Free agency is set to open in two weeks and the Texans will certainly explore options for their 2018 roster.
"Any area that we have the opportunity to improve the roster and upgrade the roster, we'll do that," Texans general manager Brian Gaine said Wednesday. "As it relates to free agency, the draft, if there's trades, if there's waiver claims, tryouts, workouts. We're going to try to improve the roster from spot No. 1 all the way to spot No. 90 at any time and any place during the calendar year."
After releasing Brian Cushing this month, the Texans have 23 players set to become free agents on March 14, including veterans like Johnathan Joseph and Shane Lechler. With the NFL Combine underway in Indianapolis this week, Bill O'Brien and Gaine will be evaluating possibilities for filling positions of need with draft prospects as well. "Free agency is a needs-driven market," according to Gaine, but signing players must make sense fiscally.
"It has to make economic sense for us to do it as well so we're never mortgaging the future," Gaine said on Texans Radio. "That careful balance of knowing what's available in free agency and matching it to the draft. Once you complete your free agency meeting in January and February, and once you complete your draft meetings in February, you then have a better understanding before free agency starts in the middle of March to know where the draft may heavy or light or where there may be opportunities to satisfy that need."
Free agency begins 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 14.
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
