Houston Texans Free Agency: Make A Play For TJ Lang?
It has been three days since free agency has opened for the Houston Texans; and since the Brock Osweiler trade we haven’t heard a peep from their offices at Kirby Drive.
It has been three days since free agency has opened for the Houston Texans; and since the Brock Osweiler trade we haven’t heard a peep from their offices at Kirby Drive.
I would expect things to start heating up as time progresses but we’re seeing guys that helped our team tremendously leave in droves.
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.
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.
Not that any of these guys were necessarily make-or-break for the quality makeup of this team — except for Bouye — it’s alarming that Rick Smith is letting these guys go.
But I’m sure he has a plan of he’s going to repair and replace the inadequacies of our roster but I just hope it’s sooner than later before it’s too late.
But try this on for size.
We need offensive linemen as if it were a trend going out-of-style.
Come one, come all — give me your bulky, your burly and your huddled masses of offensive linemen yearning to breathe free in the Bayou City to protect our quarterback!
Although this is a cheesy rendition to the infamous quote etched on our own Statue of Liberty, Smith should tailor his pitch for the top talent with something along those lines.
I know a guy that’s just right for the job.
Who am I talking about?
I’m talking about T.J. Lang.
One of the best guards still available in free agency at this moment can be had.
Yes the 6’4,” 305-pound frame offensive lineman — who has spent all of eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers — has a myriad of teams interested such as the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and even the Detroit Lions.
The Houston Texans should jump into the fray and ensure that coupled with Derek Newton, the right side will be one of the most secure areas of the line.
I can see it now — Tony Romo being able to easily sail his passes in the end zone knowing that he’s getting the protection he needs.
But wait, Romo isn’t here, at least not yet so whomever he’d be potentially protecting, it’s going to be tough to get through him.
Consistently ranked highly by Pro Football Focus and a Top 25 lineman for 2016, Lang’s value continues to be at an all-time high.
PFF writes that his run blocking isn’t what it used to be but that was certainly because the Pack’s offense tended to shy away from it.
The 29-year-old is also just coming off hip surgery but there should be no concern as good linemen are usually productive through their mid-30s.
Who knows what happens if he were to sign here?
Next: Why The Brock Osweiler Trade Was Even-Steven
So how much will he cost?
Lang just completed a four-year, $20.8 million contract and is certainly seeking more than the $5.2 million he had been receiving for per year.
The Houston Texans only have about $31.4 million to spend with jettisoning of Osweiler but could they squeeze in Lang if the price is right with a raise in pay.
Would he take a five-year, $35 million deal with $18 million guaranteed?
That’s a significant pay raise for the talent at about $7 million per season, a 25.7 percent increase across the board.
We’ll have to see because I think that number could get the needle moving, considering what he was making previously.
Smith has continued to reiterate that the Texans have financial resources to do whatever needs to be done to improve this football team.
So it’s time to put your money where your mouth is, get his agent on the phone and sign this talented football player!
He’ll be just one piece but a solid veteran that can help Duane Brown cultivate the likely young talent surrounding them.
Let’s do it.
Go Texans.