The 2025 NFL season is rapidly approaching as the Houston Texans continue to navigate the offseason. It won't be long before training camp arrives, but first, the Texans — as well as the rest of the league — must get through this month's upcoming organized team activities (OTAs), which begin on Wednesday, May 28, for DeMeco Ryans' squad.
Even though free agency and the NFL draft treated them well, the Texans' roster could still use some upgrades. The offensive line has undergone plenty of changes after Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green were traded in March, but there's still room for improvement.
That's why Houston should target a certain ex-first-round pick looking to turn his career around.
Texans Must Take a Flyer on Free Agent OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Although the Texans have replaced Tunsil and Green with the likes of Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, and rookie Aireontae Ersery, it still won't be a bad idea to take a flyer on former Cleveland Browns OL Jedrick Wills Jr.
After a respectable career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Wills was drafted 10th overall by the Browns in 2020. It didn't take long for the Lexington, KY native to become a key part of the offensive line, having been a starter in all 45 of his appearances across his first three seasons in Cleveland.
Unfortunately, injuries have marred Wills' outlook since then. The 6-foot-4, 307-pound blocker suffered a significant MCL injury that ended his 2023 campaign after eight games. His outlook didn't improve in 2024 as he was limited to five appearances due to a combination of injuries and even being benched twice.
In other words, Wills is looking for a fresh start, and the Texans should roll the dice on him. He's only turning 26 years old over the weekend, making him young enough to carve out a lengthy NFL career. Despite his age, he's brimming with experience after playing 3,691 offensive snaps across 58 career games (57 starts).
Wills isn't flawless, but he's far from the worst tackle the Texans could sign. He's played to a Pro Football Focus pass protection grade of 63.6 or better in four of his five seasons, which is better than Blake Fisher's most recent performance (46.7).
Protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud is crucial to the Texans' success, which is why they need to provide the O-line with as much depth as possible. Even if he's dealt with some recent struggles, Wills' experience and draft pedigree make him a better insurance policy than other potentially unproven options.
Besides, Wills can likely be signed to a cheap veteran contract at this stage of this offseason, making it a low-risk, high-reward situation. If he can turn things around, Wills could play a big role in Houston potentially winning its third straight division title.
Speaking of which, the Texans are currently FanDuel Sportsbook's +115 odds-on favorite to win the AFC South in 2025.
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