Houston Texans Free Company: High 5 Guards

One other season filled with optimism has got here and went with out the Houston Texans hoisting the Lombardi trophy, however optimism for the long run has hardly ever ever been increased. Regardless of the season ending within the Divisional Spherical as soon as once more for Houston, it has by no means been so clear to the spectators and decision-makers alike what this group wants to say a championship.

Few earlier groups in Texans historical past can declare to be higher than the 2024 squad, however few extra have had weaknesses so obvious; particularly, a porous offensive line. You can’t inform the story of the 2024 Houston Texans with out describing their offensive line as an Achilles heel, or not less than as a significant contributor to the season’s untimely finish. So, what beginning lineup is Houston working with proper now?

Houston Texans present offensive line depth chart:

LT: Laremy Tunsil (1,174 snaps, 78.1 PFF), Zach Thomas, Austin Deculus, Jaylon Thomas

LG: Kenyon Inexperienced (582 snaps, 38.6 PFF), Tytus Howard, Juice Scruggs, Jerome Carvin

C: Jarrett Patterson (688 snaps, 64.1 PFF), Juice Scruggs (586 snaps, 63.0 PFF), Jaylon Thomas

RG: Shaq Mason (999 snaps, 60.5 PFF), Kendrick Inexperienced, Juice Scruggs, Nick Broeker, LaDarius Henderson, Tremayne Anchrum

RT: Tytus Howard (1,157 snaps, 70.2 PFF), Blake Fisher (478 snaps, 44.7 PFF)

Between two professional-grade bookends on the deal with place lies a hodgepodge of youth and inexperience, with the notable exception of proper guard Shaq Mason. We’ll begin with a fast overview of the tackles, a spot of controversy amongst Houston followers this offseason: Left deal with Laremy Tunsil could have taken his false-start points to a different stage this previous season, however he’s nonetheless a perennial pro-bowler at some of the vital positions on offense. Say what you’ll about his run blocking, he’s a consummate go blocker and, thus, value each penny.

Proper deal with Tytus Howard, whereas not as constantly nice as Tunsil, has nonetheless been a vivid spot on Houston’s line; even when he’s been requested to play at left guard. As arduous as it’s to provide former head coach/basic supervisor Invoice O’Brien credit score for previous choices, I’ve to confess that he selected correctly to put money into Tunsil and Howard in 2019.

Shaq Mason, a veteran lineman of Belichickian lore, is getting into his third yr of an enough tenure in Houston, which is a greater description than you’ll ever hear of the guard spot reverse of him. Left guard Kenyon Inexperienced has absorbed the lion’s share of ire from the Texans group after handing over a extremely disappointing season curtailed by harm.

Heart, alternatively, has been a place of first rate, if unspectacular performances from each 2023 draftees Jarrett Patterson and Juice Scruggs. Each gamers have been thrust into main roles within the inside each years they’ve been within the NFL, and each have proven a noticeable leap in efficiency in yr two. Scruggs has minimize out a place for himself within the speeding assault, whereas Patterson continues to impress me each time he’s on the sector. At this level, I don’t know if the Texans’ teaching workers can justify taking Patterson out of the beginning lineup once more. If he secures a spot on the road, Scruggs may very well be odd lineman out, looking for alternative both in one other place or with one other group.

Photograph by David Eulitt/Getty Photographs

With all this in consideration, the inside line stands to be the weak hyperlink, significantly the left guard place. Houston’s entrance workplace could contemplate patching up this gap within the upcoming NFL Draft in April, however I wouldn’t put it previous basic supervisor Nick Caserio to strive his hand in free company come March 12. Who might he be eyeing up? Of all of the offensive linemen getting into free company, who’re probably the most outfitted to make a distinction in Houston? Though there’s a wholesome choice this offseason, I see there being a transparent high 5* for the Texans:

*Kansas Metropolis Chiefs guard Trey Smith was initially on this listing, however has since been taken off after it was introduced that the Chiefs had franchise tagged him. Perhaps subsequent yr.

5. G Teven Jenkins

Photograph by Perry Knotts/Getty Photographs

Age 27
Peak: 6’ 6”, Weight: 321 lbs.
738 snaps at LG
75.4 PFF (75.8 go, 74.3 run)

I virtually put Eagles guard Mekhi Becton right here, however I’d reasonably aspect with the marginally extra skilled Jenkins for this final spot. Teven Jenkins was taken within the second spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears as a deal with, and spent solely his shortened rookie season taking part in at that place. Since recovering from the again harm that affected his 2021 marketing campaign, Jenkins has grown right into a dependable inside lineman. 2024 was his greatest yr and first on the left guard place, laying declare to a virtually spotless closing six video games to his season.

A yr like that can drive his worth up in free company, which might put Houston in a critical bind in the event that they cough up a significant contract only for Jenkins’ harm bug to return. Then once more, can a yr’s value of taking part in time missed off of a rookie contract actually make somebody “injury prone?” Nicely, it depends upon who you ask. To me, the possibility of filling in Houston’s largest gap is definitely worth the monetary threat.

