Value of Things: The Texans Magic Bullet Theory

Let’s Play a game, shall we?

This is a fun time of year in every sport. In baseball, we saw it happen later than in most seasons as players went unsigned all the way through the start of the season. In basketball you see guys hovering in August and September that have gone unsigned for whatever reason. In the NFL the calendar is at a point where most teams have spent their money and are waiting for the draft. Yet, a few teams have some wiggle room and the Houston Texans might be one of them.

I say might because it always involves some maneuvering. You could see a veteran like Robert Woods jettisoned now that Stefon Diggs is on board or you could see someone like Laremy Tunsil get his contract altered to create more cap space. Even with such moves the Texans can probably afford one more middle of the road free agent. So, in order for this to be fun we will need some reader participation. I’ll list five defenders and five offensive players that could potentially fill a hole on the roster in advance of the draft.

Offensive Candidates

QB Ryan Tannehill

I wrote about this one earlier. The thinking here is simple. It’s about going two deep at every possible position. The Texans supposedly interviewed Spencer Rattler in the draft process, so the idea of upgrading the quarterback room is something they are at least interested in exploring.

RB Kareem Hunt

I didn’t mention him in my running back feature, but he has become one of those journeymen that go from team to team. He gained over 400 yards last season in Cleveland when Nick Chubbs went down. I’m not loving the rate statistics, so you could insert J.K. Dobbins or any of the other guys I mentioned.

TE Logan Thomas

Every offseason there are a handful of guys that just price themselves out of the market. Thomas was that guy at tight end. I never would have advocated for him at anywhere near the price he was seeking, but if he were willing to take half of it then you could get a second receiving target at tight end. He caught 55 balls last year and would give you a solid veteran that could spell Schultz when he is hurt or be a weapon in two tight end sets.

OG Andrus Peat

The idea of relying on Kenyon Green scares me. There are a few guards available and I’ll list two. He has started ten or more games in seven of the last eight seasons. He could end up being a swing guard in the guise of a swing tackle like they had last season. You hope that Green is good enough to beat him out, but you can’t put all your eggs in that basket.

OG Dalton Risner

Like Peat, he has started ten or more games in every season of his career. There is obviously a reason why these guys haven’t signed. It likely is because the market doesn’t view them as solid starters. At this point, we want competition for Green. I should point out that Laken Tomlinson is another guard that fits the same profile. He is a little older, so he did not make the cut for the top five.

Defensive Candidates

S Justin Simmons

He is probably the number one guy on most people’s boards. He is obviously the best credentialed player still available on the open market. The question is whether you want your last bullet to go to safety. It all depends on what you think of Jimmie Ward. If you view him as likely staying healthy then it makes sense to go elsewhere. If not, he could be a really good addition.

CB Xavien Howard

Billy Joe Tolliver once famously said he’d tattoo “Luv ya Blue” on his butt if the Oilers would sign him. They did and it was good for a few bloopers on NFL Films but otherwise was a disaster. Wanting to be in Houston is a bonus, but it is a price versus production question. Is he better than what they already have? If not, would he sign for a rate that would represent quality depth?

CB Stephon Gilmore

How much does he have left in the tank? Of course, that is the question with almost all of these guys at this point. Gilmore was a top notch cover corner back in the day. How far removed is he from that day? Moreover, how does he view himself? Does he view himself as a shutdown corner or is he ready to take on a more complimentary role?

DT Calais Campbell

I think Campbell played back in the day of leather helmets. In all seriousness, he would be a last hurrah kind of signing where you’d hope he could give you 20 to 25 snaps a game in key situations. The position is littered with rotational tackles, so getting one more couldn’t hurt.

LB Zach Cunningham

Hey, they signed Lonnie Johnson right? Cunningham is the perfect illustration of the concept “value of things.” He has a place in the NFL and always has. The Texans just thought he was something that he wasn’t. If you sign him for the player he is, he could be quality depth at a position that desperately needs it. He was the ultimate two down linebacker and still could serve in that role if either of your starters are out.

Rules of the Game

Honestly there are no rules, but in order to make this fun it needs to be realistic. We do not have an infinite amount of cash to spend. Let’s assume they cut Woods and/or restructure Tunsil. You could probably afford between five and ten million in that instance. So, that likely means one guy from this list unless any of them go for dirt cheap. So, who do you have?