Houston Texans Free Agency: Make A Run For Austin Pasztor?

It’s Day 4 of NFL Free Agency for the Houston Texans and it started off with some activity knowing that the team was able to re-sign one of their own.

Yes, the Houston Texans were able to sign tight end Ryan Griffin to a three-year deal worth about $9 million.

Ultimately, it must’ve came down to Griffin figuring that his best situation was here in Houston and the offers that was extended was sizable.

He had been pursued by the Detroit Lions.

Here’s a recap of the guys that we’ve lost to free agency thus far:

A.J. Bouye was the first of the casualties signing a five-year, $65 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

John Simon, a linebacker that had improved his game tremendously over time and had become a reliable piece, signed a three-year, $17 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Safety Quintin Demps also was able to land a deal with the Chicago Bears for three-years, $13.5 million with $5 million guaranteed in the first season. Demps had a career-high six interceptions for 2016.

Even safety-special teams specialist Don Jones, who was signed by the Texans later in the 2016 season, bolted for the San Francisco 49ers and agreed to a two-year deal.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about a guy that should be considered to be brought in to help this team’s offensive line improve.

Just who am I talking about?

I’m talking about offensive lineman Austin Pasztor.

Pasztor is currently a free agent and although he’s not an elite tackle, he’s done well enough to helpful on anybody’s roster.

The 26-year-old tackle certainly was among the highest-graded offensive players by Pro Football Focus, week in and out for the Cleveland Browns in 2016.

He was the featured tackle on the right side replacing the outgoing Mitchell Schwartz, who signed a five-year, $33 million contract with $20.7 guaranteed with the Kansas City Chiefs this past off season.

It’s not clear if the Browns are going to bring Pasztor back as he got the job done but didn’t necessarily wow the team’s brass as well.

But he’s still quite young and there’s tons of room for growth for the guy.

He also has proven he can play both the guard and tackle positions, having done so with the Jacksonville Jaguars, his previous team before signing tender with the Browns last year.

Here’s what WalterFootball.com had to say about Pasztor:

"“Austin Pasztor replaced the Kansas City-bound Mitchell Schwartz and did an OK job. Pasztor is a serviceable starter who pass protects well. He was a clear downgrade from Schwartz, however.”"

With franchise loading up on draft picks, it’s quite possible that they’ll replace him via that avenue.

If that’s the case, I think this 6’7,” 307-pound mammoth of football player would be able to help this team as a tackle.

Next: Should The Texans Make A Play For T.J. Lang?

There is a ton uncertainty about Derek Newton‘s future in terms of continuing his career after his devastating injury that he sustained last season.

He is expected to be back but we don’t know how effective he will be.

That’s where Pasztor comes in.

So how much will he cost?

He just completed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Browns and I’d imagine that the Texans could sign him for around that amount.

But with this year’s draft loaded with offensive line talent, we may be better suited to seek that avenue to build our offensive line of the future.

But honestly, I think it’s worth giving this guy a look.

We’ll have to see how this shakes out.

Go Texans.

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