NFL year 2019 and free agency officially opened on March 13, and activity has definitely died down as the second wave of free agency rolls to shore.
Even though the Houston Texans have been fairly active in shoring up their secondary and getting backup quarterback square, the team still needs help in other areas.
cb morris claiborne
With signing Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Bradley Roby, the Texans certainly by numbers replaced cornerback Kevin Johnson and defensive back Kareem Jackson. However, the production may not be there. The Texans could still use some help in the secondary, and Claiborne would be able to be that lock down corner in Romeo Crennel’s defense. The knock on Claiborne has been his availability, but he only missed two games in a total of two season with the New York Jets compared to 37 over five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, an average of 7.4 games each season. The former 2012 sixth overall pick was productive with the Jets with three interceptions, a pick-six, 22 pass breakups, and 100 total tackles in 30 games in the AFC East.
wr chris hogan
The former New England Patriot and Buffalo Bill receiver would be a solid B-option for the Texans as they determine the status of Will Fuller coming off of his ACL injury and also if former 2018 fourth-round pick Keke Coutee can stay healthy for any sustained period of time. Hogan played 40 games for the Patriots out of a possible 48. Hogan caught 35 passes for 532 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games for New England in 2018. The 30-year-old wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but a viable option for the 2019 season as the club determined if Fuller, Coutee could handle the workload.
ot jordan mills
The former 2013 Chicago Bears fifth-round pick missed six games in his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, and he played a full 16-game season in each of the past three years in the AFC East. The Texans ought to look into taking Mills if they want to put a band-aid over the left tackle spot because they feel they won’t be in play for any premier talent in the top-100 picks of the draft. Mills would be able to help get the Texans through another season of holding together an offensive line with duct tape and folded up pieces of cardboard, but eventually they would have to allocate premium resources to fixing the problem.
dl muhammed wilkerson
The former 2011 New York Jets first-round pick took a chance on a one-year contract with a change of scenery with the Green Bay Packers, but only lasted three games in as an ankle summarily ended his tenure in the NFC North. At 29 years old, Wilkerson is entering the downside of his career, but there is always the chance that he has one more solid season left. As part of a defensive line rotation, Wilkerson could be a benefit to the Texans who will be searching for a player to replace defensive end Christian Covington, who did a good job taking advantage of the pressure J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney drew.
