The Texans place a premium on players who are dependable, tough and smart. To that end, Houston made a strong push to keep as many of them as they could in free agency.
Through the first few days of free agency, we saw the reports of receiver Randall Cobb and safety Eric Murray agreeing to terms with the Texans after stints in Dallas and Cleveland, respectively. But a dozen or so players agreed to terms with the Texans ahead of and during free agency as well.
On both sides of the ball, as well as on a special teams unit that's drastically improved over the last two seasons, Houston kept key components. Aside from Dylan Cole and Ka'imi Fairbairn, who were both undrafted rookies, every one of the players listed below came to town after at least one previous NFL stop.
Once the Texans saw what these players meant on the field, in the locker room and out in the community, they wanted to make sure they would stay around in 2020 and beyond.
LB Tyrell Adams
P Bryan Anger
WR/Returner DeAndre Carter
LB Dylan Cole
K Ka'imi Fairbairn
TE Darren Fells
CB Phillip Gaines
CB Vernon Hargreaves, III
OT Roderick Johnson
QB AJ McCarron
CB Bradley Roby
LS Jon Weeks
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 5/2/2020)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
NT, Auzoyah Alufohai #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
OLB, Davin Bellamy, 48
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
CB, Anthony Chesley, 43
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
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
WR, Will Fuller, V, 15
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
S, Tashaun Gipson, 39
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
WR, Chad Hansen #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Karan Higdon #24
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
DE, Albert Huggins
G, Cordel Iwuagwu #70
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
RB, David Johnson #31
ILB, Jan Johnson #56
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
T, Roderick Johnson #63
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
OL, Senio Kelemete, 64
OLB, Chris Landrum, 42
OL, Rick Leonard, 72
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Alex McGough, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
OL, Kyle Murphy, 68
S, Eric Murray #23
OL, Elijah Nkansah, 75
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips #40
T, Brent Qvale #76
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
CB, Bradley Roby #21
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
WR, Tyler Simmons #86
TE, Dylan Stapleton #84
OL, David Steinmetz, 79
WR, Kenny Stills, 12
TE, Jordan Thomas, 83
S, Michael Thomas #28
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
NT, Eddie Vanderdoes, 95
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
S, Jaylen Watkins #27
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
LS, Jon weeks #46
WR, Isaac Whitney, 19
