One day, 10 free-agent agreements
Texans general manager Nick Caserio displayed his aggressive approach to roster-building Monday with a series of transactions intended to create a more competitive team.
In the wake of a 4-12 season during which they led the NFL with $244 million in cash spending, the Texans took a distinctly more measured strategy during the first day of the legal tampering period.
The Texans negotiated 10 relatively inexpensive contracts with unrestricted free agents that can become official Wednesday afternoon, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. They also retained starting defensive tackle P.J. Hall with a $2.133 million restricted free-agent tender, according to a source.
The Texans now have 66 players on the roster, including outside linebacker Shaq Lawson and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, whom they traded for Sunday. This batch of deals is expected to lead to more roster cuts for a team that already has moved on from center Nick Martin and running back Duke Johnson.
Monday’s signings included a three-time Pro Bowl kick returner in former Bills standout Andre Roberts and a potential starting linebacker in Kevin Pierre-Louis. An 11-game starter for the Washington Football Team last season who recorded 56 tackles and one sack, PierreLouis signed a two-year contract with a maximum value of $8 million.
There also were recurring themes of familiarity and special-teams backgrounds, including the addition of two former Patriots players in linebacker Kamu GrugierHill (one-year contract worth up to $3.25 million) and safety Terrence Brooks (one year, $2 million).
“I’m an old-school, physical football player,” said Brooks, a former Ravens third-round draft pick from Florida State who has 102 career tackles, four interceptions, nine quarterback hits and 11 passes defensed. “It doesn’t matter what phase of the game, I love to play football. I’m excited to join the Texans.”
The Texans addressed the return game in a major way with Roberts (two years, maximum $5.95 million value with $3 million guaranteed). One of the most accomplished return men in the game, Roberts, 33, should immediately upgrade the Texans in that area after averaging 30 yards per kickoff return and 9.9 yards per punt return last season for Buffalo.
The Texans hope former Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins will regain the form of his Cowboys days after a much less productive season last year. Signed to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, Collins, 25, had just 15 tackles and no sacks last season for Las Vegas. Two seasons ago with Dallas, Collins was explosive and disruptive as an interior pass rusher, amassing four sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
Another former Cowboy, linebacker, Joe Thomas, also will join the Texans on a oneyear, $2 million contract. Thomas, 29, is a former undrafted free agent from South Carolina State who initially signed with the Packers. He recorded 48 tackles and two passes defended in 15 games last season.
During Caserio’s Patriots tenure, New England drafted Grugier-Hill in the sixth round out of Eastern Illinois in 2016. He is highly regarded for his pass coverage and special-teams skills. He had one sack and 21 tackles last season for Miami, playing under a one-year contract for coach Brian Flores, his linebackers coach in New England. Grugier-Hill has recorded 97 career tackles, two forced fumbles and two sacks.
Texans coach David Culley, formerly with the Ravens, reunites with former Baltimore wide receiver and special-teams standout Chris Moore, who agreed to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $2 million. Moore, 27, is highly regarded for his kick coverage and return skills. He has 46 career kickoff returns for 1,080 yards and a 23.5 average.
The Texans also are signing veteran guard Justin McCray to a two-year contract with a base value of $4 million and a maximum value of $5.5 million. McCray played for Texans offensive line coach James Campen with the Packers. He was with the Falcons last season under a one-year contract.
The Texans will sign cornerback-kick returner Tremon Smith to a one-year contract with a maximum value of $1.13 million. A 2018 sixth-round pick from Central Arkansas by the Chiefs, Smith reunites with new Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross, who coached him last season with the Colts, for whom he averaged 22.5 yards per kick return.
The Texans also are signing former Browns, Dolphins and Bills defensive tackle Vincent Taylor to a one-year, $2 million contract with $850,000 guaranteed. A former sixth-round pick by Miami out of Oklahoma State, he was claimed off waivers by Cleveland last September and has 41 tackles and two sacks.
A former Raiders secondround draft pick from Sam Houston State, Hall revitalized his career with the Texans last season as one of their top free-agent discoveries. He started nine of 10 games played and recorded 34 tackles, one sack, two tackles for losses and two quarterback hits.