I didn't think it was possible for me to dislike a franchise from Houston this much. I'm stuck with them, because I was here before they were and I'll be buried somewhere in the city limits long after they're gone. But holy crap, what a **** show.
Easily Andre and Watt so far. They will both be in the HOF easily, Hop and Watson have some more career to go.
Spoiler https://theathletic.com/1693436/202...d-after-a-shocking-first-week-of-free-agency/ The Texans opened free agency with the league’s most shocking move, then went mostly quiet. Unlike last year, when head coach Bill O’Brien sent away Jadeveon Clowney and acquired Laremy Tunsil in one day, no splashy deal followed Houston’s underwhelming DeAndre Hopkins trade. And with the first week of free agency complete, the chances of adding an elite player seem to have shrunk. Teams have followed plans, signed premium free agents and tied up cap space. As the COVID-19 epidemic limits travel, making physicals harder to conduct, signings are now likely to slow down. Yet the Texans, like a lot of teams, have more to do. Through either free agency or the draft, O’Brien must still address the following needs. Wide receiver Even at the start of this offseason, the Texans seemed likely to take advantage of a very deep draft class of receivers. Will Fuller is set to play in the final year of his rookie contract, and his injury history makes his future with the team uncertain. And beyond that potential issue, the Texans must now replace Hopkins, who during the past three seasons ranked in the top three in targets, receptions, receiving yards, first down catches and touchdowns. Signing receiver Randall Cobb helps, but the addition mostly serves to provide the Texans with a more-reliable slot man than Keke Coutee. Cobb is not Hopkins. Not even close. There are some intriguing receiver options still available on the free agent market, including Robby Anderson, who has recorded 50 catches of 20-plus yards in the past four seasons, and Breshad Perriman, a former first-round pick who averaged 17.9 yards per reception while playing on a one-year deal with the Bucs. But the Texans are unlikely to spend substantial money on another free agent receiver. The rationale for trading Hopkins — if there is any — is Houston can rebuild its receiving corps with a cheaper player or two from this draft class, rather than hand Hopkins a new, more-expensive contract. Interior defensive line The Texans never seemed likely to bring back D.J. Reader, who signed with the Bengals for a market-resetting deal, so it’s not much of a surprise the team didn’t spend big on any other interior defensive lineman either. O’Brien appears intent on prioritizing players at positions that play more snaps, but the need for an interior pass rush remains. The team’s “Lunch Pail Crew” of interior lineman — Reader, Angelo Blackson, Brandon Dunn and Carlos Watkins — managed just 61 pressures and two QB hits last season, according to Pro Football Focus. And 35 of those pressures belonged to Reader, one of the best players in a generally underwhelming defensive front. Houston might reasonably address this need in both the draft and free agency, so who are potential options currently on the market? Last season, in his first year as a starter for the Broncos, Shelby Harris recorded six sacks and six QB hits. Prior to that, he’d been a productive role player for Denver, managing seven sacks and 16 total QB hits across 2017-18. Over The Cap projects Harris, who will be 29 this season, to receive a three-year, $16.5 million deal. If the Texans seek a shorter-term option, 33-year-old Ndamukong Suh is available and coming off of a season in which he managed 2.5 sacks and 14 QB hits for the Bucs. But O’Brien prefers to avoid one-year contracts. Edge rusher Similar to the Texans’ need for interior defensive linemen, when it came to adding edge rushers, the team was unlikely to address this need early in free agency. Houston has significant money dedicated to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus already, and Watt, set to be a free agent in 2022, could be due for an extension. But he and Mercilus are going to need more help than they had a season ago. Vinny Curry, who will be 32 next season, could be an affordable option who adds depth. According to PFF, he’s produced at least 30 pressures in six of the past seven seasons — his one year away from the Eagles, in Tampa, being the exception. Markus Golden, who recorded 10 sacks for the Giants last season, is a free agent, too. His injury history — he played in 15 games during his final two years in Arizona — seems to have limited his market, but the 29-year-old has clear upside. Interior offensive line The Texans could create more than $10 million in cap space by cutting guards Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete, but they’re unlikely to part with one (or both) of them before finding replacement depth. The team signed 29-year-old career lineman Brent Qvale to a one-year deal, but he’s a career reserve and not the solution. At this point in free agency, there might not be one available. Drafting a guard, potentially giving the offensive line three starters on rookie deals, looks like Houston’s best option. Cornerback After re-signing Bradley Roby, the Texans weren’t going to pay for a second starting corner during the opening week of free agency. For now, they appear ready to play Lonnie Johnson and Gareon Conley on the outside, with Roby in the slot. Johnson would likely come off the field in base defense. Vernon Hargreaves and Phillip Gaines, two members of last season’s team who recently re-signed, are probable backups. This is basically last season’s secondary, which struggled because of both injuries and general lack of depth, so Houston needs to add another impact corner. After the initial wave of free agency, the team’s best chance of doing that is now through the draft. Running back Yes, the Texans traded Hopkins for running back David Johnson, and yes, they’re already devoting more cap space to their top two running backs than Tennessee is set to spend on Derrick Henry. But this is also true: Houston might need another running back. Why? Johnson has averaged 3.7 yards per carry during the past two seasons, so as much as the Texans believe he’ll bounce back, there’s a reasonable scenario in which the 28-year-old running back doesn’t. And if he doesn’t, the Texans can’t expect counterpart Duke Johnson to be a high-volume option. Duke Johnson has only received 100 carries once in his career, when he was a rookie. Thankfully for Texans fans, it seems unlikely O’Brien would spend many more resources on running back. Any addition would probably be a draft pick or undrafted free agent. Or Houston could turn to 23-year-old Karan Higdon, who averaged 5.6 yards per carry at Michigan and spent last season on the Texans’ practice squad.
Hopkins requested a trade last year. He knew he wasn't going to get Julio money once Tunsil got here. Its unfortunate he was only traded for a second rounder but hopefully the contribution from David Johnson mitigates that discrepancy
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...s-bill-barnwell-tracks-every-big-signing-move Big oof. Overpaying this dude, overall, by $14m? Sounds like typical BoB.
Because he’s saying him and hop where on the same team but hop wanted out basically meaning he wasn’t really on Watson team. And how him and hop where a dynamic duo but got split up bcuz hop wanted out. And how is this about O’Brien?
And if people go to Watson last IG pic with him in the car...somebody in the comments section was trying to be funny by asking did O’Brien take the picture....and Watson responded by saying O’Brien didn’t take the pic but did give him the check to get the car tho. People really need to stop making Watson go against O’Brien because it isn’t happening. He’s defended O’Brien his whole career and most recently after the playoff loss post game conference. Watson could of already took shots at O’Brien but he’s always had his back.