A Houston Texans fan with a bag on his head just before halftime of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 in Houston.
Free agency preview: Biggest priority re-signings for the Texans this offseason
In the Houston Texans’ first year under new coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, expectations were exceeded. They went 10-7 and won a playoff game a year after going 3-13-1.
Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio have a promising young core led by C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., but also have plenty of players hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason. They have the fifth-most projected salary cap space of any team at just over $66 million, according to spotrac.
Here’s some of the Texans’ notable unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason:
DE Jonathan Greenard
No player on Houston did more for themselves in a contract year than defensive end Jonathan Greenard. The 2020 third-round pick had a career-high 12.5 sacks this season, which was tied for the 10th-most in the NFL.
“[Greenard] did some really great things to allow us to be in games,” Ryans said in his season-ending press conference. “Everything I believe in starts up front with the rush and also with the offensive line and protecting. We’ll continue to build with our fronts, start at the front and build backwards is how I envision it. Jonathan had a really great year.”
Ryans was by no means direct when asking if they’ll re-sign Greenard, but his team-building philosophy implies he’d like to keep the 26-year-old around. The best defensive ends have average salaries in the $21-$25 million range. Greenard most likely won’t draw that kind of money, but he’ll be much more expensive than the $1.1 million he made this season.
