NFL rumors: Houston Texans sign safety Marcus Gilchrist

The Houston Texans added to their secondary Monday by signing a veteran safety.

According to Ian Rapaport of NFL.com, the Houston Texans agreed to terms with safety Marcus Gilchrist. The deal is for just one season.

Gilchrist is a consistent safety that can add a lot to the secondary of the Texans. In six seasons, he has missed just three games. Before that, he had started every game for the previous three seasons. Before joining the New York Jets prior to the 2015 season, he was a San Diego Charger for four years.

Gilchrist has steadily improved since arriving in the NFL in 2011. He recorded his best year in 2016 with career highs in tackles (82), interceptions (3), and passes defended (7).

This is a rare signing due to the timing. Houston Texans training camp started this week and they must have realized they needed help in the secondary. However, the Texans were second in pass defense in 2016, allowing just 201.6 yards per game through the air. The only team better was the Denver Broncos.

While the statistics are promising, the Texans lost a couple of key pieces in the back half of their defense this offseason. Cornerback A.J. Bouye, who started 11 games last season, left Houston to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 24-year-old Kevin Johnson is set to take his spot. Additionally, safety Quintin Demps is now a member of the Chicago Bears. Demps, 32, provided a solid and consistent foundation for the Texans’ outstanding defense. The Texans did little to address this problem during the NFL Draft or free agency this offseason.

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With those losses, who knows if the team’s secondary would be able to remain effective. The front office hopes Marcus Gilchrist can fill the hole left by Demps. Not only will Gilchrist be able to perform on the field, he can mentor the younger players, like Johnson.