler Murray. The former #1 overall pick played for the Cardinals since that draft in 2019, even earning a nice second contract to be the potential face of the franchise. However, that hasn’t worked out as hoped. This past season, a combination of injury and ineffectiveness saw Murray relegated to the bench in favor of Jacoby Brissett. No disrespect to Brissett, but if he is seen as a better QB option than you (you = Murray), then your time in an organization is up. Arizona is making this move, even knowing that they will be carrying a massive dead cap hit.

What does that have to do with the Houston Texans? On the surface, not much. Houston appears set at QB. Stroud, even in spite of his recent playoff debacle, is seen as the unquestioned starter. Davis Mills is set to return as the team’s QB2. After that, you have 2025 6th round pick Graham Mertz, who dressed for a couple of games, but logged no significant game time. While no one would want to replace Stroud with Murray right now, there might be a possibility that Houston could add Murray as a potential backup, sending Mills out. Besides, there was a time when a few internet rumors discussed bringing Murray to Houston in 2022, so there is some history.

While this article will not advocate a position, it will present some thoughts on the following question:

Should the Texans consider bringing in Murray as a backup QB option for the Texans in 2026?

The case for:

• Cap Friendly: Right now, Houston is still over the salary cap. They’ve already made multiple cap-cutting moves with the trade of Tytus Howard and release of Jimmie Ward. After the David Montgomery trade, Joe Mixon seems like a goner. However, the Texans still need to clear space for extensions/free agents. So, expect some more roster churn. Mills carries a $7M salary and has one year left on his deal. During the 2025 season, several QB-needy teams did call Houston about Mills. Houston made the right call to not pick up the phone then. However, Houston could change their mind. Arizona is on the hook for Murray’s contract, minus whatever he signs for with a new team. If Murray is ok as a backup, Houston could sign him for the league minimum (~$1.3M), saving significant money on a key roster spot.
• Draft Capital from Mills: If Murray is brought in for the backup QB spot, Houston can then look to trade Mills for some much-needed draft capital. Houston can restructure contracts and deals, but they don’t have all that much cap space to get all the free agents. Depth and future starters will need to come from the draft. A guy like Mills, with a low cap number and proven backup QB credentials, could net Houston a solid Day 2 pick. For Caserio, that is nothing to sneeze at.
• Better Quality QB: Mills’ time in Houston has been mixed. He was drafted to be a potential starting QB, and while he was on teams that arguably none of the best QBs of all time could have made contenders, Mills just didn’t show enough to be a franchise cornerstone. While he has his moments, he isn’t a guy you can win with over the longer haul. If Stroud goes down for a longer stretch than 2 weeks, the Texans could be in serious trouble, even with that defense. As for Murray, he is flawed (more later) but if comparing between Mills and Murray, you will generally take Murray over Mills. Better overall talent, a proven starter with better results than Mills over the course of a career. Murray could be quite the backup option.
• Murray Starts His Darnold Arc: Right now, Murray must be considered one of the bigger disappointments in the game. He never elevated his game to be that worthy of the #1 overall pick. Yet, he wouldn’t be the first higher-draft QB to flame out from his original team. Sam Darnold is the current poster child for QB redemption, going from franchise savior, to bust, to journeyman, to resurrected starter to Super Bowl winning QB. Mac Jones is starting to follow a similar path, and while he is still on the 49ers as their backup, his performance in San Francisco is showing people that maybe New England was the problem, not Jones. Murray could use Houston in that fashion as a place to rebound and get back into the starting game.

The case against:

• Arizona Cut Murray for a Reason: While Murray did play well enough to earn that second contract, he never led the Cardinals to a playoff win. Despite teams with plenty of offensive and defensive talent, Murray only ever played in one playoff game, and it was a rather disastrous performance at that against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Rams. He has always faced questions about his physical stature, and that led to on-field performance issues and injuries. Additionally, there have been lingering issues about his leadership and commitment to the team. Maybe Houston gets him at a discount, but is it that much a value? Besides, if Houston has to rely on Murray for an extended time frame, do they get the two-time Pro Bowler, or will it be the recent iteration, the one that Arizona is paying over $38M to say “goodbye”?
• Replacing Mills: In 2023, when Ryans went with Case Keenum as the starter vs. Mills when Stroud was out two games with a concussion, you could have made the inference that Mills’ days in Houston were numbered. That has not been the case since then. While Mills may not offer the best numbers, especially if called upon as a relief QB in a game, Mills has been effective in the backup role. Since 2023, he is 3-0 in games where he is the starter, to include wins against playoff contenders Jacksonville and Buffalo. He knows the team and they responded to him. If Mills gets shipped out, could Murray get that same level of response from the team? The defense is powerful enough to lead to victory in the league, but you can’t completely disregard the intangibles.
• Massive Distraction Issues: The only thing a team wants less than bad headlines about the starter is too much attention on the backup. A former #1 pick like Murray could generate those headlines. The distraction element is never far from the surface in this instance. It is one of those things that if things are going well for the team, it is no issue, but if things go south, it becomes a problem.