4. G Kevin Zeitler

Photograph by Mike Mulholland/Getty Photographs

Age 35
Peak: 6’ 4”, Weight: 340 lbs.
1,047 snaps at RG
86.8 PFF (71.8 go, 87.2 run)

Zeitler refuses to age. Regardless of being effectively into his 30s, often the top of the highway for many linemen, Zeitler continues to be of the easiest blockers within the league. Coming off a profession yr in Detroit, Zeitler was one of many pavers of the Lions’ prolific “Sonic & Knuckles” speeding assault that highlighted operating backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Earlier than that, Zeitler spent three years blocking for Lamar Jackson’s Ravens, the place he was some of the dependable pass-blockers within the AFC. That age could provide you with pause, however he’s averaging over 1,000 snaps a season in his 13-year profession. Kevin Zeitler may be an ageless marvel; somebody that appears to be resistant to the damage and tear that’s commonplace amongst all different NFL gamers. If he was 4 or 5 years youthful, he’d be the consensus greatest offensive lineman out there, and for that purpose he stays as considered one of my favourite targets for the 2025 offseason.

There may be one large caveat to Zeitler, although: he’s performed solely at proper guard his whole, 12-year profession within the NFL. Shifting to left guard could also be one thing he’s keen to contemplate at this level in his profession, however that could be overly optimistic for me to assume. Regardless, he’s a participant that the Texans ought to not less than control at the start of free company.

3. G Patrick Mekari

Photograph by G Fiume/Getty Photographs

Age 28
Peak: 6’ 4”, Weight: 305 lbs.
1,131 snaps all at LG besides 3 video games at RT
59.0 PFF, 71.6 go, 56.0 run

It is a little bit of an outlier decide, however considered one of my private favorites. Historically a deal with, Patrick Mekari has discovered himself taking part in at nearly each place alongside the offensive line as a result of accidents throughout his six-year profession in Baltimore. Regardless of the motion alongside the road, Mekari has been a starter anyplace he’s been positioned. He’s extremely sturdy, has nice footwork and is presented with some critical agility, making him an ideal complement to the zone primarily based, Joe Mixon centered speeding assault.

Signing Mekari is functionally much like signing two gamers; he might rapidly substitute Kenyon Inexperienced at left guard, in addition to grow to be an awesome backup for nearly each different spot alongside the offensive line. In contrast to another guards on this listing, it is a participant I can realistically see the Texans with the ability to compete for and signal this offseason. A few of these gamers shall be getting profitable affords from a small military of groups with loads extra cap area than Houston, however Mekari is a participant that could be keen to forfeit a greater, long-term deal for a shorter one with a contender just like the Texans.

2. G Will Fries

Photograph by Perry Knotts/Getty Photographs

Age 27
Peak: 6’ 6”, Weight: 305 lbs.
268 snaps at RG (1,125 in 2023)
86.9 PFF (61.2 in 2023), 74.9 go (65.4), 84.9 run (59.7)

Will Fries, a former collegiate teammate of Juice Scruggs whereas at Penn State, could also be a super choice for Houston. Fries’ worth is buoyed by his youth and small-but-mighty 2024 pattern measurement, however he nonetheless could not breach into unaffordable territory for Houston. Fries has seen his snap depend rise dramatically yr after yr since being drafted within the seventh spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft. Simply so as to add insult to the harm of Houston passing up star Kansas Metropolis guard Trey Smith within the sixth spherical, Fries has rounded right into a dependable go blocker and is a quickly bettering, if inconsistent run blocker.

His 2024 season was shaping as much as be his greatest by an extended shot till Fries suffered a fractured tibia whereas going through the Jaguars in October. If his temporary however glorious 2024 marketing campaign is to be believed, he’s probably the greatest younger guards within the NFL. When you’d reasonably put extra weight into his 2023 season the place he performed 1,125 snaps, he’s an enough proper guard with the ceiling to grow to be significantly better. No matter what you consider him, he’s virtually definitely higher than what Houston has within the left guard spot proper now, and the benefit of with the ability to play with a collegiate teammate within the NFL provides to his worth. The inside of the offensive line is usually probably the most chaotic spot on the sector, however is Fries to be trusted as a starter at such a pivotal second in Texans historical past? Is his harm a deal-breaker? Once more, it depends upon who you ask; however to me, he’s definitely worth the threat.

1. G James Daniels

Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs

Age 28
Peak: 6’ 4”, Weight: 327 lbs.
209 snaps at RG (1,010 in 2023)
92.9 PFF (61.1 PFF in 2023), 66.5 go (60.5), 92.5 run (58.6)

In my humble opinion, that is the man. If Houston wished to plug a participant into their weakest spot on the road and overlook about it, this could be the man to pay. James Daniels has been a starting-caliber lineman instantly after being drafted by the Chicago Bears within the second spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has the power and the legs to carry his personal at guard, and revealed as a lot each in Chicago and in Pittsburgh. Though, the Achilles harm he suffered early within the 2024 season has put his present worth into query, particularly wanting right into a 2025 season that Houston hopes to be pivotal. So, much like Will Fries, the query with James Daniels comes as to if or not you assume he’s definitely worth the threat of signing whereas recovering from a major harm.

To me, his a number of years of fantastic efficiency is greater than sufficient to take the chance, even when it means dipping into the piggy financial institution a bit additional than some could also be snug with. For an issue like Houston’s – the place they’re only one lineman away from having a whole offense – you don’t desire a rookie phenom or a grizzled veteran, you want knowledgeable. He’s my #1 goal this offseason.

And that’s the listing! I’m all concerning the guards coming into the 2025 season. Broad receiver might be thought-about a weak spot on the offense as effectively, however I nonetheless consider that the left guard spot is the weakest spot on the whole group. Attending to the Tremendous Bowl would require addressing that downside, so we’d as effectively get it out of the way in which very first thing in March! What do you assume, although? Would the Texans be proper to signal one of many 5 linemen talked about above, or would they be higher off on the lookout for their reply at left guard within the draft? Or, is there one other free agent that has caught your eye? Tell us down within the feedback under!

Go Texans!