The Texans bolstered their defense with the addition of free-agents, from left, Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry.
The Major League Baseball season is right around the corner, the NBA’s best season is about to start, March Madness is upon us, and it feels like half the city is at the rodeo every night.
So, what is everyone talking about? The NFL.
Yeah, I know, the Texans’ first game isn’t for another six months, but NFL free agency hit this week and as always it was the biggest story in sports.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
To some, the comings and goings of hundreds of players is as exciting as the games.
As is the case for the billion dollars of contracts signed on the first day or two of the new league year — money on paper, isn’t money in the bank — most of the additions to teams won’t be worth the hype.
However, if you’re a Texans fan the hype should excite you.
The organization continues to make sensible moves and is working toward being a championship contender. And by working toward, I actually mean this team should have the Super Bowl as a goal for the upcoming season, and it could get it done.
Crazy, right?
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
Yes, I realize this is a prime example of the aforementioned overreaction, but having seen what DeMeco Ryans has done as head coach, there is little room for doubt.
In DeMeco we trust.
In short, the Texans are a better team now than they were at the end of last season, when they were among the last eight teams standing in the playoffs.
That says a lot, considering how much more team building there is to do before training camp begins in July.
They will sign more free agents, they will certainly make a trade or two because general manager Nick Caserio is a move-maker like “Trader Daryl” Morey, and then there is next month’s draft.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
With so much more to come, the Texans added players this week who should make a difference in games they lost last season.
Even after the Texans jumped from 30th and 27th in yards allowed and points given up to 14th and 11th, respectively, Ryans said he would put an emphasis on improving the defense even more this offseason.
Consider that done.
Of the first 10 players the Texans signed as pure free agents, eight play defense and one is a punter.
A move from the middle of the pack to the top for the Texans’ defense will pay dividends. Baltimore, Kansas City and San Francisco, three of the four teams in the league championship games last season, finished 1-2-3 in defensive yards and points allowed.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
The Texans’ biggest move, their first announced signing, is signing Danielle Hunter, who was arguably the best defensive player on the open market.
Hunter, whose first name is pronounced “Duh-Neel,” was born in Jamaica, but moved to Katy when he was eight. He starred at Morton Ranch High School before playing at LSU.
He was a third-round pick in 2015, and only three players — T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Chandler Jones — have more sacks in as many or fewer games than Hunter since. Last season with the Vikings, he posted a league-high 23 tackles for loss with 16½ sacks and four forced fumbles.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Hunter should flourish in Ryan’s defensive system. He likes the aggressive “swarm” mentality Ryans espouses.
“Just being able to just go after the quarterback,” Hunter said. “The Texans showed that they were able to do it, and that’s been in my DNA since I came into the NFL.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
“I feel like the biggest thing about going into a football game is affecting the quarterback, and if you have a team that’s able to affect the opposite team’s quarterback, it gives you a better chance of winning the game. I like what I see here with the D-line, and (hopefully) I’m able to add my attributes and skills to that to be able to affect the other team’s quarterback.”
Plus, he gets to do it in his hometown.
“It’s an honor to be able to come back and play in front of my family and all the people that I grew up with,” Hunter said. “I know they’ve been pretty excited about the news lately, and it’ll be fun to be able to come to a game and see me play.”
Texans special teams coach Frank Ross joked with Hunter when the two met at NRG on Thursday, asking him what position he played on the punt team.
Hunter didn’t hesitate to tell him where he would line up. That’s the kind of player he is.
Not only did the Texans sign Hunter, who was fifth in the NFL in sacks, they also added linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who finished fifth in the NFL in tackles last season.
The Texans also signed Denico Autry, a 10-year veteran who has played for AFC South rivals Indianapolis and Tennessee. Autry has four seasons with at least eight sacks, including a career-best 11½ sacks and 50 tackles last year.
I didn’t mention the trade with Cincinnati for Joe Mixon, a Pro Bowl caliber running back. That is a sexy move that will be fun to track, especially considering Mixon’s talent and leadership.
With C.J. Stroud at quarterback in his second year, the Texans’ offense should be better. Their defense could be special.
Ryans, who fielded the best defense in the NFL as a coordinator with the 49ers the year before being hired by the Texans, is building toward that.
The 2024 Texans are far from a made team, and not even close to playing any games, but on paper this is one of the best teams in the NFL.
When does football season start, again?
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Rami G Khouri
Mort Laitner
Rachel Marsden
Bradley Blankenship
Michael Kwet
visit website
