Texans fans hoping for Nnamdi Asomugha might be disappointed, but they shouldn't be. Adding Jonathan Joseph is a smarter move, short term and long.
It's a rarity for the Texans -- adding a premier free agent. While Asomugha was the clear No. 1 in the sweepstakes, Joseph is much more than a consolation prize.
At 27, he is three years younger than Asomugha. His contract is reportedly five years, $48.75 million, $23.5 million guaranteed and a $12.5 million signing bonus. Joseph's deal left room for another huge addition on defense, safety Danieal Manning.
Joseph and Manning adds up to more than just Asommugha alone, and makes more sense from a football perspective. It gives Texans fans a reason to be excited; the team filled its two most glaring needs with young players (Manning is 28) at reasonable deals ($20 million over four years) and makes the defense instantly better.
Joseph is a solid tackler, can take the ball away (14 career interceptions) and instantly improves the league's worse secondary. Manning is a playmaker who can also return kicks and is instantly the best safety the Texans have ever had.
Joseph comes at roughly the same price as the departed Dunta Robinson, and Joseph is a better player. So the Texans likely got the best corner they've ever had, too, save perhaps Aaron Glenn in the early days.
More importantly, It is also a bold, attacking move, something the Texans have not always been known for in the past. It's clearly the biggest moves they have ever made in free agency.
Joseph has had a few injury problems, but overall, he has been one of the better cornerbacks in the league.
No matter how it plays out, the Texans have made excellent moves, better than signing Asomugha.
The Texans made a splash today, and fans should be excited. For the first time, the Texans are being bold -- and smart at the same time. Those two don't always go together,
There are still questions, but the biggest two have been answered. The season can't get here quickly enough.
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