Assessment:

Given the salary cap considerations for the Texans, the potential to upgrade at backup QB plus Houston’s rather aggressive trade actions this past week, this thought experiment does have some slight plausibility. However, the biggest factor is Murray himself. Once released, he is free to engage with any team interested in his services. There will be multiple teams on the lookout for a starting QB like him, with places like Minnesota and the New Jersey Jets leading the way. Likely, he’ll want to prove himself a starter. He won’t get that in Houston. Yet, if the market doesn’t work to his liking, then Murray considers Houston. However, the odds suggest that Mills remains the primary backup, and if Murray enters the confines of NRG in 2026, it will be as an opposing QB.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...on-texans-get-a-new-backup-qb-in-kyler-murray

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Bring Back S M.J. Stewart on One-Year Deal

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 09: Safety M.J. Stewart #29 of the Houston Texans runs onto the field as he is announced as a starter before the NFL football game between Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars on November 9, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Houston Texans’ moves just keep on coming on the eve of the NFL’s free agency tampering period. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson have reported that S M.J. Stewart is re-signing with the Houston Texans to a one-year deal:

The Texans plan to re-sign safety M.J. Stewart to a one-year deal, per source.

The eight-year vet had 25 tackles and two pass deflections in nine games (four starts). pic.twitter.com/yepxzDqlXn

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 6, 2026

#Texans to sign safety M.J. Stewart to one-year contract, per a league source. Making sound recovery from torn quadriceps tendon @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 6, 2026

Stewart, 30, earned starting time as a safety for the Houston Texans in 2025 after C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released. Stewart started 4 games, appeared in 9 games total, and played heavily from week 4 onward until he tore his quadriceps tendon in week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This extension is evidence that Stewart must be recovering well from the injury. Before his injury, Stewart tallied:

• 25 Tackles
• 2 Pass Deflections
• 1 Forced Fumbles
• 49.4 PFF (79.5 RDEF, 63.0 TACK, 56.2 PRSH, 42.4 COV)

M.J. Stewart rips the ball out and Houston takes possession

HOUvsSEA on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/pCDqZ6Yu5a

— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2025

In his run as a starter, M.J. Stewart was decent, yet unspectacular and occasionally prone to being caught in bad positions in coverage. Despite that, Stewart is plenty fast enough to keep up with the rest of the Texans’ defense, and a reliable tackler. He’s been with the Texans since 2022, now signing his fourth contract with Houston as primarily a reserve DB and special teams player. He’s appeared in a total of 49 games for the Texans in that span (5 starts), finding the most success as a run-defending safety that plays a handful of snaps each game. Re-signing him may not seem like the most thrilling decision on paper, but Stewart’s veteran presence on the defense is clearly something Nick Caserio and the Texans value enough to keep him around for another year.

What do you think, though? Are the Texans right to bring back M.J. Stewart, or should they have looked for depth at DB elsewhere? Personally, I’m happy to see some veteran presence return to the safety spot – where injuries at that position in particular nearly tore Houston’s vaunted defense apart down the stretch. I was happy overall with the interim performances of CB/S Myles Bryant, S Jalen Mills, and S K’Von Wallace, but I think Stewart will provide the most security at the position of all options. Either way, I still believe it’s a position they could target in the draft this April. Let us know how’d you like the Texans to tackle the safety spot this offseason in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74375/texans-bring-back-s-m-j-stewart-on-one-year-deal

 

[Houston Texans]

Breaking News: Houston Texans Re-Sign LB E.J. Speed

Nov 9, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker E.J. Speed (45) is introduced before playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

The Houston Texans are locking up one of their key 2025 free-agency additions.

On Saturday morning, the Texans agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed with linebacker E. J. Speed, keeping him in Houston through the 2027 season.

The extension comes just a year after Speed signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Texans. The sizable pay bump after a single season reflects the team’s clear desire to keep the veteran linebacker in Houston.

Houston has been active early in free agency, using cap space created by restructuring several existing contracts to retain proven veterans and maintain continuity on the roster.

#Texans are signing lkey inebacker and special-teams contributor E.J. Speed to two-year, $13 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed, per league sources. @KPRC2
Speed is represented by Will Felix III of Maven Sports. pic.twitter.com/v93sicgMTk

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 7, 2026

The new deal elevates E. J. Speed into the top 25 highest-paid linebackers in the NFL… a notable jump for a player who was initially expected to serve as a depth option in 2026.

Speed logged 62 tackles and three tackles for loss while operating as Houston’s third linebacker alongside Henry To’oTo’o and Azeez Al-Shaair on the Houston Texans defense. In a scheme that typically featured only two starting linebackers, Speed carved out a clear role as a physical run defender and tone-setting hitter, eventually earning a few starts late in the season. He also dominated on special teams where he played 50% of all snaps.

