Houston Texans free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 30: Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) rushes in during the football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans on December 30, 2018 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3 of 6

DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 02: Los Angeles Ram guard Rodger Saffold (76) walks off of the field at the conclusion of a regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions on December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Rams LG Rodger Saffold

There’s nothing wrong with going to the Super Bowl 53 well, especially because both the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams have incredibly dominant offensive lines. The Rams line is arguably even more dominant, boasting talents like Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, Rob Havenstein at right tackle, and veteran John Sullivan at center.

Like Whitworth and Sullivan, Rodger Saffold has been doing this for quite some time, and the 30-year-old (he’ll be 31 when the 2019 NFL season gets under way) is likely looking for a final nifty payday.

Because Saffold is five years older than Brown and plays guard, he’ll command far less money than the Patriots breakout star. That might work out great for the Texans, who’ve been itching for strength at the guard position since the days when Wade Smith and Mike Brisiel formed one of the league’s most under-appreciated duos.

Saffold was a model of consistency for the Rams offense this past season, helping pave the way for 17 rushing touchdowns from Todd Gurley and monster year-end performances from No. 2 option C.J. Anderson. There’s no doubt that Gurley, possibly the NFL’s best pure rusher, and Anderson, a former standout with the Denver Broncos, are talented backs, but Rams linemen like Saffold deserve plenty of credit for the offense’s performance this year.

Ramon Foster and a couple of journeymen round out the rest of the options on the guard market, and while Foster is a respected guard in his own right, Saffold is comfortably the strongest option. He’s coming off of an excellent season for the Rams – a season that isn’t over, mind you – and I’m sure Lamar Miller would love to run the ball behind a great run-blocking lineman who offers some left tackle flexibility as well.

Home/Houston Texans