9:20pm: Mathews’ deal is worth the $730K minimum, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
3:33pm: The Texans have poached a free agent defensive lineman from a division rival, signing Ricardo Mathews to a contract, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Mathews spent the first four seasons of his career with the Colts after Indianapolis selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 draft.
Although he only started six games for the Colts during his four years with the club, Mathews was a major contributor on the team’s defensive line over the last three seasons, appearing in more than 1,300 defensive snaps during that stretch. The 26-year-old set a career-high in 2013 with 23 tackles, though Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as below average against both the run and pass.
Mathews will add some depth to a defensive line that lost several pieces in free agency this offseason, including Earl Mitchell, Antonio Smith, and Terrell McClain.