The Houston Texans' roster for the 2024 NFL season is mostly set at this point. With a couple small exceptions it's strong in the places where it matters most and looks good enough on paper to at least make it to the AFC Championship game.
That said, there are a few positions that might be worth addressing before the regular season begins. The offensive line is the team's biggest weakness, with only two solid proven commodities out of the five projected starters. On defense, Houston could use more depth at linebacker to make up for the loss of Blake Cashman and it wouldn't hurt to sign another veteran safety to bolster that spot.
Yesterday everywhere on social media there was speculation that the Texans were about to sign the best one remaining on the market. After Ben Albright tweeted that Justin Simmons has had a bunch of offers and will likely sign soon with an AFC South team, a few Texans fan accounts ran wild with it and started claiming that Simmons signing with Houston was imminent.
However, an actual beat reporter took the wind out of the sails on that particular rumor not long after. According to Jonathan Alexander at the Houston Chronicle, the team says they have not extended an offer to Simmons and they're comfortabe with their current safeties.
This could just be another case typical of any fanbase wanting the best free agent at a perceived position of need. Then again, Simmons is capable enough to be worth some real thirsting over.
Since he was picked in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, Simmons has been one of the league's best ball hawks at safety, even if he hasn't gotten recognized as such. In 118 games he's totaled 30 interceptions and 64 pass breakups and made the Pro Bowl twice.
Signing Simmons wouldn't come cheap, but the Texans currently have over $20 million in salary cap room left, which would be more than enough to add him and double down even further on the team's all-in approach to the 2024 season.
For now, Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre remain the team's projected starters at safety. Eric Murray and rookie Calen Bullock will serve as the primary depth options. From where we're sitting this is a respectable but not great group that would look a whole lot better with Simmons at the top.
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