What Are Texans Free Agent Edge Rushing Options?

The Houston Texans are going to be in the market for some help at Edge Rusher, and there should be no shortage of options on the free-agent market.

With more than $54 million in cap space, the Houston Texans are set to be one of the more active teams in free agency this offseason.

One position that should be a priority for Houston in one way or another is at edge rusher, where the team is set to lose three of its top players, with Jonathan Greenard, Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes all hitting free agency. 

Fortunately for the Texans, there is no shortage of talent available at the position, and there are multiple players who could fit into DeMeco Ryans' defense. 

So what are Houston's options? Let's examine:

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1. Brian Burns

First up on the list for the Texans, is Panthers star Brian Burns, who ranks as the No. 2 edge rusher and No. 5 free agent overall per PFF. 

That said, Burns - who had 40 pressures, 18 quarterback hits, and eight sacks last season - seems likely to be franchise-tagged by the Panthers according to reports, with the two sides so far unable to come to terms on a new deal. 

Burns is reportedly seeking a contract that would pay him $30 million APY, while the Panthers recently offered $27 million per season over five years. 

So the real question becomes, in the event that Burns doesn't get tagged, would the Texans spend that kind of money on him?

If not, there are multiple other free agents available as well. 

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2. Chase Young

The next logical name for Houston of available free agents would have to be 49ers standout Chase Young, who was traded from Washington to San Francisco in November. 

Last season including the playoffs, Young had 3.5 sacks and three tackles for loss, and seven QB pressures while helping the 49ers reach - and nearly win - Super Bowl LVIII. 

As it stands, some projections have Young's contract at around $16 million per year for four seasons, making him a much more affordable option than Burns. Meanwhile, ESPN believes he could theoretically sign a one-year deal should the right situation come along. 

Either way, a combination of Young and Anderson rushing the passer together could be a scary proposition for opposing offenses.

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3. Za'Darius Smith

Should the Texans elect to go further down the list, or perhaps even bring in a second pass rusher in free agency, former Packers star and Browns free agent Za'Darius Smith could be one of the more intriguing options. 

Smith is a versatile pass rusher who has shown the ability to get after the quarterback from multiple spots. In other words, he could fit in quite nicely alongside Anderson Jr. as a starter, or as a third pass rusher that Houston can lineup just about anywhere depending on the situation.

Last season with Cleveland, Smith had 5.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, and 29 QB pressures. However, in three of the last five seasons He has finished with double-digit sacks, including 26 over two seasons with Green Bay (2019/20).

Like Burns, there is a distinct possibility that Smith could be franchise-tagged. However, if he isn't he could be the most affordable of the bunch yet, with his contract currently projected at two years for somewhere between $10-13 million APY.

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4. Bring Back Grennard and Barnett

All that said, perhaps the most realistic and cost-effective option for the Texans could be to bring back what they already know in Greenard and Barnett.

Greenard led the team in sacks last season with 12.5 and had 15 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, and 32 QB pressures, while Barnett had 2.5 sacks, 11 QB hits, and 11 pressures in just six games with the team. 

PFF currently projects Greenard to earn a three-year deal worth around $47.25 million ($15.75 APY), while Barnett could come even cheaper - meaning Houston could conceivably bring both back for cheaper than the price of Burns alone. 

Either way, there will be no shortage of options for Houston when it comes to figuring out their pass-rushing answers.