Improve special teams.
Get help in the secondary.
Add more high-character players.
The addition of Johnson Bademosi checked all three of those boxes for the Houston Texans this offseason. Head coach Bill O'Brien described the seven-year pro as a "fabric guy", someone who helps improve the depth of the roster in a variety of ways.
He's part of a secondary that added veteran free agents in corner Aaron Colvin and safety Tyrann Mathieu. The Texans also spent draft picks on safety Justin Reid and cornerback Jermaine Kelly. Add in a handful of rookie free agents, and defensive backs coach Anthony Midget has a lot of new faces in his meeting room. A cornerback and special teams standout since he entered the League in 2012 out of Stanford, Bademosi has enjoyed his time so far in Houston.
"It's definitely been hot but it's been exciting," Bademosi said. "Getting the opportunity to play with these guys and be coached by Bill and Midget and some of the other coaches, I'm excited about everything."
Last year with New England, Bademosi started three games for the AFC champs. A Texans defense with pass-rushers like J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus was an attractive selling point for Bademosi.
"Our edge rushers and our defensive line is very talented," Bademosi said. "It all starts from there. When the pass rush is as good as it is here, then you're going to have opportunities in the secondary. I think it's going to be good."
In five of his six NFL seasons, Bademosi's recorded 10 or more special teams tackles, and he's second in the NFL in that category since 2012.
"He was very, very productive on special teams," O'Brien said. "We really liked that, so when he was out there, we felt like if we had a shot at him, he would be a guy that we would go after."
In addition to praising Bademosi's versatility, smarts, competitiveness, and approach to the game, O'Brien was also high on his speed, tackling ability and size.
Bademosi and the Texans start their veteran minicamp today at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 3/2/2021)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
ILB, Curtis Bolton #47
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
C, Cohl Cabral #72
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
G, Hjalte Froholdt #77
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
NT, P.J. Hall #96
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
QB, AJ McCarron #2
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
S Eric Murray #23
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
S, Michael Thomas #28
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
