The Houston Texans made a lot of short-term deals this offseason and therefore have a boatload of impending free agents in 2024. Not all of these players will be kept, and the Texans will undoubtedly prioritize some players over others depending on the type of salaries they’ll command on the open market.
Ahead of the spring, Pro Football Focus ranked the top 150 free agents for this offseason based on value, production, age and injury history. Eleven Texans players made the list, a few of whom even finished in the top-10.
Here are the top Texans free agents, per PFF.
CB Steven Nelson – No. 35
The veteran cornerback had almost as good of a season as second-year stud Derek Stingley Jr. Nelson finished with four interceptions on the season with 12 defended passes and 63 combined tackles.
TE Dalton Schultz – No. 36
Schultz emerged as one of C.J. Stroud’s most sure-handed targets in 2023. He caught 59 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns. Schultz also proved himself an adept run blocker with a PFF grade of more than 60.0 for the five consecutive season.
DE Jonathan Greenard – No. 38
Greenard had a career-year in DeMeco Ryans’ defense with a team-high 12.5 sacks. He was a major edge rusher alongside Will Anderson Jr. and was instrumental in the Texans’ rise to the top of the AFC South. PFF named Greenard the Texans’ top free agent priority this offseason.
DL Sheldon Rankins – No. 62
Rankins’s veteran leadership and experience helped the Texans’ young defense this past, and he put together a solid statistical season as well. He tallied six sacks on the year – his most since 2018 – with 10 quarterback hits and one fumble recovery touchdown.
DT Teair Tart – No. 71
Tart only played two games for the Texans after Houston picked him up from the Tennessee Titans, but played a solid backup interior defensive lineman. He had a 73.8 pass rush grade and an 8.6 pass rush win rate, per PFF.
LB Blake Cashman – No. 80
Cashman went from backup linebacker to fully-fledged starter in a year. He wracked up 106 combined tackles, two sacks and one interception in his second season with the Texans.
DE Derek Barnett – No. 107
The Texans picked up Barnett from the Philadelphia Eagles midway through the season where he became a great situational pass-rusher. He finished the year with a 15.5 pass rush win rate, per PFF, and played a instrumental role in the Texans defensive success at the end of the season.
OT Josh Jones – No. 114
Jones started the first three games of the season before falling back in a reserve role on the offense line. He would likely remain a depth piece for the team that signs him this offseason.
OT George Fant – No. 124
Fant started 13 regular season games and both postseason games for the Texans. He could return as a solid starter of swing offensive lineman in 2024.
RB Devin Singletary – No. 129
Singletary went from backup to starter in the backfield after Dameon Pierce suffered a midseason injury and then fell out of favor in the offense. He finished the year with 898 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the regular season with 88 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in the postseason.
WR Noah Brown – No. 144
Brown was a great veteran signing for the young pass-catching group that had flashes of huge games in 2023. He caught 33 passes for 567 yards and two touchdowns, including three games with at least seven receptions, 100 receiving yards or a touchdown. Injuries derailed his season, though.
