Houston Texans free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

After a disappointing 2017 season due to franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson’s ACL tear, the Houston Texans got back on track in a big way last season, wrapping up the regular season with an 11-5 record and another playoff appearance under head coach Bill O’Brien.

Unfortunately, the Houston Texans, once again, fell short in the postseason, getting absolutely embarrassed by a well-coached Indianapolis Colts team. Frank Reich’s men had their way with the Texans, as the Houston offense could muster just seven points in a 21-7 defeat that could have been much worse.

Therefore, it’s back to the drawing board for the Houston front office, as they look to construct a squad that can go deeper in the postseason in Deshaun Watson’s third season running the offense. The Texans have several important free agents – namely Tyrann Mathieu, Kareem Jackson, and Jadeveon Clowney – to mull over on the defensive side of the ball, and odds are that one of them will want to test the free agency waters.

So while Houston’s biggest priority this offseason will be protecting Watson better, they also need to think about replacing Mathieu and/or Jackson in the secondary. Houston finished 2018 in the top-five in points per game allowed and in the top-half of the league in points per game on offense, but they could still use some modest upgrades on both sides of the ball.

Fortunately, the Texans should have a copious amount of cap space. So while they will have a few needs to hammer out, they have more than enough money to keep key players like Clowney and have enough left over to pursue standouts on the offensive line and elsewhere.