Speed returning to Houston is also a clear indicator that former 2022 third round pick Christian Harris will pursue other avenues via free agency. Speed took over Harris’ role immediately upon his arrival and set a course for the once heralded linebacker to become an afterthought on defense.

Houston still needs a fourth linebacker to round out this group. Expect Houston to add another player in free agency or the draft.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...king-news-houston-texans-re-sign-lb-e-j-speed

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Sign TE Dalton Schultz to Extension

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Dalton Schultz #86 of the Houston Texans stiff arms Devin White #45 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at NRG Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Houston’s best tight end since Owen Daniels is coming back for another year! According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Texans are signing TE Dalton Schultz to a one-year, $12.6 million extension, tying him to Houston through the 2027 season:

The #Texans and TE Dalton Schultz have agreed to terms on a 1-year extension worth $12.6M, sources say, with $17.6M now guaranteed combining 2026 and 2027.

The deal, done by @SteveCaric of @Wasserman, rewards another veteran in Houston. First Danielle Hunter, now Schultz. pic.twitter.com/P37BS45syh

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2026

Source: #Texans signing veteran tight end Dalton Schultz to one-year, $12.6 million extension through 2027 season after career-high 82 catches @KPRC2 https://t.co/984AsdVboO https://t.co/CJLqkvqV9u

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 6, 2026

Schutlz, 29, had his best season as a Texan in 2025, receiving a career-high 82 catches and his 2nd highest PFF grade of his career (1st: 78.2 w/ Dallas Cowboys in 2021). He may have never eclipsed 100 receiving yards in a single game, but Schultz tallied over 50 yards in 8 of the 17 regular season games. With teammate Brevin Jordan tearing his achilles during training camp and Cade Stover breaking his foot in week 1, the burden for Schultz to steady the ship for a rough-and-tumble offense became a tremendous one in a hurry. He had 30 catches on 37 targets in just the first six games, bailing QBs CJ Stroud out of dire straits time and time again. Then, when CJ Stroud went down with a concussion in week 9 and backup Davis Mills assumed the starting role against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Schultz showed the entire team that he is no stranger to game-changing conversions:

View Link

Schultz, despite flying under the radar for much of the football-viewing audience, is one of the AFC’s very best tight ends. He’s become such a reliable target that a sort of mental connection has been established between him and CJ Stroud, which will now remain intact for at least the next 2 seasons. In 2025, Dalton Schultz tallied:

• 19 Games (7 Starts)
• 82 Receptions (career high) on 106 Targets (career high) (77.3 Ctch%, career best) for 777 yards (9.5 Y/R)
• 3 TDs
• 1 Fumble
• 73.1 PFF Grade (76.5 REC, 56.2 PBLK, 63.6 RBLK)

View Link

Even Schultz’s weakness, run-blocking, moderately improved in 2025, In performances like the one he had against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wildcard round, he looked more like an asset to the rushing attack rather than a liability. His consistency as an easy 5-15 yard gain in receiving and growth as a run-blocker was essential to Houston’s nine-game win streak in the second half the season. Without his reliable hands, Houston probably would have lost in week 10 against the Jaguars and week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, which could have been enough to keep them out of the playoffs. This makes for Schultz’s third contract in four years with the Houston Texans, and even though I’d still like to see general manager Nick Caserio aim for TEs like Isaiah Likely or David Njoku in free agency, the connection Schultz has with Stroud makes him a far more valuable player to the Texans than any other TE on the market.

What do you think, though? Was Houston right to offer Schultz an extension, or should they have moved on from him after the 2026 season? The Texans have cleared up some salary cap space with their recent moves of the last few days, but they’ll still likely need some more space if they want to keep RG Ed Ingram or bring in a similarly valuable interior lineman – should Houston have focused on that instead of Schultz? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Go Texans!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74388/texans-sign-te-dalton-schultz-to-extension

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Extend DE Danielle Hunter

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 18: Danielle Hunter #55 of the Houston Texans looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Texans are at it again! Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com have reported that the Texans and DE Danielle Hunter have agreed to a one-year, $40.1 million extension:

Texans, DE Danielle Hunter agreed to terms on a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension including a $30.7 million signing bonus. (via @tompelissero, @rapsheet, @mikegarafolo) pic.twitter.com/fJFwxmljMU

— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2026

Hunter, 31, will now be tied to the Houston Texans through the 2027 season. This extension frees up some immediate cap space for the Texans, who are now sitting with ~$18 million worth of cap space available.

