Which position(s) would put the Texans over the top?
The Houston Texans are in prime position to make a trade. They combine two of the necessarily elements to benefit from a midseason deal in the NFL. First, they are in first place and likely to be there for the duration of the season. When you are already a playoff team, it becomes that much more tempting to make those one or two moves that could push you over the top.
Secondly, you have definite needs. Even the Kansas City Chiefs are making moves and they are undefeated. It is about pushing in your chips and going for it when the opportunity is there. Rather than focus on specific players as I did in a previous piece, I am going to highlight the positions of need in order of desperation.
Left Guard— Absolutely Have to Have it
I really hate to say this. Sometimes fate intervenes on your behalf and forces you to do something you don’t seem willing to do. I don’t know why it took until game eight to pull Kenyon Green the first time. All evidence was there after a solid week one that this guy was the worst guard in football. It hasn’t been particularly close between weeks two and seven and week eight was even worse.
I think the Texans would be content to go with Jarrett Patterson there knowing they have Kendrick Green as insurance, but with Patterson out they have to act. Green going down with the shoulder injury almost saved the game last night and could save the season if the Texans strike before Tuesday.
We’ve seen this all before. In 2022, Green and whoever played center were so bad that it brought everyone’s play down. A simply league average guard at left guard would likely make this a league average offensive line. The Cleveland Browns have allowed 37 sacks. The Texans are second with 31. The New England Patriots need to surrender four this Sunday to tie them for second. That is legitimately awful. I think everyone would take league average offensive line play at this point.
Wide Receiver— Really really want it
When one looks at protection issues, one has to look at things holistically. It can’t be JUST about the offensive line being terrible. Sometimes the quarterback makes slow reads and holds onto the ball too long. Sometimes the quarterback holds onto the ball too long because the receivers aren’t getting open. Losing Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs helped create the situation on Thursday night. Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie just don’t create separation. Sure, the Jets might have better corners than most teams, but neither of these guys has shown you anything consistently to make you believe they can be a starting quality receiver in the NFL.
Nico Collins is coming back eventually, but this team needs a third wide receiver that can consistently be a threat. Robert Woods is good for a catch or two per game in key moments, but he isn’t that guy either. Getting better protection gives these receivers an extra second or two to get open, but sometimes you just need someone a little better at getting separation.
Safety— Boy another one would be nice
I like Calen Bullock. He has done some really good things this year and he might even be a Pro Bowl safety one day. He isn’t one now and he is your only healthy starter. Jalen Pitre is playing in the box and when you don’t ask him to cover wide receivers he is generally doing a good job. Eric Murray has stepped in for the injured Jimmy Ward and has performed about as well as a backup should. He is a backup for a reason. He has made some big plays, but he doesn’t make them consistently enough to be a starter.
Jimmy Ward just isn’t it. I get it. He was good for DeMeco in San Francisco. He just can’t stay healthy and he has lost a step. The club should really eat the last year of that contract, but they could also add another starting quality safety. Doing so would probably help eliminate those defensive lapses where a receiver is streaking all alone behind the defense.
Cornerback— I wouldn’t be upset if they…
Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter are starting quality corners. Yes, Garrett Wilson made a great catch in the end zone. Lost on everyone is the fact that Lassiter was there and made the catch as difficult as possible. Yet, if one one those two goes down there is virtually no one of value behind them. This team has other pressing needs than quality depth, but quality depth can never hurt this time of year. So, if you pick up the phone and someone offers a decent corner for a future 7th rounder you probably would be wise to pull the trigger on that deal.
Running Back— There are crazier ideas…
I really struggle to understand the Cam Akers trade. Maybe the team feels good about J.J. Taylor and Dare Ogunbowale. Maybe they were feeling all giddy inside at the one successful Dameon Pierce run this season. Pierce has struggled to be healthy, Taylor is a rookie running back, and Ogunbowale is decent as a third down back, but struggles as a traditional runner.
One thing has become clear in the past three weeks. Joe Mixon is your best offensive player. He is on pace to rush for over 1000 yards and he missed three whole games and a part of a fourth. If you lose him for another three games you are basically screwed. Again, I get that there are other positions where you have to have starters, but if someone offers you the same deal you got to ship Akers out of town for a different back I’d consider it.