March 12, 2024 • 10 mins
The Houston Chronicle's Texans beat writer, Jonathan M Alexander joins The A-Team to talk the open of NFL free agency. He says there's a pattern with the early moves that Nick Caserio has made. Plus, he points to an area of need they still have this offseason.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle thatHouston Texans beat writer were over twenty four
hours into the well the tampering periodbecause none of these contracts have been signed
yet, that won't happen until tomorrowhopefully for everybody that signed players, Texans
have been very, very busy,Jonathan, although the timing of everything did
happen slowly enough that people had enoughtime to kind of freak out as things
(00:23):
have settled in. Right now,what's the best thing that they've done and
what's the thing that makes you questiontheir plan the most? Yeah, I
think the best thing they've done isthey've gone out and they've tried to get
pieces that they specifically on offense,that they think can help them continue to
(00:43):
compete, to continue to build aroundc J. Stroud. I think resign
and Don Sholt, Nora Brown addingtrading for Joe Mixon I think just shows
how the import INSTEA they're putting ontrying to build around CJ. Striden and
trying to continue his development and ensurethat he takes that next step. Now.
(01:07):
On defense, I think they haveadded some potentially good pieces, but
I also thought that they had somepieces within their organization like Jonathan Grenard and
Blake Cashman, who could have donea great job. I'm I'm a proponent
of paying your own so but there'sstill time and free agency. I think
defensive end is a big, hugepiece that they have to add uh and
(01:32):
we'll see where they go. Doyou think Denico Autry is expecting or they're
expecting him to take a truckload ofsnaps on the interior rather as an edge
player. Yeah, I believe soas of now now you could. I
think there's still some pieces out therethat they could grab where they could play
him as the edge. But Ithink as of now, I see him
(01:53):
as a as a as ad tackleand he's shown he's head production, and
they spots f on the offense line. I think, honestly, I do
think Dimko will use him wherever theyneed him most. That's Demico's history,
like cross using player, the differentpositions, So wherever probably they need to
they need him best is probably wherethey use him. And he's had production
(02:15):
even at thirty three years old.I think he had what was it eleven
sacks last year. I can't rememberthe number of the top of my head,
but he's a productive player, sothey expect him to, you know,
be that for the Texans. Talkingto Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle
here on Sports Talk seven ninety.Okay, so danil Hunter's potential signing with
(02:37):
the Texans notwithstanding, do you rightnow feel like the Texans have gotten better
gotten worse? Lateral? How doyou feel twenty four to thirty six hours
into this thing. I think they'vegotten better on offense. I think until
they find an ed rusher to helpthem to continue that, you lose twelve
and a half sex production until youfind it. I think at lateral really,
(03:00):
to be honest with you, Ibelieve I thought Blake Cashman had a
better year than of these. Outsidehere. However, as these does have
more familiarity with Jamiico Ryance, sohe may, you know, Jmiico may
want to implement his system in acertain way that as these can do.
But I think as of right now, they've gotten better on offense. For
sure, their running game that's certainlyimproved. I do think that they in
(03:23):
the draft they'll be able to plugin some pieces on the offensive line potentially,
but I think on the defense they'vetaken a little bit of a step
back, and but again we're stillearly. A lot of the moves could
potentially be made today and tomorrow forsome cheaper contracts and guys who are looking
to prove themselves on one short,short term deals. So kind of what
(03:47):
I was mentioning earlier, maybe aboutthe time of how things fell into place.
