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 12/29/2020)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
OL, Senio Kelemete, 64
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Josh McCown, 3
S, A.J. Moore, 33
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
DE C.J. Prosise #24
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
LS, Jon Weeks #46
