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Texans DE Dylan Horton Completes Cancer Treatments

May 17th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Dylan Horton ended his rookie season on the NFI list, but his attempts to return to the field for the coming campaign recently saw a welcomed development. The Texans defensive end completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

Horton was in stage four of the disease, but he is now in remission, Wilson adds. The positive news on the treatment front clears the way for him to attempt a comeback for the 2024 season. The 23-year-old made 10 appearances last year, logging a part-time role on both defense and special teams. He posted 13 tackles and one fumble recovery in that span.

Three years remain on Horton’s rookie contract, and staying cancer-free would allow him to carry on in a depth capacity with the Texans. The team relied heavily on 2023 third overall pick Will Anderson last season, and his performance earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Anderson will no doubt continue as a full-time starter for years to come. Houston lost fellow first-teamer Jonathan Greenard in free agency, but Danielle Hunter was added as a replacement.

The latter inked a two-year deal featuring $48MM guaranteed, and he will be counted on to remain a high-end sack artist with his hometown team. Hunter posted a career-high 16.5 sacks last season, and a repeat of that performance would help the Texans build off their surprise 2023 run to the divisional round of the postseason. Houston ranked just 17th in sacks during head coach DeMeco Ryans‘ first season at the helm, and an improvement in that department will be a goal for 2024.

Horton – a third-round selection out of TCU – will aim to play a role in that effort. He will find himself behind Anderson, Hunter and Denico Autry on the depth chart this season, but managing to take part in offseason workouts and/or training camp will represent a sign he will be available for the start of his second NFL campaign. His status will be worth monitoring as the offseason progresses.

AFC South Notes: Colts, Nabers, Texans, Jags

May 15th, 2024 at 9:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts‘ wide receiver room includes two starters acquired before Shane Steichen‘s arrival — Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce — and the team made a three-year, $70MM commitment to its No. 1 target in March. Steichen is starting to put his stamp on the WR room, however, with the Colts having drafted Josh Downs in last year’s third round and Adonai Mitchell in this year’s second. As Chris Ballard continues to run Indianapolis’ draft, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes Steichen “strongly advocated” for Mitchell in the second round.

Mitchell is unlikely to stroll into a starting spot early, as Holder adds the Texas product will be expected to begin training camp as the top backup behind Pittman, Pierce and Downs. But the ex-Longhorns standout’s draft slot (No. 52) suggests he will be heard from early in his career. The Colts have seen mixed results from their second-round WRs under Ballard, with Pittman shining and Parris Campbell struggling to stay on the field. Pierce (No. 53 overall in 2022) has eclipsed 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. A Georgia transfer, Mitchell blazed to a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Although he only topped 450 receiving yards in one college season (2023, with 845 and 11 touchdowns), plenty will be expected from a Colts team that has struggled with receiver depth for most of Ballard’s GM tenure.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

  • Staying on the WR topic, the Titans had a contingency plan in the event one of the teams above them at No. 7 zagged. The Giants were seemingly down to QB or WR at No. 6 throughout the pre-draft process, but a post-draft report suggested they were also eyeing Joe Alt. The Chargers were both connected to Alt and JC Latham at No. 5. In a scenario in which targets Latham and Alt were off the board, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes Malik Nabers would have been the Tennessee pick at 7. A Nabers choice would have left the OL-needy Titans less equipped up front, and Latham filled a bigger need. The team has since signed Tyler Boyd to team with outside targets DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley.
  • The Colts are changing some of their rookies’ positions ahead of their first NFL offseason programs. Ballard said fifth-round pick Jaylon Carlies will move from safety to linebacker, with the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson indicating fifth-round safety Jaylin Simpson is sliding from safety to cornerback. Simpson has CB experience but moved to safety while at Auburn. Before Day 3 investments, the Colts did not address the cornerback position beyond Kenny Moore‘s re-signing. This leaves some uncertainty here — particularly on the outside.
  • Third-round Colts draftee Matt Goncalves spent his college career at left and right tackle, but ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes the rookie will be given time at guard this offseason. The Day 2 pick will compete for a backup job as a rookie, per Holder, as it appears Indy is planning to keep its low-cost starters (Bernhard Raimann, Will Fries) in place alongside veterans Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith.
  • The Texans will make an adjustment at a key front office post. The team did not renew director of pro personnel Ronnie McGill‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. McGill followed GM Nick Caserio from New England in 2021; the Texans had promoted him to the director post in 2022. Teams regularly make scouting adjustments post-draft, and a notable Texans hire will be on tap.
  • A scouting veteran of more than 30 years, Tom McConnaughey is retiring from his Jaguars post. The veteran staffer, who has been with the Jags since 2021, will leave after three years as a national scout with the team, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton tweets. McConnaughey spent 26 years with the Chargers prior to moving to Jacksonville.
  • In addition to hiring A.J. Highsmith and Keenan Agnew, the Titans are adding Sam Summerville to their scouting staff. Summerville is expected to join the team as a national scout, per Stratton. The Bears recently parted ways with Summerville, a former Fritz Pollard Alliance scout of the year honoree, after 12 years.

