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5 free agents the Houston Texans could still pursue

By Russell S. Baxter

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills on the field before a game against the Houston Texans at Highmark Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 03: Jerry Hughes #55 of the Buffalo Bills on the field before a game against the Houston Texans at Highmark Stadium on October 3, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Eric Ebron #85 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown as Kyzir White #44 of the Los Angeles Chargers defends during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Eric Ebron #85 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown as Kyzir White #44 of the Los Angeles Chargers defends during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Houston Texans free agent option no. 4: TE Eric Ebron (Pittsburgh Steelers)

No team in the league gained fewer total yards and ran for fewer yards in the NFL than the Houston Texans in 2021. And it’s safe to say that young quarterback Davis Mills could certainly use some more targets.

Perhaps one of the best decisions this offseason by the organization was signing productive wide receiver Brandin Cooks to a contract extension.

Adding running back Marlon Mack via free agency was a plus as well. But veteran tight end Eric Ebron, who spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, could be a good and economical addition.

He was limited to only eight games this past season and caught just 12 passes for 84 yards and one score. If healthy, he could be a very valuable red zone option.

3. DT Linval Joseph (Los Angeles Chargers)

A year after giving up the most rushing yards in the league in 2020, Houston still had a problem when it came to stopping the run.

This past season, only the Pittsburgh Steelers gave up more yards on the ground than Lovie Smith’s unit. Adding veteran defensive tackle Linval Joseph could help but stopping opposing ground attacks is not necessarily his forte (via Pro Football Focus).

What the Houston Texans will get from Joseph is a pass rush from the inside. And getting after enemy signal-callers was not something the team was able to do consistently.

Houston came up with just 32 sacks in 17 contests this past year. One-third of that came from second-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who finished with eight QB traps.

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