Updated Houston Texans salary cap after the Danielle Hunter extension pic.twitter.com/bbic7ixcHK

— Troy_OTC (@TexansCap) March 6, 2026

For the last two years, the biggest story coming out of NRG Stadium has been the Texans’ defense. A stingy pass-defense, hard-nosed linebackers, and a ferocious pass rush highlighted by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have made Houston’s unit one of the most feared in the country. In 2025, Hunter had a career year, finishing the season with 2nd-Team All-Pro honors and tallied:

• 19 Games (19 Starts, including playoffs)
• 15.0 Sacks
• 54 Tackles, 15 TFLs, 22 QB Hits
• 3 Pass Deflections
• 3 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery
• 89.9 PFF Grade (career-high) – 60.8 RDEF, 49.2 TACK, 90.8 PRSH, 54.7 COV

The Texans and five-time Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter agreed to terms on a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension including a $30.7 million signing bonus, sources tell The Insiders.Zeke Sandhu of Klutch Sports negotiated the deal, which tied Hunter to Houston through 2027.

— Tom Pelissero (@tompelissero.bsky.social) 2026-03-06T02:23:39.695Z

This makes for another savvy and warranted move by Houston’s front office and general manager Nick Caserio. Finding veteran pass-rushers like Hunter on the market is like finding a diamond in the rough, and he continues to make Caserio look right for moving on from DE Jonathan Greenard in favor of Hunter in 2024. He and Anderson make the entire defense tick with their exceptional habit of collapsing the opponent’s pocket within seconds, flustering opposing QBs and forcing them into a season’s worth of bad decisions. This deal keeps one of the NFL’s best duos together for at least another two seasons, and frees up cap space for Caserio & Co. to target more players in free agency. A well earned payday for Hunter, and maybe even a snapshot of what we can expect Will Anderson to make per-year on his upcoming, inevitable, monstrous contract extension.

What do you think of this extension, though? We’re the Texans right to give Hunter another deal, or should they have been preparing to let him go after 2026? Would Houston have been better off saving this cap space for another player, and potentially drafting Hunter’s replacement? Or, is there another veteran edge rusher you’d rather see in battle red? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74363/texans-extend-de-danielle-hunter

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Re-Sign DT Naquan Jones

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 18: Naquan Jones #91 of the Houston Texans reacts during an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texans are continuing to clean up their roster on the eve of the free agency tampering period. Both his agent Mike McCartney and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero are reporting that the Texans are re-signing veteran DT Naquan Jones to a one-year, $2 million deal, with a max of $2.5 million:

The Texans are re-signing DT Naquan Jones to a one-year, $2 million deal, per source. Max $2.5M with incentives.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026

Naquan Jones’ agent @MikeMcCartney7 announced he agreed to a 1-year deal with the Houston #Texans.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 9, 2026

Jones, 28, was claimed off of waivers from the Los Angeles Chargers by the Texans in December of the 2025 season, shortly after veteran DTs Tim Settle and Mario Edwards suffered season-ending injuries. He would make his debut in Houston against the Arizona Cardinals in week 15, and would log snaps in every game until the team’s divisional round exit. In those 6 games, Jones tallied:

• 6 Games (0 Starts)
• 6 Tackles
• 1 QB Hit
• 36.4 PFF Grade (36.7 RDEF, 35.4 TACK, 58.1 PRSH, 61.3 COV)

You’d have to admit they’re not spectacular numbers, but Naquan Jones was a bit more than his statistics make him out to be. As a rotational defensive lineman, Jones was an effective disrupter and a veteran presence for the Texans when they needed it. Of course, the Texans also greatly benefited from DT Tommy Togiai’s miraculous emergence in the final two months of the season, but Naquan Jones was good enough to earn and second contract. Houston is likely to move on from other veteran lineman Mario Edwards, but Tim Settle’s impending free agency makes this signing a little more awkward. Settle was a valuable centerpiece for the defensive line before his injury, and this signing may get in the way of his return to Houston.

Naquan Jones could be a solid depth piece. We’ve seen countless IDL who aren’t household names thrive in DeMeco’s attack style defense.

Exact same measurements as Tim Settle Jr. (6’3”, 313) and has played a slightly higher % of snaps over a gap than settle (smaller volume but… pic.twitter.com/P4n5aTXEs4

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) December 10, 2025

Houston marks Jones’ fourth team since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent signee by the Tennessee Titans in 2021. In his 60 appearances for the Titans, Cardinals, Chargers, and Texans, Jones has had 8 starts, 102 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 10 QB hits. He had some deadly runs as a rotational tackle for the Cardinals in 2024, and maybe the Texans believe he can reach those highs once again while being flanked by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Hunter recently agreed to a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension with the Texans, making this Houston’s second signing on the defensive line this offseason. What spot is next? Maybe…the offensive line? One can only hope!

