TWO MORE GM INTERVIEWS PLANNED.
The Texans are expected to interview Seattle Seahawks vice president of player personnel Trent Kirchner and Baltimore Ravens director of football research Scott Cohen for their general manager position, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Kirchner works closely with Seahawks general manager John Schneider in a multi-faceted role with the NFC West franchise’s personnel department.
The Texans also have interest in Seahawks vice president of football operations Scott Fitterer and Seahawks executive Alonzo Highsmith, a retired former Oilers running back who also has worked for Green Bay and Cleveland Browns.
Kirchner, who has worked in Seattle for 11 years, was promoted from co-director of player personnel earlier this year.
He has had scouting jobs with the Carolina Panthers and Washington football club.
Cohen is a former New York Jets assistant general manager in his 29th NFL season and has a background in pro and college scouting, including advance work, coaching, analytics and sports science. Cohen is considered an outside-of-the-box candidate.
Cohen works closely with Ravens coach John Harbaugh in Baltimore and previously worked with him for seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Scott is a very smart guy, very sharp,” an NFL source said. “He’s a really good person for the Texans to talk with.”
Before being hired by the Ravens, Cohen held positions as the Tampa Bay director of player personnel for three years, the Jets’ assistant GM for five years, Eagles director of pro personnel for seven years and Jaguars assistant director of pro scouting for two years.
The Texans also plan to interview Buffalo Bills director of pro personnel Malik Boyd for the job and several other candidates.
Watt ponders future after tough season
The thought that Sunday’s game could potentially mark his final one in a Texans uniform has definitely crossed defensive end J. J. Watt’s mind.
Watt, 31, reiterated that he doesn’t know what the future holds for him and the Texans. Watt recorded two tackles for losses, three tackles overall, and one quarterback hit Sunday.
“I’ve certainly considered it,” Watt said. “Like I said this week,
there’s too many unknowns to really know. If it is, it’s unfortunate that it wasn’t in front of a full stadium and all the fans. It’s unfortunate it wasn’t a win.
“It’s unfortunate we had this type of season, but who knows? There’s a lot of unknowns. I think this city knows, I hope they know how I feel about them and how thankful I am.”
3rd overall draft pick owned by Dolphins
The Texans’ last-second loss provided a draft boost to Miami, which owns the Texans’ pick after the Laremy Tunsil trade last year.
That pick will be the third overall in the draft after Sunday’s loss dropped the Texans to 4-12.
The Texans traded their 2020 and 2021 first-round draft picks along with a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Dolphins and offensive tackle Julie’n Davenport and corner Johnson Bademosi for Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and fourth-round and sixth-round draft picks.
The Dolphins didn’t make the playoffs despite a 10-6 record after being blown out by the Buffalo Bills.
Hopkins matchup set for next season lineup
In what figures to be a highprofile matchup, the Texans will travel to Arizona next season to face their former star DeAndre Hopkins and quarterback Kyler Murray next season.
Beyond their usual AFC South schedule, the Texans play the NFC West. They are home against Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams and on the road at San Francisco and Arizona.
The Texans play the AFC East, including home games against New England and the New York Jets and road games against Miami and Buffalo.
As the third-place team in the AFC South, the Texans play at Cleveland, the third-place AFC North team, and host the Los Angeles Chargers.
Should the NFL add a 17th game, which is expected, the Texans could possibly face another NFC team. The Dallas Cowboys are among the possibilities.