The Houston Texans shocked the football world with how they performed in 2023. They went 10-7 in the regular season, winning the AFC South and earning a home game during Super Wild Card Weekend.
They made the most of that opportunity, dismantling the Cleveland Browns 45-13 before losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-10. That game against the Ravens was competitive through three quarters before Baltimore poured it on late in the second half.
While that outcome was disappointing, the season was a smashing success overall. The Texans went from bottom feeders to emerging contenders in the blink of an eye. The 2023 offseason will be remembered as catapulting the team out of their rebuild.
NFL News & Rumors: Chris Jones, 2024 NFL Free Agency, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans Updates
Hiring DeMeco Ryans to take over as head coach and selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft, has the Texans heading in the right direction. During the 2024 offseason, it is time to elevate the team to another level.
Given how young their roster is overall, and without any long-term commitments, the Texans’ salary cap situation is great. They are currently projected to have the sixth most cap space in the NFL, providing them the chance to be real players.
Who could they look to target? One player who Nick Shook believes is a great fit for Houston in free agency is Kansas City Chiefs star defensive tackle, Chris Jones.
“After rightfully holding out over a lack of a contract extension (and eventually agreeing to a one-year deal), Jones is going to get a ton of money this offseason. And though Chiefs GM Brett Veach recently said re-signing Jones is “at the top of the list,” it likely won’t be that simple. We’re talking north of $25 million for Jones, which is roughly $10 million more than the Chiefs have in available cap space. Turning 30 in July, the time is now for Jones to cash in with a contender, and I can’t think of a better fit than Houston, where the Texans will operate with the luxury of cap space afforded by C.J. Stroud’s rookie deal. Much of Houston’s offense is intact entering 2024, save for some room for improvement at running back and tight end (could Dalton Schultz return?), so if the Texans are going to spend some of the $67 million available, why not bolster a group that already did well with Maliek Collins and pending free agent Sheldon Rankins up front? Jones is a monster who played a direct role in delivering the Chiefs another title and could have a similar impact for DeMeco Ryans’ defense in Houston. Let’s make this dream a reality,” wrote Shook.
The biggest luxury an NFL team can have is a quarterback greatly outperforming a rookie contract. That is what the Texans possess in Stroud, making this the time for them to strike in free agency with a big splash.
NFL News & Rumors: Chris Jones, 2024 NFL Free Agency, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans Updates
It wouldn’t get much bigger than Jones, who is one of the best players, regardless of position, in the NFL. He is a force to be reckoned with in the trenches, making an All-Pro or Pro Bowl team in six consecutive seasons.
Adding a player of that caliber to the roster would help elevate the Texans to that next level. Being AFC South champions was an incredible step in the right direction; adding Jones would put them on track to be legitimate contenders in the conference.
Want the latest NFL and NCAA Football analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