Contract Details: Brown, Phillips, Highsmith

May 12th, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles recently made A.J. Brown the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. We already knew a number of details from that incredible contract, but thanks to Will Laws of Sports Illustrated, we now know of a wild detail with unprecedented consequences.

Laws points out that Brown’s deal includes a void year at the end of the contract that will hold a $53.52MM cap hit. This is actually a common contract technique the Eagles have been employing in recent years that allow them a ton of flexibility financially. Several other players have massive voidable cap hits like Jalen Hurts ($97.55MM), DeVonta Smith ($35.78MM), and others.

This likely doesn’t mean that someday the Eagles will suddenly be committing a triple-digit cap figure to players no longer on their roster. That could only happen if they see every contract through to completion. More likely, Philadelphia will be extremely strategic about how long to hold on to those players, cutting them at times that will allow for ideal cap savings. For instance, starting in 2027, the Eagles will be able to cut Brown and receive more in cap savings than they’ll be losing to dead money.

Here are a few other contract details on recent deals around the NFL:

  • Thanks to the veteran salary benefit, the Buccaneers‘ new deal with defensive end William Gholston will have the minimum $1.21MM base salary that will only count for $1.15MM against the salary cap, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Gholston will also be able to earn an active roster bonus of $167.5K in Week 1.
  • The Texans recently signed linebacker Jacob Phillips to a new contract. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us the deal is for one year and $1.15MM. He’ll receive a base salary of $1.06MM and a signing bonus of $45K. He can earn additional per game active roster bonuses of $2,941 for a potential season-total of $50K.
  • This last bullet is actually details on a restructure that the Steelers pulled off recently with pass rusher Alex Highsmith, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The team was able to convert $8.75MM of Highsmith’s 2024 base salary into a signing bonus while adding a void year to the end of his four-year deal, $68MM deal. As a result, Pittsburgh clears out $7MM of cap space.

Texans Add Six UDFAs To Rookie Class

May 10th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans made a quick turnaround in 2023 thanks to the contributions of a young core. They’ll try to keep improving with this year’s rookie class, which will consist of the team’s nine-man draft class and these six undrafted free agent signees:

Tooley, Barnes, and Payne are all receiving some substantial guarantees as undrafted players, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Tooley is being guaranteed $125K consisting of $100K of his base salary and a $25K signing bonus. Barnes is being guaranteed $95K consisting of $85K of his base salary and a $10K signing bonus. And Payne is being guaranteed $90K consisting of $75K of his base salary and a $15K signing bonus.

