Texans Offseason Checklist and Quick Hits

The Houston Texans 2025 offseason has been anything but uneventful. General Manager Nick Caserio has once again proved he loves wheelin’ and dealin', making several trades and signing a busload of free agents. Through all this, per Overthecap.com the Texans are currently banking on roughly $18 million in cap space.

Since we’re all anxiously waiting for the draft, this seems like as good a time as any to start a meaningless sports bar debate on the quality, intelligence and impact of some of these moves.

First off, no matter how good or bad the Texans offseason turns out, at least we’re not the Tennessee Titans, amirite?

Quick Hits (cause I can’t bring myself to say “Hawt Takes” with a straight face)

1. Trading away Laremy Tunsil was an immediate addition by subtraction.

Sure in some stats and metrics Tunsil was a top five left tackle in a league that lives and dies by the quality of the left tackle. And, when he brought his A-game, he was the best lineman on the field. “Giving away” a player like that will immediately ignite a hornet’s nest of ill-informed judgement calls and derision from the national media. Let’s face it, most of them barely know the Texans exist, much less have a pulse on how the team operates. So, who cares what they think? Right?

Tunsil, despite his perceived major upside, has rarely brought the best version of himself to the team he played for in the NFL. From his bong-mask draft drop, to the Miami Dolphins happily dealing him to Bill O’Brien, to false starts galore, “pay me” and “pay me again” and “I’m gonna get paid again!” It’s really, really hard to make an argument that Tunsil was an inspiring, team leader who made the players around him better.

Think of J.J. Watt. Now think of Laremy Tunsil.

This isn’t a condemnation of the man; by all means get paid. Take your God-given talent and turn it into generational wealth for your children, grandchildren, etc. But Tunsil could have done that and still elevated his fellow linemen the same way Watt, Ryans and others have done with their respective positions. His influence potentially could have done enough to get the Texans to the Super Bowl. Instead, he stood around while quarterback C.J. Stroud got pummeled, turned his back when Stroud was knocked down, turned the other apathetic cheek to the run game failures and otherwise “led by example” that he believed the “I” was more important than the “team”.

And, that’s not gonna fly with Caserio, DeMeco Ryans and those in the know.

2. Not re-signing Stefon Diggs was addition without addition.

Houston’s WR1, Nico Collins, is a consummate professional. More Andre Johnson than DeAndre Hopkins. He gives it his all, works tirelessly to elevate the team and doesn’t create drama (not to say Nuk didn’t, but bear with me). Collins is also younger, healthier and more productive than Diggs.

Diggs is a big personality, a la Hopkins. And while he’s not necessarily a cancerous personality, his is the sort that demands the spotlight and WR1 pay. In his heyday, dude was a stud. But at 31 years old, recovering from a torn ACL, the legend remains but productivity probably won’t.

To his credit, Diggs on the Texans was anything but the team-tumor Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills fans remember when he was wearing their jerseys. It’s definitely a bummer that he, Collins and Tank Dell weren’t able to dominate the field together for an entire season. That would have been glorious. But, the NFL is a young man’s game and Diggs is no longer young. Injuries ruin potential, devour promise and rob us all of highlight reel plays, games, seasons and careers.

As Caserio works to continue rebuilding this Texans roster, salary cap management is a big consideration.

SI.com

On Tuesday, NFL wide receiver and Montgomery County, Maryland, native Stefon Diggs signed a 3-year, $89 million deal with the New England Patriots, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Handing over that sort of cap space to a 31-year old, injured would-be WR1 makes zero sense for the Houston Texans in 2025. The real shame is he didn’t sign with the Baltimore Ravens or Washington Commanders so he could end his career at home in front of his Maryland friends and family.

3. Signing Trent Brown was some Dollar Tree level roster-work, but don’t expect to see him in September

An NFL offensive tackle...for $3 million? “Up to” $3 million no less? If you don’t want to do the math at home, Tunsil is a $25 million cap hit. The average of the top 20 offensives tackles is right around $23 million. So, Brown is $20 million under the average... :/

Many might recall Brown was on the Texans radar before Tunsil came to town. And, at that time, a lot of folks thought he was no longer starter quality. At this stage, for this price, it’s likely Brown is a camp body.

No doubt he has a lot of knowledge and wisdom to pass along to the younger linemen. And, his signing might also provide some insight to potential blocking schemes and alignments for new offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s brand of football.

But, if we ever see the 2025 version of Trent Brown take the field, chances are things have gone very, very wrong for the Texans offensive line.