State of the Texans’ Defensive Line: Evaluating the Roster & Offseason Approach in Free Agency & the Draft
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With free agency approaching, the Texans’ defensive line is mostly set at EDGE, but interior DT remains a key area to address. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter form one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL, but the DT room is in flux, with Foley Fatukasi, Mario Edwards Jr., and others hitting free agency. Current Roster & Depth Chart Locked-in players: • EDGE: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter • DT: Tim Settle Jr., Denico Autry (though he’s been discussed as a cap casualty) • Depth: Kurt Hinish, Tommy Togiai, Dylan Horton (returning from lymphoma treatment) Key Free Agents: • Foley Fatukasi (1T) & Mario Edwards Jr. (3T) – Both exceeded expectations but are hitting free agency. Fatukasi was Houston’s only true 1-tech run-stopper last season. • Derek Barnett (EDGE), Jerry Hughes (EDGE) – Veteran rotational edge rushers. That leaves Houston with potentially five 53-man rostered DL spots filled out of a likely 8-9 man rotation, meaning at least three more players need to be added. How the Texans Should Approach This Offseason The best approach mirrors the WR strategy I had—get a veteran for the crucial 1-tech (like a veteran slot WR) while drafting an impact 3-tech (like a Z-WR) for pass-rush disruption. Step 1: Sign a Proven 1-Tech in Free Agency Veteran 1-techs take time to develop, play lower snap counts, and are harder to find in the draft. Instead of spending a first-rounder on Kenneth Grant (Michigan) as the only true top-end 1T, the Texans should sign a proven veteran for stability. Top Free Agent Targets at 1-Tech: • Poona Ford – Top choice due to run-stopping ability, underrated market value, and fit in Houston’s attack-style front. • Sebastian Joseph-Day – Versatile 1T/3T, solid run-stopper with pass-rush upside. • D.J. Jones – More expensive, but one of the better FA run defenders. This keeps Houston from gambling on Grant being there at 25. Step 2: Draft an Impactful 3-Tech in Late First/Early Second Disruptive 3-techs are more impactful as rookies and are plentiful in this draft. The Texans could stay at 25 or trade back into the early second and still get a starting-caliber DT. Best Draft Targets at 3-Tech: • Walter Nolen (Ole Miss) – Elite run defender with disruptive pass-rush ability. • Darius Alexander (Toledo) – 91.1 run grade, strong interior presence. New Texans DL assistant coach Frank Okam coached him at Toledo. • Tyleik Williams (Ohio State) – Dominant vs. the run (86.0 grade) but still developing his pass-rush skills. • Derrick Harmon (Oregon) – Best pure pass-rusher among DTs (88.8 pass grade), great value in late second. • T.J. Sanders (South Carolina) – Well-rounded 3-tech, strong vs. both run and pass. If the Texans trade back, they still have plenty of high-end 3-tech options available. Step 3: Add a Value Free Agent at 3-Tech for Depth Since the Texans will likely rotate DTs heavily, signing another veteran 3-tech alongside their draft pick makes sense. Javon Kinlaw stands out as the ideal signing: • Former first-round pick with high upside • Familiarity with DeMeco Ryans from SF & has the length to fit scheme • Could be a low-cost, high-reward addition similar to Mario Edwards Jr. last year Signing Kinlaw ensures depth at 3-tech while keeping the draft pick focused on a long-term starter. Final Roster Plan & Remaining Moves With these additions, Houston’s defensive line would look like this: • Veteran 1-tech FA signed (Poona Ford or similar) • Drafted 3-tech in late first/early second (Nolen, Alexander, etc.) • Value FA signing for depth at 3-tech (Javon Kinlaw) • Promote Solomon Byrd from practice squad as EDGE depth • Sign/re-sign a final DL piece (Derek Barnett or another FA/late draft pick for the 9th spot) Final Thoughts By taking this approach, the Texans: • Get a proven run-stopper at 1-tech instead of risking a weak draft class. • Draft an explosive 3-tech to pair with Tim Settle Jr. for long-term upside. • Add affordable veteran depth (Kinlaw) to round out the rotation. • Ensure they enter 2025 with a deep, disruptive defensive front. Plenty of tables, stats, and clips included in the article. Check out the full breakdown here: What’s your ideal Texans DL plan for this offseason? submitted by /u/texanscommenter |
