Expert grades reveal the Texans' bold free agency strategy. Discover how their strategic signings and trades are reshaping the team's offensive and defensive landscape.
The Houston Texans have had a sneaky good offseason. The offseason has been eventful already.
Through the first two weeks of March, the Texans have signed or traded for 16 players. The high volume of deals has those outside the organization raving about what they have been able to accomplish.
NBC Sports' Denny Carter graded every AFC football team's free agent period to this point. The Texans graded out with a B with the following analysis.
"Acquiring David Montgomery from Detroit made a lot of sense for a Houston offense that managed to get along in 2025 without a true lead back. Nick Chubb was a shadow of his formerly elite self and Woody Marks appears to be — at best — a change of pace option. Montgomery, who checks a lot of key efficiency metrics boxes, should allow the Texans to be more balanced on offense a year after they ranked tenth in pass rate over expected. A solid rushing attack should allow the Texans to hide CJ Stroud and his deficiencies exposed in Houston’s playoff drubbing at the hands of the Patriots.
Securing Schultz for another season should give Stroud a reliable check down option. Not only was Schultz second on the team in target rate last season (18 percent); he was also second in first read target share (19 percent) with a bottom-barrel average depth of target (6.3)."
Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) looks towards the sideline during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina-Imagn ImagesJust a handful of the team's contracts are set for over $20 million over the contract.
Safety Reed Blankenship (3 years, $24.75 million), offensive lineman Braden Smith (2 years, $20 million), EDGE Danielle Hunter (1-year, $40.1 million extension) and guard Ed Ingram (3 years, $37.5 million) are the only players offered more than $20 million. Tight end Dalton Schultz inked a one-year, $12.6 million contract with the team.
In addition, the Texans have strategically locked in plenty of needs. Offensive line was a question mark entering the offseason, but the team added the aforementioned Braden Smith and Ed Ingram to go alongside Trent Brown giving the 2026 squad three linemen with which to work.
On the defense, the Texans added three players on the front end with two edge rushers, two defensive tackles and impact defensive lineman Logan Hall.
Two safeties, two tight ends, a linebacker, a running back, and a punter and kicker round out the Texans' early offseason haul.
Some are going to view the team's roster moves with trepidation, as they have made bigger noise monetarily on the defensive side. Still, the team has done plenty on the offense with running back, tight end and offensive line to feel good about how they will do in 2026.