Houston Texans
Key acquisitions: WR Stefon Diggs, RB Joe Mixon, DE Danielle Hunter, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DE Denico Autry, CB Jeff Okudah, DT Tim Settle, CB C.J. Henderson, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, P Tommy Townsend, S Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB Mike Ford, DE Mario Edwards Jr., CB Myles Bryant, LB Jacob Phillips
Re-signed: TE Dalton Schultz, K Ka’imi Fairbairn, WR Noah Brown, CB Desmond King, S Eric Murray, T Charlie Heck, DE Derek Barnett, WR Steven Sims, LB Neville Hewitt
Departures: DE Jonathan Greenard (Vikings), T George Fant (Seahawks), LB Blake Cashman (Vikings), RB Devin Singletary (Giants), DT Maliek Collins (49ers), DT Sheldon Rankins (Bengals), P Cameron Johnston (Steelers), LB Denzel Perryman (Chargers), C Michael Deiter (Commanders), CB Tavierre Thomas (Buccaneers), T Josh Jones (Ravens)
Remaining free agents: CB Steven Nelson, DT Hassan Ridgeway, S Adrian Amos, S DeAndre Houston-Carson, DE Jerry Hughes, S Kareem Jackson
Analysis: A huge winner of free agency is the Houston Texans. They far exceeded expectations in 2023 and supplemented that success with an aggressive free agency. This front office notoriously would sign the most free agents, but they were usually midlevel guys on one-year deals, but they gave out a bunch of multi-year deals to some star players.
The big defensive signing was former Vikings Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who replaces Jonathan Greenard, who replaced Hunter in Minnesota. Hunter has been consistently disruptive in his nine seasons and leads a defensive line alongside fellow signees Foley Fatukasi and Denico Autry. Fatukasi had some real good years with the Jets and Jaguars and was cut before he got signed. Autry is a sneaky really productive player with 7+ sacks each of the last four seasons. Also joining that line is Tim Settle and Mario Edwards Jr. They lost Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins, so guys like Settle and Fatukasi will get their playing time.
They upgraded at linebacker with the Azeez Al-Shaair signing, replacing Blake Cashman and Denzel Perryman. The secondary is much improved with former top 10 picks of the 2020 draft Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson and former Patriots slot corner Myles Bryant. They also re-signed Desmond King and Eric Murray and brought back old friend Lonnie Johnson.
The offense got some MAJOR upgrades. They made a splash move to acquire Stefon Diggs from the Bills for a second-round pick while reworking his deal into a one-year contract, so no risk beyond this year. This receiver room is looking awesome with Diggs at the top with breakout star Nico Collins and rookie phenom Tank Dell along with Robert Woods, John Metchie, and Noah Brown. Dalton Schultz is also back on a multi-year deal after a great one-year prove it deal last year. Joe Mixon was also traded for from the Bengals and signed to a new deal. He replaces Devin Singletary who had a good year for them, and will be the lead back ahead of Dameon Pierce.
Conclusion: Without a first-round pick from their trade up last year to get Will Anderson, and trading the other that they acquired from the Browns for Deshaun Watson to the Vikings, the Texans won’t be drafting til the second round where they have two picks, but I don’t see any major holes. I think they will go tackle and probably add defensive depth, but this is a really good exciting roster.
Indianapolis Colts
Key acquisitions: DT Raekwon Davis, QB Joe Flacco
Re-signed: WR Michael Pittman Jr., CB Kenny Moore, S Julian Blackmon, DE Tyquan Lewis, DT Grover Stewart, P Rigoberto Sanchez, LB Ronnie Harrison, DE Genard Avery, DT Taven Bryan, G Danny Pinter
Departures: QB Gardner Minshew (Raiders), RB Zack Moss (Bengals), DE Jacob Martin (Bears)
Analysis: The Colts main focus was bringing back their own guys. It was a promising 2023 with rookie Anthony Richardson that ended early due to injury, but this is a team built on homegrown talent, and they kept their guys.
Michael Pittman is back on a three-year deal after getting franchise tagged and figures to continue being the WR1. The offense lost backup running back Zack Moss who played very well for them when Jonathan Taylor was out and didn’t replace him.