People got all hot and bothered aboutdifferent names, and Saquon Barkley was
certainly at the top of that list. And it's pretty well known that the
Texans were definitely in on Barkley butdecided that enough was enough. It has
gotten to a certain point on themoney scale. So Joe Mixon is the
player that they now will have runningbehind C. J. Stroud. It
(04:08):
will not be Devin Singletary. Whyare you convinced they have a significant upgrade
If significant is the right adjective inhaving mixing over Singletary, Yeah, I
wouldn't call it significant upgrade, butit is definitely an upgrade. I think
Joe Mixon is a clear guy,cut starter. I thought Devin Singletary did
(04:30):
well, and I thought if DNASecretary had had started from the beginning of
the year, he could have beena thousand yard rusher. But you know,
Joe Mixon is a proven thousand yardrushers. Four of the seven seasons
he's rushed over one thousand yards,and he gets the ball out of the
backfield, which I think he hasthat advantage over Devan Singletary, But I
wouldn't call it significant, But Iwouldn't say it's an upgrade and upgrade enough
that we can't say that the Texangot better. And I think Joe Mixon
(04:54):
at twenty seven will be twenty eightwhen the season begins, still has some
left in the tank. Just thefact that he can things catching the ball
and running the ball and still hadscore a touchdown two that was the most
impressive thing in the past three seasons. You got twenty nine touchdowns on the
ground. That's a huge pleas andthat's something that texts to struggle with in
recent years. Do you subscribe tothe theory that winning teams don't win in
(05:15):
free agency or win in the monthof March, or how do you feel
about that. I realize teams canbe built several different ways, and I
think here in twenty twenty four,we're seeing that now more than ever.
But what you know in your opinionwhat is the best way for a team
to win when it comes to freeagency as opposed to the draft or a
(05:36):
combination of the two, or howthings go throughout the entire calendar year.
Yeah, I think the best teamsdraft really well. The teams that win
year and when you're out, they'reusually drafting key players and they're winning with
players, are getting to the SuperBowl with players on on rookie contracts,
and then you add pieces in freeagency to stuff some of the losses.
(06:00):
But rarely do you see teams whomake cbe splashes in free agency every year.
Rarely do you see those teams competingfor Super Bowl because oftentimes a lot
of those guys they signed those bigfields often had one great year in their
contract year and then kind of tailoff. But I think the better teams
(06:21):
are built in the draft, andthe Texans are doing that, And you
know, I think in history hasshown with Nicko, Sirio and Demico even
said that last year they're not goingto overspend for players just to overspend,
and you know, I don't thinkthey should. What do you think about
a player we have not spent muchtime talking about. He's now on his
third team after being the third overallpick in the draft several years ago.
(06:43):
Jeff Akuda, I wouldn't think theTexans are very well set at cornerback regardless
of that signing. I think there'smore to do, but that is a
player they have brought in. Obviously, Nelson was at that spot a year
ago. He remains a free agent. What are your thoughts about maybe the
expectations for Okuda. Yeah, Imean accluded on a one year deal,
kind of improve it deal. Youknow, they hope they'll have one of
(07:05):
his best years. I mean he'sstill, you know, twenty five years
old, so he's still growing.Former number three overall pick, so you
know, he has ability, athleticability, he hasn't you know, had
a lot of interceptions in his career. I do think Steven Nelson was one
of the better cornerbacks and I thinkthere's a little bit of a drop off
(07:25):
there. But I think they're bankingon his potential in what he could potentially
do for them, and I'd expecthim to probably bring in some competition,
probably draft a cornerback at some point, John to draft to compete Jonathan.
Do you think the Texans will evergive out a multi year deal again.
I mean, yeah, I do. I think it's leaning towards that way.
(07:47):
No, I might this year.Yeah, it's tongue in cheek,
But we were talking about this earlier. This Doesn't this feel like I think
Wex kind of said this without sayingit, and I agree with him.
Doesn't this feel like they have justearmarked a lot of money to give the
Nico Collins out of that cap space? Yeah? I believe so, because
(08:07):
they've said it pubbly and Nick Serryrarely reveals what his plans are public.
They want to sign Nico Collins afterfree agency, and as you saw with
Michael Pittman's deal, the floor aminimum is going to be like twenty one
million dollars. I mean he's goingto be I think Nico Collins is going
to be a wealthy man. Ithink his contract will look similar to Michael
Pittman. So yeah, I thinkthey are planning for that. They are
(08:28):
planning for a future move that theymight have to make in their future.
