Houston Texans: 5 free agents who can help them next year

The Houston Texans saw yet another promising season end in a humiliating playoff defeat, this time to their hated rival Indianapolis Colts.

Once again the team looked like they weren’t prepared for a big game at home. The Colts thrashed them in the first half and then coasted the rest of the way, letting Houston continue to make bad mistakes and fail to execute. Bill O’Brien could find himself squarely on the hot seat after something like that happening again. This after being a late favorite for Coach of the Year.

All that being said, it’s apparent there are plenty of holes on the Texans roster that they have to shore up. The veteran core of this team isn’t getting any younger and they must move to take advantage of it while the window remains open. They’ll have plenty of money to sped in free agency. So who are some possible additions they could make that would help the cause?

Here are five names worth monitoring.

Jared Cook (TE)

Can anybody name the last tight end who was a legitimate factor in the Texans passing offense? They’d have to go all the way back to Owen Daniels and he played his last snap for them five years ago. It showed up in a big way in their loss to Indy. Nobody will say Jared Cook is a great player but he’s been productive as sort of a hired gun for several teams. He may not be a blocker but if a team needs a guy to catch passes down the middle, he can be that for sure.

Bobby Massie (OT)

The Houston starting tackles this year allowed Deshaun Watson to get sacked 17 times. That is not going to cut it by a long shot. If Watson is going to even survive to play until he’s 30, that position has to be upgraded. Bobby Massie is a name people have made fun of for a long time because of his struggles in Arizona. However, he’s drastically improved in Chicago, allowing just one sack in 2018. He shouldn’t be too expensive and is certainly better than anybody they have.

Roger Saffold (OG)

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The veteran guard has been a steady presence for the Los Angeles Rams the past few years. No one will say he’s a star but if a team needs a guy they can plug in and expect to stabilize an interior front, this is the one. He’s allowed six sacks in three seasons. By comparison, Zach Fulton allowed four just in 2018. It isn’t a move that will garner a ton of headlines but it’s one that will make the Texans a better offense overnight.

Matt Paradis (C)

One of the more underrated centers in the NFL. Paradis isn’t a name that gets mentioned often but he’s been a rock solid player in Denver for the past two years. He’s allowed just one sack in the past 25 games he’s played for the Broncos. Though he’ll be 30 this year, he’s only been a starter for four seasons. So there should be plenty of gas left in the tank. His reliable pass protection alone would be worth the investment.

Pierre Desir (CB)

The Texans got an eyeful of Desir during their crushing loss to Indianapolis. The former journeyman corner arrived in 2017 and worked his way into the starting job this past year. He’s played excellent football, allowing a modest 88.1 passer rating when quarterbacks target him with an interception and eight passes defended. He has size and athleticism and is now polished. If they’re looking for a quick fix, they can do a lot worse than this young man.

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