NFL free agency: One player each team should sign in 2019

Houston Texans: DE Mario Edwards Jr.

Defensive ends Brandon Dunn and Christian Covington will become unrestricted free agents in March. Neither player has moved the needle on the interior during their tenures with the team. The front office may keep one of the two as a reserve, but there’s a need for a solid starter opposite J.J. Watt who’s returned to NFL Defensive Player of the Year form with nine sacks, four forced fumbles and two pass breakups.

The Houston Texans may need more pass rush help with Jadeveon Clowney also in a contract year. Houston could go after an interior defensive lineman who’s capable of stopping the run and showing up as a threat near the pocket.

Fourth-year defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. spent three seasons with the Oakland Raiders before the team waived him during the past offseason. He signed with the New York Giants in September.

Edwards has served in a reserve role for Big Blue. Looking back at his production with the Raiders, it’s clear he possesses some potential as a disruptor up front if he stays healthy. The Florida State product missed 18 games between the 2015-17 terms.

When on the field with the Raiders, Edwards notched 5.5 sacks, 53 solo tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 30 appearances, which included 24 starts. Because he’s playing minimum snaps with the Giants, the Texans could land him on a cheap deal at 24 years old.

There’s enough upside to drive interest and some production to suggest Edwards has room to grow in a bigger role.