Here's the current players available by position & some speculation as to who they will consider. However, this list will probably change a little by Friday. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/fb/nfl/1268232 SHOP TALK Texans weighing their options in free agency By CARLTON THOMPSON Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle The Texans have more salary-cap space than any team in the NFL, making them the envy of the league. They won't go on a wild shopping spree because they spent more than $41 million in cap dollars on the expansion draft. Nevertheless, the Texans will be a player in the free-agent game, and here's a position-by-position look at what the unrestricted market has to offer: QUARTERBACKS Best available: Tony Banks, Randall Cunningham, Trent Dilfer, Gus Frerotte, Jim Miller. All signs still point to the Texans using the top overall pick in the college draft on Fresno State quarterback David Carr, but they will sign a veteran to man the position until Carr is ready to play. There is no shortage of quality candidates. Miller and Dilfer are two of the better options, but they are looking for long-term starting opportunities. Frerotte makes a lot of sense, and keep an eye on Jeff Blake, who will be released by the Saints and has relocated to Texas. RUNNING BACK Best available: James Allen, Ki-Jana Carter, Antowain Smith, Lamar Smith, Ricky Watters. Running back is a tricky position to evaluate because the shelf life is sometimes short, and a lot of big-money mistakes are made at this position in free agency. The Smiths are intriguing because both played at the University of Houston. Antowain probably will cost more than the Texans want to spend on a running back, but Lamar is coming off a down year and could be had for a reasonable price. The best option probably is Allen, a 26-year-old back who rushed for more than 1,100 yards two years ago but took a back seat to rookie Anthony Thomas this season in Chicago. WIDE RECEIVER Best available: Germane Crowell, Jacquez Green, Jerome Pathon, Bill Shroeder, Michael Westbrook. The receiver position is one of the Texans' biggest weaknesses, but there is hope because the free-agent class and the draft look good. Once you get past the top tier of free-agent receivers, there are still quality players such as Ike Hilliard, Donald Hayes, Az-Zahir Hakim, Tim Dwight and Keenan McCardell, who is expected to be released by the Jaguars. One common problem expansion teams typically have is a lack of offensive playmakers. While the Texans might not make a big splash at receiver, it is important for them to get some weapons for whoever ends up playing quarterback. TIGHT END Best available: Byron Chamberlain, Cam Cleeland, Ken Dilger, O.J. Santiago, David Sloan. In an era in which teams are always looking for burners at the wide receiver position, a good pass-catching tight end can do a lot of damage in the middle of the field, and he also can be a young quarterback's best friend. There's some talent here, but the class is hardly deep. It didn't hurt when the Colts released Dilger. The Texans passed over Dilger in the expansion draft, but he could come cheaper as a free agent. OFFENSIVE LINE Best available: Olin Kreutz, Steve McKinney, Jeremy Newberry, Ron Stone, Mike Wahle. Getting Tony Boselli and Ryan Young in the expansion draft looks like an even bigger coup for the Texans now that top-flight tackles such as Flozell Adams, Tarik Glenn and Walter Jones have been slapped with the franchise tag by their teams. That's hardly a blow for the Texans, who should be set at the tackle positions for years to come. The Texans' focus will be on guards and centers. Stone, who made the Pro Bowl with the Giants this season, probably is the best available guard, but he will come with a hefty price tag. Kreutz, McKinney and Newberry are solid, and McKinney has local appeal, having played at Clear Lake High School and Texas A&M. DEFENSIVE LINE Best available: Chidi Ahanotu, Gilbert Brown, La'Roi Glover, Kenny Mixon, Jason Fisk This is another area where the Texans helped themselves during the expansion draft, securing two sure-fire starters in Gary Walker and Seth Payne and another player, Jabari Issa, who has some upside potential and could flourish in new surroundings. More than anything, the Texans probably will be looking for depth in this area, something they should be able to address in the draft. LINEBACKER Best available: Shawn Barber, Sam Cowart, Jamie Duncan, James Farrior, Earl Holmes. The Texans would love to have had Jason Gildon as the centerpiece of their defense, but that won't happen now that the Steelers have designated him as their franchise player. Coach Dom Capers' defenses always have featured a pass-rushing linebacker, so finding a Gildon-type player will be one of the biggest priorities in the offseason. If the Texans can't find such a player in free agency, don't be surprised if they use the first of their two second-round picks on one. SECONDARY Best available: Walt Harris, Tony Parrish, Duane Starks, Bryant Westbrook, Shaun Williams. Once again, the Texans have the expansion draft to thank for laying a solid foundation. They came away with Jets corners Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman, and now all they have to worry about are safeties and depth. Safety doesn't have to be a high-priority area because the Texans have experienced players on the roster such as Kevin Williams and Matt Stevens, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots this season. PUNTERS/KICKERS Best available: John Carney, Steve Christie, Mike Hollis, Sean Landeta, Kyle Richardson. Capers and general manager Charley Casserly have made it clear they view special teams on a par with offense and defense, so they won't take these positions for granted. Speculation is that Denver and New England placed the franchise label on their kickers to keep the Texans from trying to lure them away.
