The Texans’ offensive line is becoming a popular landing spot for ex-Dolphins. As Laremy Tunsil heads into his fifth season in Houston, the team has also added ex-Miami blocker Michael Deiter. On Thursday, they expanded their number of former Dolphins linemen by signing Greg Little.
A former Panthers second-round pick, Little agreed to terms, per his agent (on Twitter), and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com adds the team also reached an agreement to bring back linebacker Neville Hewitt. The veteran defender and special-teamer agreed to a one-year deal (Twitter link).
Little spent last season with the Dolphins, coming to Florida via a summer 2021 trade from Carolina, started seven games for a Dolphins team that ran into injuries at both tackle spots last season. Little, who did not play in 2021 due to being a healthy scratch and then heading to IR midway through the season, has started 13 career games. The former No. 37 overall pick has not panned out, and with Tunsil and Tytus Howard manning Houston’s tackle spots, Thursday’s agreement will be for depth purposes. But the Ole Miss product could have a path to a swing-tackle role.
Hewitt has spent the past two seasons with the Texans. Despite the team changing head coaches in each of the past three offseasons, Hewitt has returned on one-year deals. This latest one-year pact will keep one of the Texans’ top special-teamers in the fold. Hewitt saw action on 81% of Houston’s special teams plays last season and has been an ST regular throughout his career.
The former Dolphins and Jets linebacker has 44 career starts on his resume, though only five have come in Houston. After working as a 16-game Jets starter in 2020, Hewitt settled in as a primary backup with his third NFL team. Hewitt totaled 60 tackles in 2021. Moved to a special teams-only contributor last season, he tallied 14. The 30-year-old linebacker played just 23 defensive snaps last year — down from 324 in 2021 — but will be back on DeMeco Ryans‘ first Texans team.
Ryans’ team has been busy at linebacker this offseason, signing both Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton to go with the likes of Christian Kirksey, Christian Harris, Blake Cashman and fifth-round pick Henry To’oTo’o.