Last big picture question, because ofwhat this offseason has kind of felt like
from AFAR with who CJ. Stroudis becoming From an NFL perspective, the
guy has been all over the place, a part of a lot of big
events, very visible, just abig part of what I think the NFL
(08:54):
likes about. Well, these areguys we want to build around. These
are guys that we want as facesof our league. These are guys we
expect to win and bring their teamsalong with him, and we think fans
are going to be interested in them. We expect them to be on primetime
TV a lot next year, evenat the initial schedule. Do you think
the NFL views CJ the Texans similarly? Oh? Absolutely, I mean they
(09:16):
are definitely. He was the talkof the Super Bowl when he was around
their NFL was taking advantage of that. I think they see a young kid
with a lot of talent, witha lot of arm talent, who's exciting
in the NFL. He'll he's abright young star. A lot of kids
like him, so he'll, youknow, increase their fan base. I
(09:37):
think absolutely they could potentially build aroundhim. And he's a guy who does
it the right way. He doesn'tget in trouble, he has his head
on straight, he's a leader inthe locker room. So absolutely, I
believe he's a if he can continueon this trajector, he's the future phase
of the NFL. As a partingshot as we wrap things up, do
you want to call your shot andsay, sometime in the next however many
hours or days, the Texans aresigning insert name here. Yeah, I'm
(10:03):
not ready to say that, butI do think that they'll they'll sign a
decent whether they can come to anagreement with Hunter. I'm you know,
I definitely think there's an interest there. I just Hunter is going to cost
a lot of money. But Ican't say for certain right now who who
they'll get in free agency, butI do think they'll they'll get it.
(10:24):
They'll grab a defensive end for sure, somebody who can at least be a
starter. Seems like a reasonable enoughsuggestion. We will definitely give you credit
when they sign whoever it is.John. We really appreciate your coverage right
there on the chronicle obviously at Johnm Alexander on the twitters or x for
whatever you like to call it.We certainly appreciate you carving out some time
during this very, very busy time. I appreciate y'all having me on
Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle thatHouston Texans beat writer were over twenty four
hours into the well the tampering periodbecause none of these contracts have been signed
yet, that won't happen until tomorrowhopefully for everybody that signed players, Texans
have been very, very busy,Jonathan, although the timing of everything did
happen slowly enough that people had enoughtime to kind of freak out as things
(00:23):
have settled in. Right now,what's the best thing that they've done and
what's the thing that makes you questiontheir plan the most? Yeah, I
think the best thing they've done isthey've gone out and they've tried to get
pieces that they specifically on offense,that they think can help them continue to
(00:43):
compete, to continue to build aroundc J. Stroud. I think resign
and Don Sholt, Nora Brown addingtrading for Joe Mixon I think just shows
how the import INSTEA they're putting ontrying to build around CJ. Striden and
trying to continue his development and ensurethat he takes that next step. Now.
(01:07):
On defense, I think they haveadded some potentially good pieces, but
I also thought that they had somepieces within their organization like Jonathan Grenard and
Blake Cashman, who could have donea great job. I'm I'm a proponent
of paying your own so but there'sstill time and free agency. I think
defensive end is a big, hugepiece that they have to add uh and
(01:32):
we'll see where they go. Doyou think Denico Autry is expecting or they're
expecting him to take a truckload ofsnaps on the interior rather as an edge
player. Yeah, I believe soas of now now you could. I
think there's still some pieces out therethat they could grab where they could play
him as the edge. But Ithink as of now, I see him
(01:53):
as a as a as ad tackleand he's shown he's head production, and
they spots f on the offense line. I think, honestly, I do
think Dimko will use him wherever theyneed him most. That's Demico's history,
like cross using player, the differentpositions, So wherever probably they need to
they need him best is probably wherethey use him. And he's had production
(02:15):
even at thirty three years old.I think he had what was it eleven
sacks last year. I can't rememberthe number of the top of my head,
but he's a productive player, sothey expect him to, you know,
be that for the Texans. Talkingto Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle
here on Sports Talk seven ninety.Okay, so danil Hunter's potential signing with
(02:37):
the Texans notwithstanding, do you rightnow feel like the Texans have gotten better
gotten worse? Lateral? How doyou feel twenty four to thirty six hours
into this thing. I think they'vegotten better on offense. I think until
they find an ed rusher to helpthem to continue that, you lose twelve
and a half sex production until youfind it. I think at lateral really,
(03:00):
to be honest with you, Ibelieve I thought Blake Cashman had a
better year than of these. Outsidehere. However, as these does have
more familiarity with Jamiico Ryance, sohe may, you know, Jmiico may
want to implement his system in acertain way that as these can do.
