The Houston Texans did not make any trades on Oct. 29, the day of the 2019 trade deadline in the NFL. However, they were very active all the way back in the preseason. Here is a look at the grades for the Texans’ haul this year in chronological order.
1. rb duke johnson (aug. 8)
The former Cleveland Browns running back has his lowest yards per target of his career through the first eight games at 5.93. However, he has the most receiving touchdowns with two, and he has the most yards per carry in the same span at 5.83. Johnson has also tallied the most yards on the ground in eight games to start a season with 274. Could D’Onta Foreman have done this or any of the other undrafted rookies that would have played behind Lamar Miller? The Texans are getting quality production out of Johnson, and at 26 years old, they can get a couple more as they solidify the top of their running back group.
Grade: A-
2. olb barkevious mingo (aug. 31)
Part of the Jadeveon Clowney trade to the Seattle Seahawks, Mingo has played just one defensive snap for the Texans, and that was in the Week 5 drubbing of the Atlanta Falcons 53-32. In toto, Mingo has played 154 special teams snaps. Perhaps his time on defense will increase now that the Texans have to cobble together solutions in the wake of J.J. Watt’s season-ending injury. However, through the first eight games, Mingo has not been impressive.
Grade: C
3. olb jacob martin (aug. 31)
Another part of the Clowney trade with Seattle, Martin has played almost an even number of defensive snaps to special teams snaps with 82 to 78. When the 23-year-old has had his chances, he has produced three combined tackles along with two quarterback hits. Just as with Mingo, Martin could see more playing time on defense as Houston seeks answers in the aftermath of the Watt injury.
Grade: C+
4. rb carlos hyde (aug. 31)
How well has Hyde played since arriving in Houston as the instant Week 1 starting running back? Try 544 rushing yards, which are the sixth-most for a Texans running back through the first eight games. Hyde is 40 yards better than Miller’s 2018 season, and has not missed a game, as Miller did last season with no snaps despite activation in the Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Hyde has also produced a 4.18 yards per carry, which is the ninth-best in club history through the first eight games among backs with at least 80 carries. The Texans haven’t missed a beat with Hyde as the feature back.
Grade: A
5. cb keion crossen (aug. 31)
The Texans were looking for some special teams depth and to replace cornerback Johnson Bademosi, so, they sent a 2020 sixth-round pick to the New England Patriots for Crossen. After not seeing any defensive snaps beyond his five in New Orleans in Week 1, Crossen was thrust into the line of fire when hamstring injuries hit starting cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby in Kansas City. Since then, Crossen has produced six combined tackles and a pass deflection as the Texans have worked to patch their secondary until Joseph and Roby are healthy again.
Grade: B
6. lt laremy tunsil (aug. 31)
When the Texans’ bargain basement solutions to left tackle weren’t working with Matt Kalil, the club quickly pulled the trigger and decided to instantly shore up their quarterback’s blindside. Even though it was a king’s ransom, Tunsil has been the difference in the offensive line finally clicking and protecting Deshaun Watson. While the Texans have tallied 24 sacks through eight games, down two from last year in the same span, it is worth mentioning they had two straight games of zero sacks in Weeks 5-6, and the sacks have only restarted due to injuries at right tackle. The no-sack games are indicative of what the line is capable of, and it couldn’t have happened without Tunsil.
Grade: A
7. wr kenny stills (aug. 31)
Kind of seen as an afterthought to the Tunsil trade, Stills has been impactful in his own way. The former New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins receiver has produced 18 catches for 315 yards and a touchdown in his six games with the Texans. While those numbers aren’t as high as what he has tallied in previous seasons, the 75.0% catch percentage is tied for his highest through the first eight games of a season. Stills’ impact could be more profound as he has to fill in for Will Fuller as the team’s No. 2 and speedy option opposite of DeAndre Hopkins.
Grade: B-
8. cb gareon conley (Oct. 21)
Conley led the Texans in pass breakups in his first game with his new team in Week 8. It was just one game, and the former Oakland Raiders 2017 first-round pick came into a situation where he had to help save the secondary as Joseph, Roby, and now Lonnie Johnson recover from injuries, but he wasn’t a total liability. Given it was just a game in, it’s not fair to give Conley a full grade relative to what the other seven acquisitions have.
