The Houston Texans will need to overhaul their roster in 2022 as they complete the rebuild under general manager Nick Caserio, who enters his second year with the AFC South club.
Although safety Justin Reid is a fan favorite and a locker room leader, he may not be back with the team that drafted him in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL draft. Houston also has A.J. Moore and Terrence Brooks set to hit free agency.
If the Texans want to take a similar approach to the 2021 offseason and go with low-cost free agents to shore up the backend, an AFC East defensive back could be a part of the solution.
According to Anthony Treash from Pro Football Focus, the New York Jets’ Marcus Maye is an underrated free agent in the 2022 cycle.
Maye is going to sign a one-year, prove-it deal in free agency after rupturing his Achilles in the midst of his 2021 campaign. The Jets safety’ role changed this past year (specifically, he played far more in the box), which played a part in a dip in PFF grade when on the field, but his multiple seasons of high grades at deep safety should spark draw interest from several teams. Since 2018, Maye owns the second-highest PFF grade at free safety — behind only Kevin Byard.
Maye would be the perfect free agent to complement Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, pending the Texans went in that direction with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. If Maye can go back to paying deep safety and allow Hamilton to play sundry roles in the backend, then the Texans could have a new duo that doesn’t allow big plays deep.
The New England Patriots, where Caserio worked from 2001-20, have been excellent at keeping tabs on their division’s underrated talent. If Caserio believes Maye can help, presuming his Achilles injury is adequately healing, Houston should take a chance on the safety.
