MONDAY: The Texans officially announced (via Twitter) that they have re-signed Newton.
SATURDAY: A key member of the Texans offensive line will be sticking around Houston for the foreseeable future. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization has reached an agreement with tackle Derek Newton on a five-year deal. Financial terms of the contract have not been reported.
The former seventh-round pick has established himself as one of the most reliable members of the Texans offense, as he’s started 46 of a possible 48 games since 2012 (the two missed games were a result of a knee injury). Newton wasn’t rated favorably by Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) during his first two years as a starter, but the statistics favored the 27-year-old’s performance this past season. Newton ranked 19th among 84 offensive tackle candidates, and his run blocking skills earned him the fourth-best ranking for that particular attribute. However, his pass blocking rating left some to be desired, as he finished in the bottom half of the league in that ranking.