Almost three months after he was released by the Jets, Marcus Gilchrist has finally secured his first free agent visit. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the safety is set to visit the Texans on Monday.
Of course, the delay wasn’t because of a lack of talent. Rather, Gilchrist tore his patellar tendon last season and needed clearance before he could return to the field. We heard earlier this month that the safety’s recovery was coming along nicely, and reports from earlier this week indicated that he was beginning to line up visits with teams. There were even whispers that the Jets could consider a reunion once the player’s knee was fully recovered, but it sounds like Houston will have the first opportunity to sign the 28-year-old.
The 2011 second-round pick spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chargers before joinining the Jets on a four-year, $22MM contract prior to the 2015 campaign. The Clemson product had a breakout season during his first year in New York, collecting career-highs in tackles (82), interceptions (three), and passes defended (seven) in 16 starts. Gilchrist started another 13 games for the Jets in 2016, but he eventually succumbed to the knee injury in December.
The Texans are currently rostering a number of safeties, but seemingly none of them have the upside of Gilchrist. If the former Jets defensive back ultimately signs with Houston, he’ll be competing with Andre Hal, Corey Moore, Eddie Pleasant, K.J. Dillon, Treston Decoud, Kurtis Drummond, and Lonnie Ballentine for a roster spot.