Houston also adds the Janke twins out of South Dakota State. Jaxon was the star of the two after eclipsing the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2021 and leading the Jackrabbits in receiving for three straight years en route to back-to-back FCS national championships, but Jadon was no slouch in comparison, leading the Jackrabbits in receiving last year. Over 71 games played, Jaxon accumulated 244 catches for 3,677 yards and 29 touchdowns while mostly playing on the outside. In 69 games, Jadon tallied 170 catches for 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns while splitting time between the slot and outside. Both returned both punt and kicks, with Jaxon mainly doing punt returns and Jadon focused more on kickoff returns. It will be interesting to see if either twin can earn a role in a talented Texans depth chart.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 6:54pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions as we head into the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Deemed international roster exemption: T Travis Clayton

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Cohen hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since his time in Chicago, where he earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a punt returner, ended in 2020. The North Carolina A&T product had been part of an effective 1-2 punch with Jordan Howard but saw his role diminish with the arrival of David Montgomery in 2019. Since then, injuries have limited the explosive rusher’s ability to make an impact.

Texans Sign Round 2 CB Kamari Lassiter

May 10th, 2024 at 1:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Houston inked six rookies to their respective contracts yesterday. The team’s top selection in this year’s draft is now under contract as well.

The Texans announced on Friday that second-round corner Kamari Lassiter has signed his rookie pact. The Georgia product was selected 42nd overall, which doubled as Houston’s first selection after the team traded away No. 23 to the Vikings well before the draft. While the 2025 capital acquired in that transaction will help the Texans in the near future, Lassiter could play a notable role in the secondary right away.

The 6-0, 180-pounder played three seasons with the Bulldogs, helping the team win back-to-back championships in the 2021 and ’22 campaigns. In the latter year, Lassister showcased his strength as a run defender by amassing five tackles for loss. That continued last year with 37 total stops (including 3.5 for loss).

The 2023 season also saw Lassiter record a career-best eight pass deflections, although he only notched a single interception. He recorded just two picks in college, and that limited ball production no doubt played a role in his slide down the CB board. Questions have also been raised about Lassiter’s long speed, something which will be worth watching as he transitions to the pro game.

Houston already has one starting CB spot locked down in the form of Derek Stingley Jr. The team was busy on the cornerback front in free agency, adding C.J. Henderson, Jeff Okudah and Mike Ford. Lassiter will aim to earn playing time right away amongst those new faces as well as returnees Desmond King and Troy Pride. At a minimum, he should be able to see special teams action and provide depth in the secondary during his rookie season.

With just two unsigned rookies remaining, here is an updated look at the Texans’ 2024 class:

Rams To Trade WR Ben Skowronek To Texans

May 9th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Rather than moving on from Ben Skowronek by cutting him, the Rams will do so via trade. The fourth-year wideout is being dealt to the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Reports from Thursday indicated the Rams were planning on waiving the 26-year-old. That process would have left all NFL teams available to put in a claim. Houston will jump the line by agreeing to swap sixth- and seventh-round picks with Los Angeles in 2026, per Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport. One year remains on Skowronek’s rookie contract.

As would have been the case by waiving the former seventh-rounder, this transaction will create just over $1MM in cap savings for the Rams. The Texans, meanwhile, have made another addition to their WR room, one which of course now includes Stefon Diggs. He will be counted on as a key member of the team’s passing attack, but Skowronek’s run blocking and special teams acumen will make him a valued role player.

The latter had a negligible role on offense in 2021 and ’23. In between that time, however, he logged a snap share of 82% and made 39 catches. Skowronek will not be counted on to command many targets in Houston, considering the other pass-catchers the team has aside from Diggs. The Texans return the likes of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Robert Woods at the receiver position. They also have tight end Dalton Schultz under contract for the next three years.

Expectations will be high for the Texans moving forward after their surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2023. If Skowronek is able to hold down a depth role this season, he could set himself up for an extended stay in Houston or boost his free agent market in 2025. For the Rams, meanwhile, this move will place an increased emphasis on starters Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua remaining healthy and productive moving forward, as they were last season.

