In the previous NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected their starting quarterback and best defender. As C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. are committed to rookie deals, the Texans are allegedly in position to make a splash by signing one of the biggest free agents in NFL history.
After making the playoffs, Houston is generally anticipated to play aggressively this offseason. The Texans are putting more emphasis on developing their defensive lineman than on any other position, even though they still have problems at running back. The front administration wants to add more impact defenders to this club in order to elevate it above the rest, even though DeMeco Ryans got a lot out of the unit last season.
2024 cap space for the Houston Texans: $70 million
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Some of the best alternatives are anticipated to go before NFL free agency even begins. Both edge rushers Josh Allen and Brian Burns, as well as cornerback L’Jarius Sneed of the Kansas City Chiefs, are anticipated to receive tags. Houston won’t be attempting to sign and trade any of the labeled players because it already has a small amount of draft capital.
With one of the best NFL free agents available in 2024, the franchise may have struck lucky. Christian Wilkins, a defensive tackle, will not be tagged by the Miami Dolphins. That’s at least one of Houston’s best options given the defensive line need, and it looks like it will be
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Now that Wilkins is set to become a free agency, many in the NFL anticipate the Texans to be “major players,” according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Another top target would have been Justin Madubuike, but the Baltimore Ravens will tag him.
Despite never having been selected to the Pro Bowl, Wilkins is among the NFL’s top defensive tackles and was selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In addition to being a superior run defender, Wilkins excels at applying inside pressure to passers.
Career stats for Christian Wilkins: 50 quarterback hits, 43 tackles for loss, and 20.5 sacks
Wilkins, who just finished his 27th season, had a career-high nine sacks and twenty-three quarterback hits during his time with the Dolphins. In addition, he had one of the best pass-rush victory percentages (13%) of any player at his position on ESPN. Wilkins will probably sign a multi-year contract with the Texans costing at least $24 million a season if they are successful in signing him. Wilkins’s arrival will make it lot simpler for Anderson Jr. to accumulate sacks in the upcoming seasons.