A lot of guys were brought back on defense, including starting free safety Julian Blackmon, Pro Bowl corner Kenny Moore, and defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Grover Stewart.
Conclusion: This team needs offensive weapons. They need wide receiver and tight end, and this is the class to have those needs. The 15th pick could get you Brock Bowers if he slides, but if they want a premiere receiver, they’ll need to trade up.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Key acquisitions: C Mitch Morse, WR Gabe Davis, S Darnell Savage, DT Arik Armstead, QB Mac Jones, WR Devin Duvernay, CB Ronald Darby, K Joey Slye, OLB Trevis Gipson, TE Josiah Deguara
Re-signed: OLB Josh Allen, G Ezra Cleveland, S Daniel Thomas, RB D’Ernest Johnson, C Tyler Shatley
Departures: WR Calvin Ridley (Titans), DT Folorunso Fatukasi (Texans), OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (Panthers), S Rayshawn Jenkins (Seahawks), CB Darious Williams (Rams), K Brandon McManus (Commanders), DE Angelo Blackson (Broncos)
Remaining free agents: DE Dawuane Smoot, WR Jamal Agnew, CB Tre Herndon
Analysis: Yet another busy free agency for the Jaguars. They parted with key defensive starters in Foley Fatukasi, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Darious Williams, and wide receiver Calvin Ridley, but they found some replacements. Darnell Savage and Arik Armstead are very good players that can fill those roles, and Ronald Darby is a very good starting corner. Gabe Davis got a ton of money to be a WR2, and Devin Duvernay is an All-Pro returner that will replace Jamal Agnew. Mitch Morse was a surprise signing as they already have Luke Fortner at center, so we could see some shuffling there. Mac Jones was also traded for to be the backup to Trevor Lawrence, not much there.
Conclusion: Kind of a meh free agency, nothing super special, just kind of run of the mill. Lost guys, signed guys to replace them, no major upgrades or losses. As for the draft, no position is really set so they could go anywhere.
Tennessee Titans
Key acquisitions: CB L’Jarius Sneed, RB Tony Pollard, WR Calvin Ridley, C Lloyd Cushenberry, CB Chidobe Awuzie, LB Kenneth Murray, QB Mason Rudolph, G Saahdiq Charles, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, T Leroy Watson
Re-signed: WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhene, K Nick Folk
Departures: RB Derrick Henry (Ravens), C Aaron Brewer (Dolphins), DE Denico Autry (Texans), CB Kristian Fulton (Chargers), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Texans), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Cardinals), OT Andre Dillard (Packers), WR Chris Moore (Cardinals), S K’Von Wallace (Seahawks)
Remaining free agents: QB Ryan Tannehill, T Chris Hubbard, S Terrell Edmunds
Analysis: The Titans were not good last year, but they’re trying to rebuild with some big time players. They made the big trade to acquire franchised cornerback L’Jarius Sneed from the Chiefs and signed him to a big deal to add to a young secondary that also added former Cowboys and Bengals starter Chidobe Awuzie and lost Kristian Fulton and Sean Murphy-Bunting. They also brought in former Chargers first-rounder Kenneth Murray to replace leading tackler Azeez Al-Shaair.
On offense they decided to move on from longtime starter Derrick Henry, who signed with Baltimore, and replace him with Cowboys starter Tony Pollard. Last year was Pollard’s first season as the official starter, and severely underperformed. Let’s see how he pairs with second-year speedster Tyjae Spears. They also made a surprising move in signing former Falcons and Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley to a big four-year deal. They desperately needed a receiver alongside DeAndre Hopkins, and Treylon Burks has not worked out so far.
They also added on the offensive line with former Broncos four-year starting center Lloyd Cushenberry to replace Aaron Brewer and some depth with Saahdiq Charles.
Conclusion: The Titans have been working to rebuild the last couple years and I still don’t quite know what they’re doing. Is Will Levis the guy? Maybe. Malik Willis sure as hell isn’t and Mason Rudolph will not be. Taking a quarterback for the third straight draft isn’t a great look, but they essentially need to add everywhere. Top needs are probably edge rush and offensive line.
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