Los Angeles re-signed both Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson this offseason, and the latter in particular will be counted on to serve as depth WR contributor. The Rams also have new tight end Colby Parkinson in place as another secondary pass-catcher. They will proceed without Skowronek’s third phase contributions as they look to build off their own postseason appearance from last season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/24

May 9th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As a number of teams prepare for rookie minicamps this weekend, Thursday has represented a signing day of sorts for rookie draftees. Here is the latest batch of mid- and late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie deals:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • T Travis Clayton (seventh round, England)

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

  • QB Spencer Rattler (fifth round, South Carolina)
  • WR Bub Means (fifth round, Pittsburgh)
  • LB Jaylan Ford (fifth round, Texas)
  • DT Khristian Boyd (sixth round, Northern Iowa)
  • T Josiah Ezirim (seventh round, Eastern Kentucky)

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Texans Add Shane Vereen To Front Office

May 9th, 2024 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Texans GM Nick Caserio will extend an opportunity to one of the skill-position regulars he helped draft while with the Patriots. Houston is bringing in Shane Vereen for a front office role.

The former New England running back is joining the Caserio-led Houston front office as a player personnel assistant, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. This will mark a transition into the executive ranks for Vereen, who retired a few years back.

Most recently working as an analyst for the Pac-12 Network, Vereen is obviously best remembered for his on-field roles. The most notable of those came with the Patriots, who drafted Vereen in the 2011 second round out of Cal. Vereen, 35, enjoyed a seven-year playing career spent with the Pats and Giants.

As a New England cog, Vereen filled an important role in a Tom Brady-centered offensive scheme. The Patriots had employed the likes of Kevin Faulk and Danny Woodhead as previous passing-down backs; Vereen ended up taking over in this capacity and held the job until the team let him walk in free agency ahead of James White‘s lengthy run. Vereen topped 400 receiving yards from 2013-15, with his most productive season (838 scrimmage yards, five touchdowns) coming during the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX-winning 2014 slate.

After a catching 11 passes for 64 yards in the Pats’ last-second win over the Seahawks, Vereen signed a three-year, $12.35MM deal with the Giants in 2015. He played out that contract but did not catch on anywhere else following the 2017 season. Caserio, who was in place as Bill Belichick‘s right-hand man in personnel when the team drafted Vereen, will reunite with the four-year Patriot as the Texans enter their highest-profile season in many years.

J.J. Watt Willing To Play For Texans In 2024

May 5th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Rory Parks

Former star edge defender and current CBS Sports personality J.J. Watt hung up his cleats at the end of the 2022 campaign. While we had not heard any reports to suggest that Watt was second-guessing his decision, it sounds as if he would return to play for his original team under the right circumstances.

Watt, 35, was a first-round pick of the Texans in 2011 and, despite a few injury-marred seasons, built a Hall-of-Fame resume over his 10-year Houston run before (ostensibly) finishing his playing career via a two-year stint with the Cardinals. His first season with the Texans was also DeMeco Ryans‘ last as a linebacker with Houston (Ryans, of course, is now entering his second season as the team’s head coach).

Prior to the start of the 2023 campaign, Watt told Ryans that he would suit up for the Texans if Ryans needed him to do so (video link via Brandon Scott of Sports Radio 610). Apparently, that offer is also on the table for 2024, though this will be the last year that Watt makes himself available to his old club.

“I told DeMeco last year, I said, ‘Don’t call unless you absolutely need it, but if you ever do call, I’ll be there,'” Watt said at this charity softball game yesterday (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “And he knows not to call unless he absolutely needs it. This is the last year I’ll tell him that, because I’m not going to keep training the way I’ve been training, but he knows that if he ever truly does need it, I’ll be there for him. I don’t anticipate that happening — they’ve got a very good group.”

Indeed, Ryans and C.J. Stroud were the toast of the league in 2023, when the rookie HC and rookie QB led the Texans on a surprising run to the divisional round of the AFC playoff bracket. This offseason, Houston made a number of high-profile additions to its defensive front, including four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. Hunter and 2023 first-rounder Will Anderson should form a dynamic duo at defensive end, with players like Derek Barnett and 2023 fourth-round choice Dylan Horton in support.

As Watt said, then, it is unlikely that Ryans will need to call upon his former teammate, but Watt is still a notable ace in the hole. Watt’s comments suggest that he has kept himself in football shape, and in his last year with Arizona in 2022, he started 16 games and notched 12.5 sacks. Should Ryans require an in-season addition to his cadre of pass rushers, he could certainly do a lot worse.

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