March 12, 2026, 1:50 p.m. CT
While perhaps not as exciting as other teams with splashy free agent signings, the Houston Texans have improved as a team over the first week of the new NFL season.
The Texans were busy at the start of the week retaining their own talent. They re-signed players like defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and offensive lineman Ed Ingram to multi-year deals. They also extended names like defensive end Danielle Hunter and tight end Dalton Schultz.
On the open market, Houston made some moves to improve at safety and right tackle, inking multi-year contracts with Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship and Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith. They also signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Logan Hall, Chicago Bears defensive end Domonique Robinson and New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau as depth pieces for a team ready to compete now.
At this point, this roster is far from finalized, especially as needs remain on the offensive line. Here’s a look at every move the Texans have made during free agency so far when the new league year officially underway:
The Texans re-signed Jones on a one-year, $2 million deal. He was one of their four pending free agent defensive tackles and came on strong to close out last season with Tim Settle and Mario Edwards Jr. on the season-ending injured reserve.
The Texans and Ingram agreed to terms on a three-year, $37.5 million deal, keeping him in Houston through 2028. At just over $12.5 million in annual salary, Caserio continues to live up to his word of rebuilding the offensive line with proven experience at a hearty rate, rather than spending cheaply.
In 16 games, Ingram served as the Texans’ best run blocker, showing the ability to open holes for a lackluster run game. And while he struggled in pass-pro at times, he wasn’t as consistently underwhelming as during his time in Minnesota.
Sheldon Rankins was expected to return to the Texans, but now the deal is official. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Texans and Rankins have agreed to a two-year contract that includes $12 million guaranteed. Over the past two years with Houston, Rankins has been one of the more complete defensive players, totaling 35 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown during the regular season last fall.
The Texans and the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back agreed to terms on a three-year, $24.75 million contract. The deal includes $16.5 million guaranteed.
Blakenship, who was voted a team captain for the Eagles, played in 16 games last season, totaling 83 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble. Before that, he recorded seven interceptions between 2023-24, along with 18 pass deflections.
A former undrafted free agent from Middle Tennessee State, the 27-year-old was a key part of a championship defense in 2024 that finished first in passing yards allowed (174.2) and second in opponent points per game (17.8). Over the past three years, he has started at least 16 games while posting a coverage grade of at least 73.0, per Pro Football Focus.
According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, the Texans have reached an agreement with the veteran kicker on a two-year, $13 million deal. The new contract will make him the league’s highest-paid player at his position, beginning in 2027, surpassing Buffalo Bills’ Tyler Bass and Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker.
Houston needed to ensure Fairbairn was back for the long haul. Last season, he was Captain Clutch, leading all kickers with 44 made field goals last season. He would have likely broken the league record for most field goals attempted in a season if not for missing two games in early November.
Fairbairn’s 91.7% field goal percentage ranked seventh-best in the league among kickers. His 70.1% fieild goal percentage of kicks over 50 yards ranked sixth among active kickers. Two kicks were for over 60 yards, including a record-setting 61-yard field goal.
The Texans and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Braden Smith have agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $25 million with $13.5 million guaranteed. Smith was one of the top names mentioned to be tied to Houston before the start of free agency.
Smith started over 100 games at right tackle for the Colts during his eight seasons with the franchise, but initially was drafted to play guard after serving as a two-time All-SEC linemen at right guard at Auburn. After an injury in training camp, he took over full-time at right tackle, eventually earning a lucrative contract extension ahead of his final year on his rookie contract to become the league’s then-highest-paid right tackle.
Entering his age 30 season, Smith made a successful return to the NFL last season after missing the final five games of 2024 for the Colts in 2024 because of mental health challenges. Known for his powerful run blocking, Smith was part of an offensive line that helped running back All-Pro Jonathan Taylor total his fourth 1,000-yard season since joining the franchise in 2020.
The Texans and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Logan Hall agreed to terms on to a two-year deal worth $7 million annually. He’s expected to compete for reps with the newly signed Dominique Robinson as a rotational option behind All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and five-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter.
A 2022 second-round pick, Hall spent the past four seasons on staff in Tampa Bay as a rotational option on the pass rush. In four seasons, he racked up 101 tackles, 10 sacks, 19 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. Hall was also credited with 39 starts, including 16 in 2025.
The Texans traded a 2028 swap sixth-round pick to New Orleans Saints in exchange for punter Kai Kroeger and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Last season, the former South Carolina standout averaged 44.8 yards per net put and pinned 18 punts from within the 20. He’ll be the replacement for Tommy Townsend, who inked a two-year deal with the Titans.
The Texans released defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. one year into his two-year contract with a failed physical designation. The veteran defensive tackle had been dealing with a torn pec muscle that cost him half of the season on the injured reserve.
Edwards had played in every game for the Texans last season before the injury, recording 13 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for losses and four quarterback hits. He was a standout in the second half of the 2024 season for Houston, recording 31 tackles, three sacks, eight quarterback hits and three tackles for losses en route to a second division title.
The Texans will save $4.41 million in cap space for 2026 while now potentially going back in the market to target another defensive tackle.
The Texans agreed to a two-year contract with New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau.
The 28-year-old played in 11 games last year after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list following a season-ending knee injury suffered in 2024. He caught seven passes for 59 yards last season and missed the final two games because of an ankle issue.
A blocker first with tight end No. 2 potential, Moreau has played in 104 career games and has caught 151 passes for 1,722 yards and 18 touchdowns. He should compete for second-team reps with veterans Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover.