Houston Texans: Three free agent offensive tackles to target

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Offensive tackle Matt Feiler, who should be targeted by the Houston Texans (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Player #3: Matt Feiler

He may not be a household name just yet but the Texans do need to look into the services of Matt Feiler, who was the replacement right tackle for an injured Marcus Gilbert this past season with the Pittsbugh Steelers. He performed quite solidly and has already increased his value in his first season full of meaningful snaps.

Do you recognize the name? Yes, the Texans signed the 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman as an undrafted free agent back in 2014 and his tenure here was largely forgettable as he spent it on the practice squad. We’d see him in the preseason but that was about it. But the Steelers picked him up two days after the Texans cut him from the roster just before the start of the 2015 season and he’s been developing in their offense since.

Feiler had the luxury of being able to be cultivated and having the ability to block for Ben Roethlisberger, who is a lock to be a Hall of Fame QB.

It sucks that the Texans let him go but the offensive line was a lot better back when Feiler was here and it was just going to be tough for him to make the starting group of five linemen.

He’s got a shot now and I think it’d be worth it for Brian Gaine to call his agent to see if a reunion could be made.

The 26-year-old Feiler knows when he had good opportunity given to him — he played through a

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late-season pectoral injury and still was able to turn in some solid work on the gridiron.

After season after season of obscurity, he’s finally getting a shot and I think the Texans should bring him to take him to the next level because the tackle position on both ends aren’t necessarily locked in with the guys that the Texans have.

PFF has him graded out at 71.0/69.8/64.4 while allowing just 26 pressures — 15 QB hurries, eight QB hits and three sacks — through 11 games last season. All 675 of his snaps were at right tackle.

To be honest, there aren’t many blue chip tackles on the market this season but guys like Trent Brown, I wrote about him last week, as well as Ja’Wuan James are at the top of the list. The three aforementioned tackles that I mentioned can make an immediate impact on the Texans‘ performance next season.

Mark my words.

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