What do you think of this signing? Is general manager Nick Caserio right to trust Naquan Jones as a depth piece for the line, or are there better options elsewhere? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74410/texans-re-sign-dt-naquan-jones

 

[Houston Texans]

BREAKING: Texans Sign S Reed Blankenship

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 28: Reed Blankenship #32 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after making a tackle in the second quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texans have ARRIVED to NFL free agency! ESPN’s Adam Schefter just reported that the Houston Texans are signing former Philadelphia Eagles S Reed Blankenship to a 3-year, $24.75 million deal:

Former Eagles S Reed Blakenship is signing with the Houston Texans on a three-year, $24.75 million deal, per Kyle McCarthy at Athletes First. pic.twitter.com/3Ty148QvJ3

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026

Many of us here at Battle Red Blog have been hoping/expecting some Texans activity this offseason, and the Texans have been plenty active when it came to re-signing veteran players from last year and recouping some cap space, they have not been busy in the external free agent market. That changes now!

Blankenship, 27, was an undrafted rookie signed by the Eagles in 2022, and quickly became a starting free safety for their championship-caliber defense by the latter half of his first year. He’s quick, athletic, capable of reading and reacting to the opposing team’s scheme, and arrives at the point of attack with serious intensity. On top of that, he earned a reputation in 2023 and 2024 of being one of those safeties that is somehow always in the right spot on a big play, either to save the Eagles with a tackle or turn an errant pass into an interception. In his 4 seasons as a primarily starting safety, Blankenship tallied:

• 56 Games (50 Starts)
• 308 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 QB Hit
• 23 Pass Deflections
• 9 Interceptions
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 2025 Stats: 16 Games (16 Starts), 83 Tackles, 1 TFL, 4 PDs, 1 FF, 1 INT, 42.6 PFF Grade (75.3 RDEF, 71.6 TACK, 67.8 PRSH, 29.9 COV)

Blankenship had a bit of a rough ending to his tenure in Philly, getting exposed in coverage a few times despite otherwise being a generally reliable player. Despite that, though, Blankenship makes an excellent signing by Texans general manager Nick Caserio considering the lack of depth Houston has at his position and the need for some more thumping safeties.

Reed Blankenship forces the fumble! @Eagles seal the win pic.twitter.com/AHtRrkgFXD

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) January 23, 2025

Houston was exposed in the deep backfield by S C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s departure from the team after only 3 regular season games, and S M.J. Stewart’s season-ending injury in week 10. After that, Houston relied on a revolving cast of safeties to tie that position down, including but not limited to CB/S Myles Bryant, S Jalen Mills, and rookie S Jaylen Reed. Reed has earned some fans in the front office and in the stands, but this move makes it clear Houston isn’t satisfied with just Reed and Stewart’s one-year deal to return. They want another starter in the backfield, and they’re getting it in Reed Blankenship. He and CB Cooper DeJean became fan-favorite defensive backs for the Eagles during their most recent dominant run that has included 2 trips to the Super Bowl and a championship. Hopefully, that Super Bowl aura will follow Blankenship down to Houston for the next 3 years.

Picked by Reed Blankenship! The @Eagles have 5 takeaways on the day.

: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9xKLFmsG9y

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024

What do you think of this signing? Did the Texans do the right thing in targeting the defensive backfield, or should they have spent this money on an offensive lineman? LG Isaac Seumalo just signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a similar deal, should Houston have targeted him instead? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74450/breaking-texans-sign-s-reed-blankenship

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Sign DE Dominique Robinson

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Dominique Robinson #90 of the Chicago Bears stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Houston is bringing in their first non-Texans free agent of the offseason! ESPN’s Adam Schefter just reported that the Texans are signing former Chicago Bears DE Dominique Robinson to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million:

Former Bears DE Dominique Robinson is headed to Houston on a one-year deal worth up to $4M.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026

Robinson, 27, was drafted in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. In his four years there, Robinson tallied:

• 46 Games (8 Starts)
• 68 Tackles
• 3.5 Sacks, 6 Tackles for Loss, 7 QB Hits
• 3 Pass Deflections
• 2025 Stats: 12 Games, 19 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 QB Hits, 1.5 Sacks, 62.1 PFF Grade (58.0 RDEF, 56.1 TACK, 65.0 PRSH, 46.5 COV)

General manager Nick Caserio continues to spend along the defensive trenches, with this signing making it his fourth deal there this offseason and second deal today already (Houston re-signed DT Sheldon Rankins to 2-year, $12 million deal this morning.) While never a starter for the Bears, Robinson got a few hundred snaps in three of his four seasons in the NFL, primarily as a rotational pass-rusher who came in for specific plays only. In this role, Robertson was an effective disruptor, and even brought QB Matthew Stafford down in Chicago’s divisional matchup against the L.A. Rams this year. He’s a long and athletic force coming from the outside, providing Houston another depth piece at their most valuable position on defense.

The Texans are signing DE Dominique Robinson to a 1 year deal worth up to 4M via @AdamSchefter.

