Houston Texans: 3 Bargains to target in 2019 NFL free agency

The Houston Texans bounced back from a horrid 2017 to capture the AFC South this past season. But Bill O’Brien’s club definitely has some holes to fill.

It’s already been a fascinating offseason for the defending AFC South champions and NFL free agency is less than a week old. A year ago, the Houston Texans became just the sixth team in NFL history to overcome a 0-3 start to reach the playoffs. The club finished 11-5, wining double-digit games for the first time since 2012.

But the Texans also appeared to run out of gas down the stretch and looked lifeless in a 21-7 home loss to the rival Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

Obviously, there’s a lot of room for improvement for our club and a franchise that still hasn’t reached the conference title game since entering the league in 2002. And while five division titles in the past eight seasons are something to be proud of to a point, Bill O’Brien’s squad has loftier goals.

In recent days, it’s the Houston secondary has been the focus of much attention due to its goings and comings. Safety Tyron Mathieu left via free agency and signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Likewise, versatile defensive back Kareem Jackson is now a member of the Denver Broncos. The organization cut ties with 2015 first-round cornerback Kevin Johnson, who joined the Buffalo Bills.

To offset those departures, general manager Brian Gaine added safety Tashaun Gipson, a salary cap casualty of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team also inked Denver Broncos’ 2014 first-rounder Bradley Roby, one of the better cornerbacks in the league. There’s also corner Briean Boddy-Calhoun, late of the Cleveland Browns and another sound pass defender. To date, the team’s onus in free agency has been strictly on the secondary.

As for the rest of their needs, are there a few other players that the Texans are keeping an eye at the moment? And can each be had for a reasonable price?