http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3060256 Texans make defender priority among free agents By CARLTON THOMPSON Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle The Texans have one less worry in free agency after agreeing to terms on a multiyear contract with cornerback Demarcus Faggins. Terms of the agreement were not available. Faggins, one of the Texans' six restricted free agents, likely would have drawn interest from other teams, so retaining him was a priority. Because Faggins, 25, was a restricted free agent, the Texans held the right to match any deal in the event another team signed him to an offer sheet. Had the Texans lost Faggins, assuming they didn't tender him at the highest level and guarantee him more than $1.2 million next season, their only compensation would have been a sixth-round pick — the round in which Faggins was drafted out of Kansas State in 2002. That's hardly a fair trade for a player who became a key member of the defense last season. Faggins, who spent most of the 2003 season on the practice squad, leapfrogged veteran Kenny Wright on the depth chart in 2004 and became a starter in the team's nickel package. The coaches had so much confidence in Faggins' cover skills, they aligned him on an opponent's outside receiver and moved rookie Dunta Robinson inside to the nickel spot. Faggins responded by delivering the best season of his three-year career. He had a career-high 37 tackles and tied for third on the team behind Robinson (six) and Aaron Glenn (five) with three interceptions, including a 43-yarder he returned for a touchdown against Jacksonville. The Texans' other restricted free agents are running back Jonathan Wells, guard Milford Brown, linebacker Troy Evans, fullback Jarrod Baxter and tight end Matt Murphy. The team has 14 unrestricted free agents, including starters Seth Payne, Moran Norris and Corey Bradford. The free-agent signing period begins Wednesday. carlton.thompson@chron.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Texans Free Agents Unrestricted Tony Banks QB Jason Bell CB Marcus Bell LB Corey Bradford WR Jerry Deloach DL Junior Ioane DL Marlon McCree S Moran Norris FB Seth Payne NT Dashon Polk LB Corey Sears DL Jason Simmons DB Marcus Spears OT Kenny Wright CB Restricted Jarrod Baxter FB Milford Brown G Troy Evans LB Matt Murphy TE Jonathan Wells RB
Good job on the Texans part. Faggins is in line to take over for Aaron Glenn and should make for a great duo with Dunta. In the meantime, they keep one of the best nickelbacks in the league.
I guess this rules out any chance of drafting Antrell Rolle. Faggins might be a stud if he gets a chance to start.
Yeah, I'd say that K-State secondary was pretty good with Faggins and Terrance Newman in it. I still think the draft pick needs to be best available player, however. I think needs are best addressed through free agency, and talent is best acquired through the draft.
