2024 NFL free agency: Texans hosting DT Tim Settle Jr.

The Houston Texans made sweeping changes to the interior of their defensive line this week after trading away Maliek Collins and not re-signing Sheldon Rankins. However, Houston appears to have a replacement in mind.

The Texans are hosting veteran defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. on a free-agent visit, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. Settle Jr., 26, played the past two seasons for the Buffalo Bills after he began his career with the Washington Commanders from 2018 to 2021. He was a fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2018.

Settle Jr. has nine career sacks in 95 games, mostly as a backup. He also has 16 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for a loss and 87 combined tackles in his career. Settle Jr. finished the 2023 season for Buffalo with one sack, two quarterback hits and 14 combined tackles in 379 defensive snaps. He also has experience on special teams.

The Texans have a huge gap at defensive tackle right now as the 2024 league year officially kicked off Wednesday. Houston traded Collins to the San Francisco 49ers for a seventh-round pick and didn’t re-sign Sheldon Rankins, who inked a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. The only defensive tackles the Texans have right now are Khalil Davis and Foley Fatukasi.

Houston is also interested in former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead after the Texans were reportedly going to swap him for Collins. That trade fell when the Texans signed edge rusher Danielle Hunter. The Texans could still bring in Armstead, who used to play for DeMeco Ryans, now that he is officially a free agent.