We are still not technically finished with the off-season, but I feel like we are at a point in which we can judge the transactions made so far. With the amount of cap space we have left, I doubt any major moves that haven't been made already will be made. I'm also not going to wait to lump the draft into the off-season, as you could argue that the draft itself is a separate entity. So Far(As of 3/17/15): We have added: QB Brian Hoyer (from Browns) 2 Yr, 10.5 Million(4.75 Mil Guaranteed) S Rahim Moore (from Broncos) 3 Yr, 12 Million(4 Mil Guaranteed, 3 Mil Signing Bonus) WR Cecil Shorts III(from Jaguars) 2 Yr, 6 Million(2.5 Mil Guaranteed) DT Vince Wilfork(from Patriots) 2 Yr, 9 Million (5 Mil Guaranteed) We Resigned: CB Kareem Jackson-4 Yr, 34 Million(20 Mil Guaranteed) T Derek Newton-5 Yr, 26 Million(10 Mil Guaranteed) QB Ryan Mallet-2 Yr, 7 Million(1.75 Mil Guaranteed) ILB Jeff Tarpinian-2 Yr, 1.2 Million We Released: WR Andre Johnson C Chris Meyers QB Thad Lewis We Traded: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick-Sent to New York Jets for undisclosed draft pick After Going through all of this, I can say as a whole that I have been very pleased with how this offseason has wen't. I can't remember a much more exciting Texans offseason ever. Of course, It's tough losing two well respected players in Andre and Meyers, but this team has used the cap flexibility gained to address several positions very well. We resign two players that vastly improved in Newton and Kareem, when I was almost certain that one of them would walk via free agency. We add a young safety in Rahim Moore, who can be a great contributor for our defense and isn't too expensive. We add a hall of famer in Vince Wilfork who is not only hungry and eager to still play and produce, but can be a very great mentor for several players on that D-Line. We resign Ryan Mallet for relatively cheap deal that has plenty of upside potential. And we bring in a relatively cheap WR in Cecil Shorts that has upside to play in the slot or elsewhere. The only things I can really say I'm dissapointed in is the Texans signing Brian Hoyer and how stagnant they were in trying to get a better WR through a trade. I give the Texans a solid A-. I wasn't sure how things would play out this offseason, but I couldn't have imagined it going any better. (Side Note:Since I can't put every single choice such a A-, B+, etc., you can just reply if you wan't with your specific letter grade)
Great offseason so far; haven't seen a time in which we have been so active in FA. It feels good and we still got the draft coming up so our team will be that much better. Really solid offseason IMO
I think Fitzpatrick was traded for a conditional 6th-7th rounder. Case was traded for a 7th rounder straight up.
I'm still waiting. I feel like we have time to do something across the 2nd level and possibly the slot WR regardless of the current cap numbers. It's the NFL, teams can find a way to create a few million dollars in space overnight.
I think it is hard to grade it, so far (I gave a "B"), but I have been pleased with the off-season, thus far. I did not expect Houston to go out and find their QB, but small steps have been taken in other areas towards sustainability. I think their playoff odds will be a lot like last year. They will compete for a spot, but will need a bit to go right to make it in.
That's weird. I know Case was traded, but he isn't listed as an transaction on the official Houston Texans website http://www.houstontexans.com/team/transactions.html
I give it a B+. Not a fan of the Hoyer signing. Would have preferred to take the Hoyer money and upgrade a different position.
So far... Upgrade at Safety (even with Kendrick and Manning gone) Downgrade at WR (no brainer) Upgrade at NT (As of right nowk, we expect Wilfork to be much better than Pickett) Downgrade at OLB (sorta with Brooks Reed gone and no replacement yet) Questionable at C (Ben Jones may or may not be better than Myers) Questionable at RG (XSF should be better with a season under his belt and a more defined position) Props for avoiding a downgrade in CB and RT.
Upgrade at Safety (even with Kendrick and Manning gone) Downgrade at WR (no brainer) Upgrade at NT (As of right nowk, we expect Wilfork to be much better than Pickett) Downgrade at OLB (sorta with Brooks Reed gone and no replacement yet) Upgrade at QB (healthy Mallet > injured Mallet) Questionable at C (Ben Jones may or may not be better than Myers) Questionable at RG (XSF should be better with a season under his belt and a more defined position) Props for avoiding a downgrade in CB and RT
It was an upgrade at WR in that we now have a younger WR that fits what we want to do better. We officially go to Nuk as the #1 which is an upgrade over Andre and Shorts fits the role of the #2 WR a lot better than Dre would have.
Your position on the Andre Johnson deal is preposterous. It's perfectly fine to say we are better without Andre because of financial reasons, but to argue that we've upgraded at WR is just downright ridiculous.
It's really not when you consider fit. When Shorts ends the season with more receiving yards then Dre, I'm sure a lot of people here will be surprised, but I won't be one of them.
I don't think it is outrageous to think going from 33 year old Dre to Shorts is a lateral move. Especially when 80's current skill set is the opposite of what we need from a WR2 compliment to Hopkins.