But I think as of right now, they've gotten better on offense. For
sure, their running game that's certainlyimproved. I do think that they in
(03:23):
the draft they'll be able to plugin some pieces on the offensive line potentially,
but I think on the defense they'vetaken a little bit of a step
back, and but again we're stillearly. A lot of the moves could
potentially be made today and tomorrow forsome cheaper contracts and guys who are looking
to prove themselves on one short,short term deals. So kind of what
(03:47):
I was mentioning earlier, maybe aboutthe time of how things fell into place.
People got all hot and bothered aboutdifferent names, and Saquon Barkley was
certainly at the top of that list. And it's pretty well known that the
Texans were definitely in on Barkley butdecided that enough was enough. It has
gotten to a certain point on themoney scale. So Joe Mixon is the
player that they now will have runningbehind C. J. Stroud. It
(04:08):
will not be Devin Singletary. Whyare you convinced they have a significant upgrade
If significant is the right adjective inhaving mixing over Singletary, Yeah, I
wouldn't call it significant upgrade, butit is definitely an upgrade. I think
Joe Mixon is a clear guy,cut starter. I thought Devin Singletary did
(04:30):
well, and I thought if DNASecretary had had started from the beginning of
the year, he could have beena thousand yard rusher. But you know,
Joe Mixon is a proven thousand yardrushers. Four of the seven seasons
he's rushed over one thousand yards,and he gets the ball out of the
backfield, which I think he hasthat advantage over Devan Singletary, But I
wouldn't call it significant, But Iwouldn't say it's an upgrade and upgrade enough
that we can't say that the Texangot better. And I think Joe Mixon
(04:54):
at twenty seven will be twenty eightwhen the season begins, still has some
left in the tank. Just thefact that he can things catching the ball
and running the ball and still hadscore a touchdown two that was the most
impressive thing in the past three seasons. You got twenty nine touchdowns on the
ground. That's a huge pleas andthat's something that texts to struggle with in
recent years. Do you subscribe tothe theory that winning teams don't win in
(05:15):
free agency or win in the monthof March, or how do you feel
about that. I realize teams canbe built several different ways, and I
think here in twenty twenty four,we're seeing that now more than ever.
But what you know in your opinionwhat is the best way for a team
to win when it comes to freeagency as opposed to the draft or a
(05:36):
combination of the two, or howthings go throughout the entire calendar year.
Yeah, I think the best teamsdraft really well. The teams that win
year and when you're out, they'reusually drafting key players and they're winning with
players, are getting to the SuperBowl with players on on rookie contracts,
and then you add pieces in freeagency to stuff some of the losses.
(06:00):
But rarely do you see teams whomake cbe splashes in free agency every year.
Rarely do you see those teams competingfor Super Bowl because oftentimes a lot
of those guys they signed those bigfields often had one great year in their
contract year and then kind of tailoff. But I think the better teams
(06:21):
are built in the draft, andthe Texans are doing that, And you
know, I think in history hasshown with Nicko, Sirio and Demico even
said that last year they're not goingto overspend for players just to overspend,
and you know, I don't thinkthey should. What do you think about
a player we have not spent muchtime talking about. He's now on his
third team after being the third overallpick in the draft several years ago.