Robinson had 12 pressures & 9 stops for Chicago last year. pic.twitter.com/p4lWP19W7I

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) March 9, 2026

If anything, this signing will be insurance in the event the DE Derek Barnett leaves in free agency, or if DE Dylan Horton were to get injured during the season. What do you think of this signing, though? Should Houston have focused more on bringing Barnett back, or were they right to look to free agency for another rotational pass-rusher? Is Dominique Robinson the best option out there? Other defensive linemen available in free agency that wouldn’t break the bank include:

• DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
• DE Malcolm Koonce
• DE Jadeveon Clowney
• DT Calais Campbell
• DT Sebastian Joseph-Day
• DT Da’Shawn Hand

If you were to look outside of the defensive line, I believe the most valuable free agents still available to the Houston Texans include:

• G Alijah Vera-Tucker – Update: Vera-Tucker has signed a 3-year, $42 million contract with the New England Patriots
• G Isaac Seumalo – Update: Seumalo has signed a 3-year, $31.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals
• G Wyatt Teller
• T Jamaree Salyer
• T Jermaine Eluemunor – Update: Eluemunor has signed a 3-year, $39 million contract to stay with the New York Giants
• TE David Njoku
• TE Charlie Kolar – Update: Kolar has a signed a 3-year, $24.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers
• RB Rachaad White
• RB Rico Dowdle – Update: Dowdle has a signed a 2-year, $12.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers

In my opinion, any of these players getting signed by the Texans is good news. What do you think, though? What spots would you like to see Houston hit as free agency rages on? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/74437/texans-sign-de-dominique-robinson

 

[Houston Texans]

Former Colts tackle Braden Smith signs two year contract with Texans

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 16: Braden Smith #72 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Have you ever had the theory of relativity explained to you?

Einstein explained it as “being in a room with a pretty girl for two hours feels like only a minute has passed, while putting your hand on a hot stove for a minute feels like two hours have passed.”

Why do I mention this? Well, if you haven’t noticed, the legal tampering period for free agency began yesterday and the Houston Texans started it off by bringing in two free agents, neither of which were offensive linemen. And as the day dragged on and nary an offensive lineman was signed, it felt like this free agency period was going to last forever if we didn’t get a lineman.

Rest assured, the minute of putting our hand on the stove has finally ended. Because as of right now, the Houston Texans are in agreement with former Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith for a two year deal.

Texans signing OL Braden Smith to a 2-year deal worth up to $25M with $13.5M fully guaranteed. (via @Rapsheet, @TomPelissero, @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/v8toa5IjbY

— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2026

What do we know about Braden Smith? Honestly, not much, but that’s what the internet is for.

According to PFF, Smith spent almost his entire career playing right tackle for the Colts, with a single snap taken at tight end. In his 766 snaps taken last season, he gave up only one sack and six penalties.

This is a solid signing for the Texans in an area where they are desperate for depth, especially after trading Tytus Howard to the Browns. He will almost certainly compete for the right tackle position with Trent Brown and whoever else the Texans get during free agency and the draft.

How do you like this signing, Texans fans? Would you rather have had a different lineman brought in? If so, who? Would you rather they focused on a different part of the team?

Let us hear it in the comments!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...den-smith-signs-two-year-contract-with-texans

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Sign DE/DT Logan Hall to 2-Year Contract

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 21: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Logan Hall (90) during an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers on December 21, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Houston Texans have struck free agency once again: NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero have announced that they’re signing DE/DT Logan Hall to a 2-year, ~$7 million deal:

The #Texans are signing former #Bucs DE Logan Hall, who entered the league as a second rounder, source said. Homecoming for the University of Houston product. pic.twitter.com/8axo5r1Dnw

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2026

It's a two-year deal at around $7 million per year for Logan Hall with the Texans, per @DPFootballAgent https://t.co/fRFGwpY5l7

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2026

Among other things, the defensive line has been a point of emphasis this offseason for general manager Nick Caserio. DE Danielle Hunter got a big, albeit one-year extension, DT Shedlon Rankins re-signed with the Texans on a two-year deal, former Chicago Bears DE Dominique Robinson is coming to Houston in a one-year contract, DT Naquan Jones is doing the same, and now, Caserio has found another prized jewel for his free agency gauntlet: a 2nd round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft that just finished his first full season as a starting edge rusher for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And the cherry on top: he’s a University of Houston guy! Unfortunately, 2025 was not a season to write home about for Hall, but it was certainly not a disaster for him either. Last season, Logan Hall tallied

• 17 Games (16 Starts; 611 Snaps)
• 39 Tackles, 2 TFLs
• 1.5 Sacks, 6 QB Hits
• 1 Pass Deflection
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 66.8 PFF Grade (66.0 RDEF, 34.6 TACK, 65.5 PRSH, 63.2 COV)

Hall is a tall and extremely athletic defensive end, whose general slowness and failure to leverage his size against opposing tackles work to stop him from ever reaching his ceiling in Tampa Bay. His floor is a talented, toolsy end that can start on an average defense, but his ceiling can be so, so much more. Hall steadily improved as the season wore on for the Buccaneers, feasting on o-lineman using his mighty jump off the snap and making more plays against the run. Even though it ended in disappointment for the team, Texans fans should be encouraged with the satisfying stat-stuffing he got involved in to end the year.

