Battle Red Blog Groupthink: Houston Texans Free Agency Priorities

[Grissom]

Its the first Groupthink of the offseason and what better way to kick the group off with a question about free agency. As always, Groupthinks are posts where the writers get together to answer a question and provide their thought and feedback. Heres the question of the week for the Masthead:Free Agency starts next week! The Texans enter with only $4M of cap space - not nearly enough to make any big moves. What do you think they can address this offseason in free agency?l4blitzer:Likely the Texans are going to clear some cap space. Autry and Mason are the most likely cap casualties, along with a likely restructuring of Tunsils contract. Depending on the timing of the moves, that might open up as much as $15-$20M in cap space. What they do with that from there? Ideally, they address the interiorlines. Perhaps resolve some safety depth. Maybe they can get a deal at WR, especially if they can get a reliable speedster. Perhaps there will be some wheeling and dealing Graham Mertz Jersey, but the big-ticket shopping spree of last season is not in the cards for this :I think they can extend Danielle Hunter and get his 2025 number down but they likely need to cut some guys. Shaq Mason is an easy cut and that saves around nine million. Denico Autry is a cap or restructure that will be harder to take but necessary. Id personally trade Tunsil following June 1st for a 2026 second rounder. That saves around 21 million by itself. Id also consider cutting Jimmy Ward. Put all that together and thats close to 50 million if you count a Hunter :I agree with Scott on extending Hunter to get his 2025 number down, but I wouldnt get rid of Shaq Mason yet. I know hes a big number, but I dont feel comfortable at all having no good guards going into 2025 - Shaq Mason isnt a star, but were too thin there to get rid of him. Id try and restructure Tunsil and Autry, and then re-sign Diggs and try and bring in a guard like James Daniels, Will Fries, or Patrick Mekari. Daniels and Fries may be too expensive, but Mekari might be someone the Texans can get on a 2-3 year deal Daniel Jackson Jersey, like Shaq Mason. On defense, I wouldnt mind some insurance in the CB room with a signing like Mike Jackson from Carolina, Rasul Douglas from Buffalo, or Jourdan Lewis from Dallaswith as little cap space we have, but with a few restructured contracts and free agents willing to push their pay down the road, we could get two real contributors on short-term deals this free agency Kenneth L.:Diggs wasn't productive enough to earn a second stint unless hes willing to sign a cheap contract and count his void years as a part of his overall pay. The other writers thoughts of cutting Mason, Ward, and Autry are fair; the one that stands out to me out of the group is 34 year old Autry. Even with the offensive line being as much of a disaster as it was last season, I'd say trading Tunsil for a future pick, then shifting Tytus Howard to left tackle and Blake Fisher at right tackle makes a ton of sense. In terms of free agency, the team should look at the interior of the line or wide receiver. I think Darius Slayton or Demarcus Robinson could be low-risk, high-reward additions and provide plenty of speed. Theres also a hefty number of interior players available in free agency; Teven Jenkins feels like a perfect fit. Theres also Mekhi Becton, who may be more expensive this time around. Theres plenty of defensive line talent in the draft that they could double dip on. This position also needs youth and free agency doesnt feel quite right. Lastly, the Texans actually have zero backup corners. Multiple failed projects to revive careers occurred last year and Houston got lucky that Kamari Lassiter turned out so well. They should look to find another backup CB through free agency. Patrick.H:In free agency, I dont think they can do a whole heck of a lot. Maybe get some good depth players who want to contend for a Super Bowl, but thats probably about all we can expect. They might be able to get something worked out to keep Stefon Diggs in Houston Xavier Hutchinson Jersey, especially with his season-ending injury which will probably put a dent in his asking price. But thats about the extent I think the Texans can do this free agency season unless Nick Caserio has a few rabbits in his hat hes been saving for a special occasion. But thats part of the problem of going all-in on this championship window means you better make the years in that window count, because theres very little room for error.