General manager Brian Gaine threw out the best phrase to describe the Houston Texans’ approach to free agency in 2019: Selectively aggressive.
The second-year general manager met with the media Thursday at the NFL combine and gave a brief state of the Texans with a little under two weeks before the start of free agency on March 13.
“I think we’ll be selectively aggressive where we can, based on what’s going to be available to us at various positions,” said Gaine. “Obviously with our own players potentially hitting the free agent market, we’re continuously planning all the time.”
The Texans will have to be prudent with their salary cap space, even though it is the fifth-most spacious in the NFL at $77.96 million, according to Over The Cap. The negotiations with edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney for a long-term contract, the re-signing of safety Tyrann Mathieu to a contract extension, and the decision to bring back defensive back Kareem Jackson leave Houston in a position to make careful evaluations before going whole hog in free agency.
“I’m always going to try to prioritize this, we’re always going to try to keep our own, draft and develop our own, and try to sign our own guys to long-term deals before we look for external solutions,” said Gaine. “And if we have the ability to do that, that’ll be my first priority.”
The Texans seemingly could use an upgrade at running back, but when asked if the club saw running back Lamar Miller – who will be 28 years old by Week 1 of his eighth professional season – as the starter, Gaine simply replied, “Yes.” Ostensibly, Houston won’t be exploring that talent pool in free agency, one that includes Le’Veon Bell.
Whatever the Texans decide to do, it is apparent that Gaine is going to be judicious with the cap dollars the club has available and not simply throw money at problems hoping they fix themselves.
