Here it is, early March. The college all star games and scouting combine are well behind us. We're more than a week into free agency, Pro Days are underway, and the NFL draft is a mere seven weeks away.
Sound like a good time to make a quick assessment of the Texans roster
The Texans currently have 57 players under contract. By early July, this number will expand to somewhere around the league roster limit of 80.
That means between now and then the Texans will be adding about 25 players to the roster. Eight or so will come from the draft and the rest will be undrafted rookie free agents and veteran free agents that are still floating around.
Two players currently under contract (RB Chris Brown and OL Dan Stevenson)aren't likely to return.
The last time we heard from Brown, he was headed to injured reserve for back problems. He's still under contract so I'm guessing the Texans are trying to work out a settlement with him.
Stevenson? The last we heard of him is that he got a one-way ticket out of here for going too far outside the lines.
So let's take a look at the current Texans roster numbers and make some guesses on what to expect as the team continues to fill its roster.
OFFENSE
Wide Receiver (8): Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, David Anderson, Jacoby Jones, Darnell Jenkins, Glenn Martinez, Mark Simmons
Don't expect major changes here. The team will likely bring in a couple more undrafted free agent types to compete in camp. Jacoby Jones needs to prove that he can play receiver and hang on to the ball on punt returns or his days may be numbered.
Offensive Line (11): Duane Brown, Chester Pitts, Chris Myers, Mike Brisiel, Eric Winston, Cliff Washburn, Kasey Studdard, Chris White, Adam Stenavich, Rashad Butler, Dan Stevenson
Stevenson is gone so that leaves the Texans with 10 linemen and a full two-deep rotation. Butler moves up to the swing tackle with Salaam gone. Depth could be improved across the line. If Max Unger is still on the board when the Texans pick at #46, he would be hard to pass up despite the more pressing needs on defense. The Texans took 16 OLs to camp last year. Don't expect quite that many this year but there could be as many as four new adds to this group over the next few months.
Tight End (3): Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, Courtney Anderson
The Texans will likely add another blocking tight end (or two) to the camp roster to replace Mark Bruener. Owen Daniels hasn't reached agreement on his contract yet, but expect that to get done in the coming days or weeks.
Quarterback (3): Matt Schaub, Dan Orlovsky, Alex Brink
This group is also fairly well set. Expect another camp arm to be brought in before July.
Fullback (1): Vonta Leach
The Texans will add one or two players to this group. I expect they will try to re-sign Cecil Sapp who is an unrestricted free agent.
Running Back (3): Steve Slaton, Chris Brown, Ryan Moats
One of the more glaring weaknesses on the team in terms of quality depth, expect the Texans to draft a running back in the 3rd through 5th round, plus sign one or more undrafted free agents. I would expect as many as three new faces could be added to this group by the time camp begins. Brown most likely won't be back.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line (9): Antonio Smith, Travis Johnson, Amobi Okoye, Mario Williams, Tim Bulman, Frank Okam, Deljuan Robinson, Stanley McClover, Jesse Nading
The signing of Antonio Smith improves the front four and means the Texans won't be drafting a defensive end with their first pick in the draft. A run stuffing tackle is the primary need in this group and that could be an early draft target. Expect a few undrafted free agent signings to round out depth across the line heading into camp.
Linebacker (6): Zach Diles, DeMeco Ryans, Xavier Adibi, Kevin Bentley, Kevis Coley, Chaun Thompson
This is the second of three glaring need areas for the Texans. Expect the Texans to draft at least one linebacker with one coming as early as the 15th pick overall (if they like Brian Cushing and he's there). The Texans took ten linebackers to camp last year so expect three or four new faces added to this group by summer.
Defensive Back (10): Dunta Robinson, Domonique Barber, Eugene Wilson, Jacques Reeves, Fred Bennett, Brandon Harrison, Antwaun Molden, David Pittman, Matterral Richardson, A.J. Davis
Help! I wouldn't be surprised to see the Texans spend two draft picks to bolster the group. Safety is extremely thin with only Barber, Harrison, and Wilson on the roster. It will be interesting to watch David Gibbs try to mold this unit under Frank Bush's new scheme. The Texans need Molden to take the next step and Bennett to shake off his sophomore slump. Robinson is an unhappy franchise camper and Jacques Reeves is not a long term solution as a starter. Wilson was a good re-sign and I would like to see them also try to re-sign Nick Ferguson. Demarcus Faggins and Will Demps are probably gone for good and C.C. Brown recently signed with the Giants.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter/Kicker/Long Snapper (3): Matt Turk, Kris Brown, Clark Harris
There's probably not a lot of changes in store with this group. The Texans will probably bring in a free agent punter to push Turk and share reps during camp. Brown is a mainstay. Harris long-snapped well after Bryan Pittman was suspended by the league.
