Ok, assuming that the Texans either re-up Dunta to a long-term deal, or at worse, franchise him at about $10MM for one year, do you spend anymore big money to try and lure a free agent here on the defensive side of the ball? And if you do, who would it be? Haynesworth? Asomugha? Personally, I wouldn't mind trying to get Fat Albert in the Texans uniform (sure, he's dirty, and we as Texans fans have plenty to hate about him, but tell me he wouldn't look good clogging the middle on our d-line), but I'm just not sure how motivated he would be once he got his big contract. Asomugha is an intriguing player to me, and I think he could really help our secondary, but to me, getting pressure on the QB is something that makes the entire defense better, so that's why I would go after Haynesworth first. Plus, it seems like if we were to draft a player in the secondary with either a first or second rounder, we could really let him develop behind Robinson, Bennett, and Reeves, and let him compete for a job, whereas on the D-Line, there really wouldn't be any competition, and as we know....competition breeds success.
if i was gonna throw money at a defensive player in the off-season, it would be Julius Peppers. I think what this team needs most is pressure opposite Mario
i don't think they'll touch haynesworth. or asomugha. but only because i can't see them spending some $20M on him and dunta. i suspect they're content with reeves, bennett and molden. my guess is that they'll continue to be conservative, continue to look for parts to add here and there - depth, etc., nothing earth-shattering... if you really sit down and look at their biggest needs: a RB; a DE; a CB... i mean, they could pretty easily get those in the draft. i think they're happy with diles and adibi and i suspect they'll try to bring wilson and fergueson back at safety, as they've played pretty well - though i doubt they'd hesitate to upgrade, if given the chance. then again, they're getting to the point where they may be one player away from being a playoff contender. haynesworth could certainly, in theory, be that guy - he'd make the entire defense better. but i think they'd view him as too big a risk.
The problem is, we haven't been too successful signing FAs. This organization has done really well in the draft though. I see them getting a lot of pieces in this year's draft. I do think though that one solid free agent could help out tremendously. Even someone in the secondary bringing better coverage would help out the line.
We're so close... we should trade a second and third for Phillip Buchanon to shore up our secondary! In all seriousness, we probably need another year of learning how to win (i.e. make it to the playoffs as a WC and maybe stealing a game on the road once we're there) before really becoming a Super Bowl contender. Don't go for broke this year and put ourselves in Salary Cap binds, add to the mix via FA and the draft and make Houston a destination FAs will seriously consider going into 2010.
It's funny, the lower profile the FA signing/trade is, the better we seem to make out. Everyone remembers when we got guys like Rosevelt Colvin, Keenan McCardell, and Phillip Buchanon but does anyone remember being excited when we got Kevin Walter?
I think it is gonna depend on what they have when it come to their first round pick if they get a corner they will use FA to get a D-Lineman! vise versa
Dunta, I afraid, is gone. This is a salary cap decision. Dunta will get his payday though. Good for him.
I find it hard to believe that a deal to keep Dunta in Houston can't get done rather quickly in the offseason. We need to win out and show Dunta that the team can win pressure games and is geared for a huge run in the future. At worst he gets tagged. Texans need to focus on a long term deal though.
is he worth top 5 $$$? i'm not so sure; then again, coincidence or not, this defense did get better when he returned to the line-up... i think it's going to be a tough decision for them.
I don't think it was a coincidence. It gave the rest of the defense confidence to take chances and it's paid off huge. By the way, why is a RB a top priority in the offseason? I can see adding a competent backup, but I don't think looking for a top back would be a priority. Slaton seems to be getting stronger and Kubiak has learned how to use him and keep him fresh at the same time. He's becoming an every down back.
I think he gets top 5 money from us based purely on what he has meant to this team and this defense for the last 4 years. And I honestly don't feel like it's a coincidence that this defense got much more cohesive when he came back, whether that's because the players themselves jelled better, or because Richard Smith finally felt comfortable enough blitzing and leaving the CBs on an island knowing that Dunta could hold his own. Ok, so the vibe I'm getting is that most of you feel like the Texans aren't going to sign anyone major, and fill their needs through the draft. Based on our prior free agent signings, I'd be ok with that, but I still feel like we're one SOLID piece (either a DE, DT, or S/CB) from being a true contender. How would you guys feel about trading up (maybe giving up a second and a third/fourth) so we could get Orakpo? I think I would LOVE that trade.
I don't know who's available, but I think a monster, block-eating DT should be on the list. I wouldn't go after Haynesworth because he's dirty and because he's better than they absolutely need. They need someone big enough to need double-teaming on pass plays to give Okoye more freedom.
