The Houston Texans just completed a very Texans-like season, winning 10 games, capturing the AFC South title and losing in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
In spite of winning four division crowns over the last five years, Houston still has not made it to the AFC Championship Game since becoming an NFL franchise in 2002, and a lack of elite overall talent is the primary reason why.
Fortunately, the Texans will have some cap space to work with this offseason to bolster their roster.
Here are three players Houston should be targeting in free agency.
3. Logan Ryan, Cornerback
With Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby both headed for free agency and the former being 36 years old, it's time for the Texans to begin exploring other options at cornerback.
Logan Ryan will be one of the best available free agents at the position and has plenty of playoff experience, whether it was with the New England Patriots for the first four years of his career or the Tennessee Titans now.
Ryan racked up 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and 18 passes defended this season, incredible numbers for a cornerback.
He isn't Patrick Peterson, but he is a very good defensive back who will command a hefty deal this offseason. Houston may be just the team to give it to him.
2. Dante Fowler, Linebacker
Dante Fowler had a breakout season in 2019, totaling 58 tackles and 11.5 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams.
The thing that keeps Fowler from being the top edge rusher on the market is his consistency.
Prior to this year, he logged four, eight and four sacks, respectively, over his first three seasons, so the fact that he busted out during a contract year is somewhat suspicious.
But there is no doubting Fowler's talent nor his versatility.
Plus, he is just 25 years old with ample room to grow.
The Texans badly need a pass rusher alongside J.J. Watt, as they totaled just 31 sacks this season.
1. Yannick Ngakoue, Defensive End
That brings us to one of the most dominant pass rushers in this year's free-agent class: Yannick Ngakoue.
A former teammate of Fowler's during Fowler's days with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ngakoue has been considerably more consistent, accumulating 37.5 sacks over his first four seasons.
This past year, Ngakoue rattled off 41 tackles, eight sacks, a pick, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. Back in 2017, he registered a career-high 12 sacks while leading the league with six forced fumbles.
Ngakoue is a force to be reckoned with and would probably give the Texans the most feared pass-rushing tandem in the NFL between himself and Watt.
Here's the catch: Houston plays a 3-4, and Ngakoue was a 4-3 defensive end in the Jaguars' system. That means he will either have to adjust to being a 3-4 defensive end (which is pretty different) or becoming a pass-rushing linebacker, which Ngakoue is almost surely capable of.
This guy is so talented that he can be dominant in a variety of different roles, so if the Texans can bring him in, they shouldn't hesitate to get it done.
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