Texans HC predicted to reunite with LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Many expect the Houston Texans to make this signing in the upcoming free agency period.
The Houston Texans understand that even though quarterback has been the most discussed position of their offseason, there's a lot more roster work that must be done.
Hours away from the start of the free agency frenzy, it sounds like it'll be a fun few days in Houston. The Texans have $39 million in cap space, the fourth-most in the entire NFL.
According to recent reports, Texans HC DeMeco Ryans could be looking at a reunion with one of the defenders at his previous coaching stop.
"Some people around the league are making the connection between 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and Houston, a pairing that would reunite the player with coach DeMeco Ryans," reported ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler in a recent free agency buzz article.
Al-Shaair could be a cornerstone for the Texans defense, which ranked 22nd in defensive DVOA last year. The 49ers linebacker, soon to become a free agent, missed five games due to injury in 2022 but recorded over 100 tackles in 2021.
The 25-year-old finished last season as the 14th-highest-graded linebacker in run defense.
If the Texans sign him, they'd be getting a veteran presence in the locker room that could also help Ryans teach his defense.
Although he's young and a solid player, Al-Shaair wouldn't break the bank for the Texans. There are linebackers with bigger names available in the market like Bobby Wagner and Tremaine Edmunds, which could drive the value at the position down.
This move feels like a very real possibility and a very obvious scheme fit.
