Texans Offseason: Breaking Down Every Free Agent Entering 2024

The Houston Texans have 36 free agents leaving NRG Stadium and hitting the market this offseason after winning the AFC South title.

Coming off a 10-7 regular season and a playoff win, the Houston Texans are looking to become the next big contender in the AFC. 

On paper, Houston has the foundation. Led by Offensive Rookie of the Year and quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans secured the most important to be successful in a conference featuring top-five passers and staples of the game. 

Stroud is only one piece of the groundwork laid by general manager Nick Caserio. Houston saw upside from first-years Tank Dell, Juice Scruggs, and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. They watched Christian Harris, Derek Stingley Jr. and Nico Collins all breakout into staples at their respective positions. 

The Texans enter free agency with the third-most cap space at over $57 million, but they also have 36 impending free agents looking to cash in. Who sticks around for 2024? Who inks a long-term deal with another foe? 

Here's a quick rundown of every Texans' player set to hit the market this offseason.

DE Jonathan Greenard

No one benefitted more from the addition of DeMeco Ryans than Greenard. Drafted in the third round in 2020, the fourth-year pro totaled career-highs in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (15) and pressures (72).

Greenard, 26, said following the AFC Divisional Round loss to Baltimore that he'd like to return next season, but he also wants to be compensated fairly for his efforts. According to Spotrac, Greenard's market value is roughly $13.4 million annually. 

With Anderson as the future leading pass-rusher, the Texans could let Greenard walk if the asking price reaches over $17 million. Still, Houston totaled a franchise-best 46 sacks last season, and over 30 percent came from the veteran edge rusher. 

It's a steep price, but perhaps one Houston can't afford to pass up given last season's success. 

DL Sheldon Rankins 

After learning the basics of Ryans' defense under Robert Saleh with the New York Jets in 2022, Rankins became an efficient run defender in the Texans' trenches. Last season, the former first-rounder finished with 37 tackles, six sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. 

Rankins will be 30 this offseason and could be persuaded to take a two-year contract similar to Maliek Collins a few years ago. He offers value in the run department and was considered one of the leaders of the locker room and vocal presence. 

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TE Dalton Schultz 

Of the offensive free agents set to depart NRG Stadium, Schultz is the one Houston should be aggressively retaining. He was a security blanket for Stroud during the middle of the season and often stepped up in the biggest game. 

Schultz sealed the Texans' playoff win over the Cleveland Browns with his 37-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. He finished fourth in receiving yards (635) and hauled in five touchdown passes. 

Spotrac projects Schultz to earn roughly $11.3 million this offseason. That could end up being a deal if Stroud relies on him even more in Year 2. In a weak free agent and draft class at the position, Schultz feels like a priority signing and perhaps is the one player Houston overpays to keep him on the roster. 

RB Devin Singletary

Was Houston's run game elite last season? Not at all. Was it profitable with Singletary as the lead tailback? Without question.

After inking a one-year deal following a four-year stay in Buffalo, Singletary took over as the feature back in Week 9. He finished with a career-best 898 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per attempt. Singletary also finished with over 1,000 scrimmage yards for the third time in five years. 

Pricing will determine if he's back. Houston is expected to explore the running back market, but could also pivot toward the draft by adding a name like Oregon's Bucky Irving or Texas' Jonathon Brooks. Should the Texans lean the latter, a two-year deal worth $5 million annually might be enough to convince the 26-year-old to stick around. 

CB Steven Nelson 

Stingley drew in the reviews after a rebounding second year. Nelson was the more consistent corner and proved once again that he's one of the better No. 2 cover men in the league despite being 30. 

Nelson was voted a captain last season after restructuring his deal. He played up to a Pro Bowl level, totaling 12 pass breakups and five interceptions while allowing one touchdown in coverage. 

Nelson wants to be paid. Period. He's earned it after two promising seasons under two different defensive looks. Spotrac expects Nelson to garner around $10.2 million this offseason on the market. It's a reasonable asking price, but Caserio could look to get younger opposite Stingley in the long run. 

LB Blake Cashman

The breakout player of 2023, Cashman might be the most underrated linebacker in the league. He can play all three positions and excelled regardless of where he lined up, consistently racking up double-digit tackles.

Coming off a 106-tackle year, Cashman wants to cash in. He's earned a decent contract after proving his value as more than a depth piece. Cashman fits the Texans' defense, but everything comes down to price.

WR Noah Brown

Brown was a mixed bag in his lone season with Houston. He would break out for 100-yard games and then transition into a pass-catcher with only one or two receptions. Brown missed several games and ended the year on the injured reserve, but he offered value when healthy.

The Texans could be looking to upgrade the No. 3 role despite a career year for Brown, especially with names like Mike Evans, Hollywood Brown, Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd available. 

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LB Denzel Perryman

When on the field, Perryman was effective. He excelled against the run, helping the Texans improve from the 32nd-ranked unit to a top-10 front seven. In 12 games, Perryman racked up 76 stops, including six behind the line of scrimmage.

Could Houston bring him back on a one-year for leadership and depth? It should be on the radar. 