A name I keep circling back to for the #Vikings to target this week is Buccaneers IDL Logan Hall.

Very solid run stuffing interior lineman, not a ton of pass rush upside, but that’s not obviously not been too much of a care of Brian Flores

This rep shows his motor; running down… pic.twitter.com/Xp8MDizdXu

— Brev (@brevmanbane) March 9, 2026

In my coverage of the Nick Caserio experience, I believe this counts as a quintessential Caserio signing. All of us think we have the manager of the hour pinned down, but hear me out: This deal is for a player that was a top prospect just a few years ago, hasn’t developed quite yet, has some serious highs and lows on tape, and is signed to a low-risk, high-reward contract. He may have all of the muscle and glitz & glamour of a premium edge rusher, but the consistent production is admittedly not there, making this signing a bit…unpredictable (sound like a Caserio signing, yet?). If he remains a middling player, this contract gives the Texans an opportunity to move off of him in a jiffy. Although, if Hall does realize his potential and turn into a top-tier rotational defender, then Caserio will look all the wiser with this deal.

A free agent I need in Cincinnati is Buccaneers DT Logan Hall

PFF grade rises every year, posting a 66.8 grade this past season

Really good in both pass rushing (65.5 grade) and against the run (66.0 grade)

Reasonable contract cost at around 6-7 mil per year pic.twitter.com/IFHRZluUIh

— Bengals_Storm (@Bengalsfan631) February 17, 2026

Of course, it also helps that the Texans are already equipped with two of the very best edge-rushers in the entire NFL, meaning there will be very little risk running on this deal to work out. What Logan Hall does provide is some extra firepower for the defensive line, and some insurance in case the injury bug were to strike at an inopportune time. Hall is another great depth piece for a loaded Texans defense, and, in my view, has the potential to be a real playmaker if need be.

What do you think, though? Is Logan Hall an emerging talent yet to fully blossom, or will he stall in mediocrity? Or, would you have rather seen another lineman join the Texans? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Go Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...xans-sign-de-dt-logan-hall-to-2-year-contract

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Draft Profile: OT Blake Miller

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 14: Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers blocks during a college football game against the Louisville Cardinals on November 14, 2025 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The second edition in our analysis of top prospects for the Houston Texans heading into the NFL Draft. Last week, Chase Bisontis received his time in the spotlight with a full breakdown. This week, we highlight another highly debated offensive tackle in Blake Miller.

Houston adding right tackles Braden Smith and Trent Brown doesn’t rule them out of building for the future, especially with a high-ceiling prospect such as Blake Miller.

Bio:​

• Size: 6’6”, 317 pounds
• Position: Right tackle
• Year/Age: Graduate, 22 years old
• Measurements: 34 1/4” arms (53%), 9 3/4” hands (34%)
• Expected draft range: late first to early second round

Film Analysis:​

30-minutes of Blake Miller’s tape will leave you believing he’s either the next greek god of blocking or future fodder in a Top 10 busts of the 2026 NFL Draft class list. Based on my film review, unsurprisingly, his talent and quality lies somewhere in the middle.

After an initial film review, I understand the inconsistencies in his profile. There’s evidence of elite play coupled with distinct whiffs and mental lapses. So, I abandoned the YouTube edits and dove into Clemson’s full game film. The reason? The contrasting quality of his top and bottom plays are so stark that they need to be in context of a full game of film.

The conclusion? He’s a natural mauler who is being asked to play with finesse. It’s asking Rembrandt to sing. Rothko to act, or Devinci to paint. Each are incredibly talented at one thing, but are unnatural at another skill.

Blake Miller’s PFF scores pop off the screen.

Miller’s pass blocking technique is quite refined, outside of his hands. He can be a bit wide with his grasp, which he gets away with due to his long arms. Bringing those hands in will pair well with his well balanced frame as he rarely leans forward at the point of contact.

His stance. I can’t get over his stance. It looks like he’s playing red light green light and got caught in the most awkward, upright position. It’s balanced, which helps disguise his intentions and the play itself, but I think it causes problems getting depth.

Try it yourself! Stand straight up and try to leap backwards. How far do you go? Now, bend your knees, lean forward, put more weight on your toes, then leap. Did you go farther?

A little adjustment could go a long way with Miller; a bit more forward lean will give him greater power to move backwards. Plus, it will improve his leverage in the run game.

In Clemson’s three-step drop system where the ball is out in less than three seconds, Miller getting depth is key to protecting the QB. That won’t be the case

More on the run game: Miller tee’s off against linebackers. He rarely whiffs or loses his feet when pummeling linebackers with a five yard head start. It’s a much taller task that one thinks; many OTs with his frame struggle to reach and control themselves at the next level, but it’s one of Miller’s best attributes. Then again, when watching the game against South Carolina, he struggled reaching their LBs. The inconsistency is real.