MORE ON THE TEXANS AND THE NFL:
- Benson non-signing makes sense in terms of money and pecking order
- Free agency update: AFC South
- Orlovsky eager to get coached up
- Dazed and confused by player movement? Try this free agent tracker
- Texans sign Antonio Smith, meet with Orlovsky
- Day one of free agency yields a mixed bag of news for the Texans
- Eight Texans players head for unrestricted free agency
- Are the stars lining up for Gary Kubiak and Stephen McGee?
- Texans release three players; RFAs due
- Memo to owners and NFLPA: Don't screw this up
- Texans number one need? How about talent and stability on defense
- Texans can't afford another free agent mistake
- Accused of violating NFL rules: What say you, Texans?
MORE ON DUNTA ROBINSON:
- It's time for the Texans and Robinson to kiss and make up
- Texans tag Robinson hours before deadline. Now what?
- Upcoming deals will continue to influence Robinson's asking price
- Hayden's new deal another benchmark for Texans Robinson
- Dunta watch: Expect more franchise tags on players this week
Comments
AJ,
I really respect your opinion from the message boards. I agree with most of what you say but I'm befuddled by yours (and many others) assertion that LB is one of our "most glaring needs" and would like to see your response to my opinion.
First, I realize that Adibi and Diles are coming of injury and largely unproven. However, based on their time on the field, they both looked like they could potentially be very good OLBs. I don't know that an '09 draft pick offers any more certainty to that spot. Second, I thought Bentley was great last year every time he was in the game- whether spelling Ryans a couple times or when he had an opportunity at OLB later in the season. He's excellent depth, IMO. Third, I think Thompson is a very good SLB. His injury early kept him off the field but he certainly has the athleticism and showed plenty with the Browns. I thought Coley looked very good in the preseason as well and he looks like a very good special teams player and at least should provide good, deep depth. Ryans, obviously is a very good MLB. So, though I agree their is uncertainty at the position, I believe the depth is very good and the potential is fairly high as well- all six guys are 28 or younger, I believe.
Meanwhile, I think our interior offensive line is dangerously thin. Briesel improved and became a solid RG. Myers is solid at center though overmatched against the bigger NTs. Pitts is very good but will be a FA after '09. After that, we have CWhite and Studdard. I have confidence that White won't embarass himself if he plays and confidence that Studdard will. Why, in your opinion, shouldn't the interior OLine be a more glaring need than LB?
Thanks, I appreciate your time and your writing.
John, aka Dalemurphy.
Hi John, thanks for the comments.
I do think the interior OL needs help -- I wrote about Unger with the 2nd round pick above. A lot of people wouldn't understand that pick but I'd be all for it. I'm not all that big on Chris White and Kasey for anything more than spot duty and I agree with what you're saying on Myers. Washburn and Stenavich are basically practice squad players and Butler is unproven. But LB scares me more. Adibi is small and couldn't stay healthy last year. Diles was playing about as well as he could prior to the injury but he needs to show that he's as mobile now as he was pre-injury. I would like a bigger guy at Sam, and in fact, I prefer Bentley over Diles. DeMeco's been banged up every year more than people know. Thompson and Coley are major unknowns. The Texans LB corps is small and outside of Ryans and Adibi, not all that quick. They need a disruptor like a Mayo, Willis or Curry. Unfortunately they won't get Curry and I'm not convinced Cushing is worth chasing - or that Matthews will be good value in the 1st. The Texans have been LB poor for far too long. If Johnny Holland had three 1st rounders to work with, they'd all be in the pro bowl. (yes, scheme has held them all back)
Thanks again for the comment.
Thanks for the nice summary of current state of the Texans' roster. I agree with you targeting RB, OLB and secondary as the three primary areas of need. The Texans may be playing the predraft disinformation game, but if they're not it seems a near certainty that they will go OLB with their top pick whether or not they can trade down. You don't seem to like either Matthews or Cushing as a 1st round pick. Cushing's injury history concerns me, but even in the 1st round I see Matthews as a solid value pick. I liken him to Michael Jordan. Like Mike he was not born a superstar, but has worked hard his entire life to get to the top. He's not there yet, and that's a good thing because he will continue to work hard to get to and stay on top. If he is anything like his Dad and uncle, then he will be a superb starting OLB for 10-15 years. Who do you see the Texans picking to be their new starting SAM LB?
o-t d, I like Matthews just fine but I think 15 is a little high. I think he's a good candidate in a trade down scenario. I don't what to think about Cushing any more. All this manufactured athlete talk has me a bit concerned - on top of the other questions about his role on the USC D translating to the pro Sam spot.
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