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What was the best deal of the offseason for the Houston Texans?
According to ESPN, it was bringing in one of the safest offensive linemen over the past eight seasons.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently revealed every team in the AFC's best and worst moves of the offseason. This included the firing of coaches, the selection of prospects and overzealous contracts being handed out to players who rarely showed success before last season.
As for Houston, it falls in the conversation of "under-the-radar" moves with the signing of longtime Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. Following the trade of Tytus Howard, the Texans needed stability on the right side with a veteran name.
Smith, who anchored the Colts' right side of the line for eight years, should fill in as a proven commodity in a year where sights are set on the growth of Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud amid contract negotiations.
"For a Texans team that hasn't had reliable tackle play in the C.J. Stroud era, Smith offers the promise of stability," Barnwell wrote. "The 30-year-old has been an above-average-or-better run blocker throughout his career, and though he's not quite on that level as a pass blocker, Smith gave up only three sacks and 10 quick pressures last season. His 2.3% quick pressure allowed rate was right around league average for right tackles."
Like every other move made on the offensive line, Smith excelled in run blocking. During his tenure with the Colts, he helped Indy's ground game average over 4.7 career yards in eight years while watching Jonathan Taylor rush for over 1,100 yards four times. He also was a consistent winner in pass protection, allowing less than four sacks in evey season.
At under $13 million annually, Barnwell views the move to add Smith as a win, though the lone downside are his durability concerns.
"Getting a veteran who projects to be a solid right tackle for $11 million in cash this upcoming season is a sound move by general manager Nick Caserio," Barnwell wrote. "The only downside is availability, as Smith has sat out 16 games over the past three seasons because of various maladies. The Texans did re-sign Trent Brown to serve as their swing tackle, which offers some security, but Brown also has plenty of injury issues in his recent past."
Smith will have a chance to prove his value as perhaps the most slept-on signing of the offseason when OTA camp breaks on Wednesday afternoon at NRG Stadium. A top 10 run-blocker, the durable right tackle should be critical in the development of a renewed run game under second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: ESPN names longtime AFC rival OT as Texans' best move of offseason
Continue reading...
According to ESPN, it was bringing in one of the safest offensive linemen over the past eight seasons.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently revealed every team in the AFC's best and worst moves of the offseason. This included the firing of coaches, the selection of prospects and overzealous contracts being handed out to players who rarely showed success before last season.
As for Houston, it falls in the conversation of "under-the-radar" moves with the signing of longtime Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. Following the trade of Tytus Howard, the Texans needed stability on the right side with a veteran name.
Smith, who anchored the Colts' right side of the line for eight years, should fill in as a proven commodity in a year where sights are set on the growth of Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud amid contract negotiations.
"For a Texans team that hasn't had reliable tackle play in the C.J. Stroud era, Smith offers the promise of stability," Barnwell wrote. "The 30-year-old has been an above-average-or-better run blocker throughout his career, and though he's not quite on that level as a pass blocker, Smith gave up only three sacks and 10 quick pressures last season. His 2.3% quick pressure allowed rate was right around league average for right tackles."
Like every other move made on the offensive line, Smith excelled in run blocking. During his tenure with the Colts, he helped Indy's ground game average over 4.7 career yards in eight years while watching Jonathan Taylor rush for over 1,100 yards four times. He also was a consistent winner in pass protection, allowing less than four sacks in evey season.
At under $13 million annually, Barnwell views the move to add Smith as a win, though the lone downside are his durability concerns.
"Getting a veteran who projects to be a solid right tackle for $11 million in cash this upcoming season is a sound move by general manager Nick Caserio," Barnwell wrote. "The only downside is availability, as Smith has sat out 16 games over the past three seasons because of various maladies. The Texans did re-sign Trent Brown to serve as their swing tackle, which offers some security, but Brown also has plenty of injury issues in his recent past."
Smith will have a chance to prove his value as perhaps the most slept-on signing of the offseason when OTA camp breaks on Wednesday afternoon at NRG Stadium. A top 10 run-blocker, the durable right tackle should be critical in the development of a renewed run game under second-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: ESPN names longtime AFC rival OT as Texans' best move of offseason
Continue reading...