K Ka’imi Fairbairn

Consistent kickers are hard to replace. That's all Fairbairn has been since joining the squad in 2017. Yes, he missed a PAT during the regular season, but he also went 5-of-6 on kicks over 50+ yards.

The Texans have been one of the top special teams rosters under Frank Ross. Fairbairn is a big reason why. It would be hard to imagine a world where Caserio doesn't do everything in his power to bring the 30-year-old back. 

P Cameron Johnston

About those special teams. Johnston, when healthy, has been one of the league's more consistent punters. Last season, he averaged 47.7 yards per punt. Caserio probably already has been in contact with his camp about a reunion on a multi-year deal. 

CB Desmond King

King was cut in training camp but rejoined the squad after being waived by the Steelers midseason. He worked his way back into the starting nickel defender role and totaled 22 tackles, including five for a loss. The Texans could find themselves in a similar spot this offseason, where re-signing King makes sense in the offseason, but it doesn't promise him a 53-man roster spot. 

DL Haasan Ridgeway 

Ridgeway was supposed to be Houston's starting 1-tech, but a slew of injuries limited him to three games. Ridgeway joined Houston from San Francisco because of Ryans, so perhaps he sticks around on a team-friendly deal.

DE Jerry Hughes

After leading Houston with 9.5 sacks in 2022, Hughes moved into a rotational role behind Anderson and Greenard. Despite missing the playoffs, Hughes managed to finish the regular season with three sacks and six tackles for losses. He'll be 36 this offseason but still offers depth value for the right price. 

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OT George Fant

The expected swing tackle never moved from the right side. Fant started 13 games while Tytus Howard shifted inside to guard and later the injured reserve. While Fant enjoyed a promising campaign, Caserio agreed to an extension with Howard before the start of training camp. He's the right tackle for the future, meaning Fant likely will have to cash in elsewhere if he wants to start. 

DE Derek Barnett 

What a find off the waivers for Ryans' front seven. After joining Houston from Philadelphia, Barnett seemed to get better with each rep, finishing the year with 3.5 sacks, including one in the wild-card matchup against Joe Flacco. Barnett might be looking for a prove-it one-year deal, making Houston an option. 

S Eric Murray

The version of Murray that took the field in 2023 was the one Bill O'Brien envisioned when he signed him to a three-year deal in 2020. Murray ended up playing six games and finished with 13 tackles. 

C Scott Quessenberry

Quessenberry was the projected starting center, even with the addition of Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson. That never occurred since the veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL during training camp. Scruggs and Patterson could battle it out for center and left guard reps, meaning Quessenberry is likely headed elsewhere in 2024. 

OL Michael Deiter

When Deiter signed, many thought he'd be nothing more than a backup. The former Dolphin started 10 games and held his own at center. 

RB Dare Ogunbowale

His field goal in Week 9 will go down in Texans' history. Outside of that, he's a decent backup who offered value on special teams. Maybe that's enough for Caserio to see that Ogunbowale isn't replaceable. 

S DeAndre Houston-Carson

Signed to a one-year deal, Houston-Carson ended up starting six games in place of Jimmie Ward, totaling two interceptions and a half dozen pass breakups. While serviceable, there might not be a home for the 31-year-old next season. 

CB Tavierre Thomas

Thomas went from special teams ace to starting nickel defender. He struggled at times in coverage and eventually found his way onto the injured reserve following a benching in favor of King. It feels like either Thomas or King will return, but not both. 

OT Charlie Heck

Heck missed 11 games while on the injured reserve, but he's been a reliable swing tackle when healthy. A one-year deal as the swing tackle feels like an option. 

CB D'Angelo Ross

Ross was a special teams standout in 2023. As a nickel defender, things went south. The Texans could bring him back to remain a gunner on punts, and it likely wouldn't cost more than perhaps $1 million. 

DB Adrian Amos

Amos was claimed offer waivers from the Jets late in the season. He had five tackles in three games but did not see action in the postseason. 

DT Teair Tart

A former starter for the Tennessee Titans, Tart was picked up off waivers in December. He played in two games but was inactive for the playoffs. Expect Tart to be suiting up elsewhere next fall. 

TE Eric Saubert

Saubert joined the Texans after a stint on the Cowboys' practice squad. He finished with three catches for 12 yards in three games. 

DT Khalil Davis

A former star in the spring's USFL league, Davis went from practice squad standout to qualified depth piece in the front seven. Davis recorded 32 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Of all the depth players, Davis feels like the safest to return. 

OL Josh Jones

Traded for before the start of the season, Jones played in 12 games and started three. He's a veteran who could play multiple positions, but the Texans might be looking to upgrade in terms of upside. 

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WR Steven Sims

Sims' highlight moment came on his 67-yard punt return for a touchdown in the divisional round. He could be brought back as a practice squad priority. 

DB Grayland Arnold

Arnold had bounced around from practice squad to active roster over the past two years. He played in eight games in 2023 and finished the year on injured reserve. 

LB Neville Hewitt 

Hewitt has been exceptional on special teams the previous two years. Last season, he had 15 tackles, including three that pinned opponents inside the 15-yard line. He might be a priority signing for Ross.