Clemson’s run game is not translatable to the NFL. Counters, zone reads, shotgun dives, and jet sweeps are a-typical in the NFL.He was rarely asked to block out on defensive ends, and when he did he was shucked off his blocks consistently.

Two NFL concepts concern me with Mller’s transition to the league: wide nine’s and stunts. Wide nine’s – when the defensive end lines up outside the tight end’s shoulder – will trouble Miller as their speed and angle will present problems. Again – getting depth in that kick-slide.

The second is stunts. Miller was beaten inside all too-often at Clemson by inside moves; something NFL teams will absolutely target with their best pass rusher. If he can’t protect the inside lane to the QB he can’t play on Sundays. He gave up FIVE pass rushes against Syracuse due to inside moves.

Fit in Houston:​

I want Blake Miller to pack his bags, give his landlord a 30 days notice, and move in with Texans newly extended DE Danielle Hunter. Why? Hunter does everything that Miller can’t handle. If Hunter can take the rookie to DE school for a summer, he can help minimize the breakdowns in technique which lead to the blemishes on his film.

To answer everyone’s favorite question, “can he move inside and play guard?”. To put it bluntly, no you cheapskate. Not every rectangle is a square. This is a pure offensive tackle who is already upright as it is. He’s going to make it at as a tackle or not at all.

I went into this review wanting to jeer Miller like an over-served baseball fan in the bottom of the eight inning. That didn’t happen. What I did find were clear technical deficiencies that need to be retooled to resolve recurring problems. Sounds simple, but it’s the same reason why players “never develop”. Failure to learn, absorb, and implement. learn, identify, and deter.

Finally, should Houston select Blake Miller? Given Houston has Trent Brown for one more year, there may not be a better landing spot. Sure, I’d prefer Houston pick him with the 38th pick and not the 28th pick, but that’s neither here nor there. The glaring holes in his game, namely zone blocks, stunts, and power-rushers, could tank his career if Houston can’t work around them. I currently have a mid-to-late second round grade on him.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/nfl-d.../houston-texans-draft-profile-ot-blake-miller

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Sign K Ka’imi Fairbairn to 2-Year Extension

The Houston Texans are back at it again in the NFL’s free agency, but this time they’re paying one of their most important assets. The Texans are signing K Ka’imi Fairbairn to a 2-year, $13 million dollar extension, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport:

The #Texans have agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract extension with Ka’imi Fairbairn, making him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, sources tell me and @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/wANqNqgJeh

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 10, 2026

The #Texans lock in one of the NFL's best kickers. https://t.co/hwPIUPQE4I

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2026

Fairbairn, 32, will now be tied to Houston through the 2028 season, and is now the highest paid kicker in the NFL. He’s earned every penny of it, too, as Fairbairn’s leg has been responsible for an innumerable amount of last-second, game-winning field goals in the DeMeco Ryans/C.J. Stroud era. Fairbairn has been one of the NFL’s top kickers since joining the Texans in 2017, but in just 2025 alone, he tallied:

• 15 Games
• 44 Field Goals Made (league-high) on 48 attempts (tied league high w/ Seahawks K Jason Myers): 91.7 Field Goal %
• A Perfect 35/35 on Field Goal Attempts Inside of 50 Yards, 9/13 Field Goals Made of 50+ Yards
• A Perfect 28/28 on Extra Points
• 86 Kickoffs, Totaling 5403 Kickoff Yards and 22 Touchbacks (25.6 TB%, 8th highest in the NFL); Kickoff Average of 63 Yards (tied for 2nd highest in the NFL)
• 90.8 FG PFF Grade

The ridiculously exceptional stats just go on and on for Fairbairn. He tied for first in the league for most 50+ field goals made (including playoffs) with 11 in 2025 and tied for 2nd in the same statistic 2024 with 13. He’s tied for 2nd with most field goal attempts in a season in NFL history with 48 in 2025, tied for 1st in field goals made in a single season in 2025 with 44, and has a virtually endless amount of clutch kicks dotting his professional career. If you’re looking for a few examples of how good he is, look no further than his 59-yard game-winner against the Bills in October 2024, or this highlight-reel of his several game-winning field goals made in the 2024 season, or this other highlight-reel of Fairbairn making increasingly longer and longer field goals. Simply put, Ka’imi Fairbairn in invaluable to the Houston Texans’ franchise, and each one of his 255 made field goals in the last 9 seasons have taken the team to higher and higher summits.

Ka'imi Fairbairn cuts the lead to five with this 51-yard FG

HOUvsNE on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/fqhEncU4CV

— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026

Often underrated, always understated, and now the highest paid kicker in the NFL, the modern Houston Texans wouldn’t be where they are today with Ka’imi Fairbairn. What do you think of this signing? Has Fairbairn earned this big payday, or should Houston have spent this money elsewhere? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ns-sign-k-kaimi-fairbairn-to-2-year-extension