The Houston Texans need to address their cornerback situation with starters Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby set to hit free agency on March 18. At 36 years old come Week 1, Joseph may not return, and Roby missed six games in 2019, the most of his career, which raises questions about his durability.
Whether by free agency or the 2020 NFL Draft, the Texans have to replenish their cornerback group. They can’t rely on Gareon Conely and Lonnie Johnson alone.
If the Texans choose to go the free agency route, Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire says the two-time AFC South champions should target Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes.
Even with Johnson and Conley waiting in the wings, the Texans might want to bring in additional help on the outside. That makes a one-year, “prove it” type of deal with Waynes and enticing option. Waynes was solid last season for the Vikings in man coverage situations, allowing just 71 yards receiving on 134 man coverage snaps according to Pro Football Focus. He struggled a bit more in zone coverage situations, but Anthony Weaver, the Texans’ new defensive coordinator, is expected to maintain Romeo Crennel’s reliance on man coverage schemes. That would play to Waynes’ strengths as a man coverage corner, and make him an ideal fit in Houston on a “prove it” deal.
Waynes produced an interception, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his 14 games for the Vikings, all of which started. The former 2015 first-round pick from Michigan State will be 28 years old, just the right age for one of the “prove it” deals that Schofield referred to and that the Texans gave to Roby in 2019 and defensive back Tyrann Mathieu in 2018.
If the Texans don’t use free agency to fix their cornerback issues, they will have to rely on their picks from the upcoming draft.