(06:43):
Jeff Akuda, I wouldn't think theTexans are very well set at cornerback regardless
of that signing. I think there'smore to do, but that is a
player they have brought in. Obviously, Nelson was at that spot a year
ago. He remains a free agent. What are your thoughts about maybe the
expectations for Okuda. Yeah, Imean accluded on a one year deal,
kind of improve it deal. Youknow, they hope they'll have one of
(07:05):
his best years. I mean he'sstill, you know, twenty five years
old, so he's still growing.Former number three overall pick, so you
know, he has ability, athleticability, he hasn't you know, had
a lot of interceptions in his career. I do think Steven Nelson was one
of the better cornerbacks and I thinkthere's a little bit of a drop off
(07:25):
there. But I think they're bankingon his potential in what he could potentially
do for them, and I'd expecthim to probably bring in some competition,
probably draft a cornerback at some point, John to draft to compete Jonathan.
Do you think the Texans will evergive out a multi year deal again.
I mean, yeah, I do. I think it's leaning towards that way.
(07:47):
No, I might this year.Yeah, it's tongue in cheek,
But we were talking about this earlier. This Doesn't this feel like I think
Wex kind of said this without sayingit, and I agree with him.
Doesn't this feel like they have justearmarked a lot of money to give the
Nico Collins out of that cap space? Yeah? I believe so, because
(08:07):
they've said it pubbly and Nick Serryrarely reveals what his plans are public.
They want to sign Nico Collins afterfree agency, and as you saw with
Michael Pittman's deal, the floor aminimum is going to be like twenty one
million dollars. I mean he's goingto be I think Nico Collins is going
to be a wealthy man. Ithink his contract will look similar to Michael
Pittman. So yeah, I thinkthey are planning for that. They are
(08:28):
planning for a future move that theymight have to make in their future.
Last big picture question, because ofwhat this offseason has kind of felt like
from AFAR with who CJ. Stroudis becoming From an NFL perspective, the
guy has been all over the place, a part of a lot of big
events, very visible, just abig part of what I think the NFL
(08:54):
likes about. Well, these areguys we want to build around. These
are guys that we want as facesof our league. These are guys we
expect to win and bring their teamsalong with him, and we think fans
are going to be interested in them. We expect them to be on primetime
TV a lot next year, evenat the initial schedule. Do you think
the NFL views CJ the Texans similarly? Oh? Absolutely, I mean they
(09:16):
are definitely. He was the talkof the Super Bowl when he was around
their NFL was taking advantage of that. I think they see a young kid
with a lot of talent, witha lot of arm talent, who's exciting
in the NFL. He'll he's abright young star. A lot of kids
like him, so he'll, youknow, increase their fan base. I
(09:37):
think absolutely they could potentially build aroundhim. And he's a guy who does
it the right way. He doesn'tget in trouble, he has his head
on straight, he's a leader inthe locker room. So absolutely, I
believe he's a if he can continueon this trajector, he's the future phase
of the NFL. As a partingshot as we wrap things up, do
you want to call your shot andsay, sometime in the next however many
hours or days, the Texans aresigning insert name here. Yeah, I'm
(10:03):
not ready to say that, butI do think that they'll they'll sign a
decent whether they can come to anagreement with Hunter. I'm you know,
I definitely think there's an interest there. I just Hunter is going to cost
a lot of money. But Ican't say for certain right now who who
they'll get in free agency, butI do think they'll they'll get it.
(10:24):
They'll grab a defensive end for sure, somebody who can at least be a
starter. Seems like a reasonable enoughsuggestion. We will definitely give you credit
when they sign whoever it is.John. We really appreciate your coverage right
there on the chronicle obviously at Johnm Alexander on the twitters or x for
whatever you like to call it.We certainly appreciate you carving out some time
during this very, very busy time. I appreciate y'all having me on
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