Two corners signed in a flurry of moves
One of the biggest problems surrounding the Texans’ porous defense last season was the cornerback position.
New general manager Nick Caserio continued to address that weakness Thursday when the Texans added former All-Pro cornerback Desmond King on a one-year contract with a maximum value of $3.5 million, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
The Texans ranked 30th in total defense and 24th against the pass last season and finished last in the league with only three interceptions.
The Texans have retained 16-game starter Vernon Hargreaves on a oneyear deal and are signing former Cleveland Browns cornerback Terrance Mitchell to a two-year deal worth up to $7.5 million, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
An All-Pro selection in 2018, King is a classic slot corner at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds. He should provide an upgrade at the nickel position from safety Eric Murray, who allowed an 80 percent completion percentage, six touchdowns and a 134.5 passer rating against opposing quarterbacks, last year.
Now, the Texans have Bradley Roby, who’s suspended for the first game of 2021 because of a performance-enhancing drug policy violation, King and Mitchell as their top three corners after starting Hargreaves and Keion Crossen at the end of the season. Gareon Conley missed the entire season on injured reserve because of a pair of ankle surgeries.
In 15 games and eight starts for the Chargers and Titans last season, he recorded a total of 55 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and two passes defensed.
For his career, King has 244 tackles, four interceptions, 8½ sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 16 tackles for losses and 14 quarterback hits.
Mitchell, who plays with an aggressive style, started every game last season for a playoff team, recording 65 tackles, three forced fumbles, two tackles for losses and 13 passes defensed.
Also Thursday, the Texans released veteran tight end Darren Fells, saving $2.3 million in his $1.5 million base salary and pergame active roster bonus, and punter Bryan Anger, who was due a $2.5 million base salary.
Last season, Fells caught 21 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns. In 2019, Fells caught a career-high 34 passes for 341 yards and seven touchdowns.
Anger, 32, had a 46.4 net average and a 46.5 net average over the past two seasons. For his career, he has a 46.2 net average.
The Texans could save another $3.1 million against the salary cap if they release defensive tackle Brandon Dunn, who is coming off a fractured hip.
To add back at tight end, the Texans acquired Ryan Izzo from the Patriots in exchange for a 2022 seventhround draft pick, according to a source. A 2018 seventhround draft pick from Florida State, Izzo caught 13 passes for 199 yards last season for New England in a dozen games before being placed on injured reserve.
Izzo is regarded as a strong blocker at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve and has played in 18 career games with 16 starts over the past two seasons, catching 19 passes for 313 yards and one touchdown.
The Texans’ other tight ends under contract are Jordan Akins, a starter, along with Pharaoh Brown and 2019 third-round draft pick Kahale Warring. Brown signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract earlier this week.
The Texans are signing wide receivers Donte Moncrief and Alex Erickson, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
A former Indianapolis Colts third-round draft pick from Mississippi, Moncrief has 205 career receptions for 2,576 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Erickson, 28, is a 6-foot, 195-pound former Cincinnati Bengals special-teams standout who has 93 career receptions for 1,086 yards and one touchdown.
In the wake of the Texans acquiring offensive tackle Marcus Cannon from the New England Patriots, the final trade terms have been finalized.
The Texans obtained Cannon, a former TCU standout from Odessa, a 2021 fifth-round draft pick and a 2021 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for the Texans’ 2021 fourth-round draft pick obtained from the Arizona Cardinals and a 2021 sixth-round draft pick.
The Texans also traded former Pro Bowl linebacker Benardrick McKinney and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for outside linebacker Shaq Lawson and a 2021 sixthround draft pick.