Adrian Peterson Wants To Join Texans
Adrian Peterson is a free agent, and he has an idea of where he wants to go. Peterson tells TMZ Sports that joining the texans would be his “dream scenario.”
“Obviously, being back home would be awesome,” the Palestine, Texas native said … “Houston has always been a team I’ve thought about.”
At this time, it’s not clear if the interest has been reciprocated or whether the Texans have reached out to Peterson’s representatives. Right now, the Texans seem pretty set at the top of the running back depth chart with Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman under contract, although Foreman is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Last season, Peterson agreed to a two-year contract with the Saints during the free agent period, but was rarely involved in the club’s offense. After weeks of not being utilized, Peterson was dealt to the Cardinals in exchange for a conditional late-round pick.
Peterson, who will turn 33 years old in March, managed 3.5 yards per carry on 129 rushes and scored twice in the desert. However, he was among the least effective backs in the league: Football Outsiders ranked Peterson 46th among 47 running backs in both DYAR and DVOA, metrics which measure overall and per-play value, respectively.
Deshaun Watson Expected Back By OTAs
Given that he tore his ACL in early November, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is expected to be available for organized team activities, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). While losing a dynamic talent like Watson clearly cratered Houston’s 2017 campaign, the fact that he went down relatively early in the season does have a silver lining, as he’ll now be ready for offseason work. The Texans don’t have a first- or second-round pick in 2018, so they’ll rely on free agency and Watson returning to his excellent form in order to compete next year.
Texans Interested In CB E.J. Gaines
The Texans have interest in free agent cornerback E.J. Gaines, who is “firmly” on the club’s radar, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
[RELATED: Texans Pursuing LT Nate Solder]
Houston is clearly attempting to upgrade its secondary this offseason, as the team is also reportedly eyeing free agent defensive back Malcolm Butler. That should come as no surprise given that the Texans struggled against the pass in 2017, finishing with a No. 25-rank in Football Outsiders‘ pass defense DVOA. Additionally, Houston has two cornerbacks — Johnathan Joseph and Marcus Williams — scheduled to hit the open market on Wednesday.
Gaines, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Bills a season ago after being traded as part of the Sammy Watkins deal. During that time, Gaines ranked 12th in Pro Football Focus‘ cornerback grades and ninth in FO’s success rate. For that effort, PFR ranked Gaines as the fourth-best corner on the market and the No. 18 free agent overall.
The Bills, for their part, haven’t ruled out a reunion with Gaines. Although they recently signed veteran cornerback Vontae Davis to pair with Tre’Davious White, Buffalo is still open to re-signing Gaines.
Texans Pursuing LT Nate Solder
The Texans are making a strong run at left tackle Nate Solder, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans started five different left tackles in 2017, so they are anxious to plug the hole with a capable player like Solder. 
If the Texans are intent on landing Solder, they’ll have to pony up some serious bucks. The veteran ranks fifth on our list of this year’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents.
Solder didn’t have his best season in 2017, but much of that can be attributed to injuries. The incumbent Patriots would like to re-sign him, but the belief is that he’ll garner offers of $12MM/year, which could be too rich for New England’s blood.
The Texans created an opening at left tackle after trading four-time Pro Bowler Duane Brown to the Seahawks last season. That need is compounded by the fact that Chris Clark, who played in 10 games at left tackle last year, starting eight, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo is also due to become a free agent.
Solder, 29, has consistently rated as an above-average tackle since the Patriots selected him 17th overall in 2011. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 32 tackle last season and he was in the top 20 the year prior. Solder has appeared in at least 15 games in six of his first seven seasons in the league and would certainly provide protection to the blindside of Deshaun Watson, who’ll be coming off his ACL injury.
Texans Interested In Malcolm Butler
The Texans are among several NFL teams with interest in cornerback Malcolm Butler, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). As reported earlier today, the Saints are also among the teams looking into the Patriots free agent. 
Butler was conspicuously absent from the Super Bowl and did not look like his usual self in 2017. Still, he stands as one of the very best cornerbacks available in this year’s crop. Last week, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked Butler as the No. 2 CB available, ahead of Bashaud Breeland, E.J. Gaines, Morris Claiborne, Aaron Colvin, T.J. Carrie, Patrick Robinson, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Prince Amukamara. He trailed only Trumaine Johnson on the list.
Cornerback is high on the Texans’ agenda after Kevin Johnson disappointed and Kareem Jackson turned in an up-and-down season. In hindsight, the Texans probably wish that they made a stronger effort to retain A.J. Bouye last offseason.
Texans Likely To Sign OL Zach Fulton
It sounds like this will be a lucrative offseason for free agent offensive linemen. The Texans are the favorites to sign Chiefs free agent Zach Fulton to a multi-year deal worth more than $7MM per year, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Rapoport cautions that other teams are still in the mix, so while the Texans are the likely landing spot for Fulton, it is not a done deal. It’s not clear if the Chiefs are still involved, but the asking price may be too high for their liking.
Last year, Fulton appeared in 15 games (12 starts) for the Chiefs, playing primarily at center. Fulton earned a so-so 68.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, though the advanced metrics were fond of his pass blocking.
The Texans’ plan is for Fulton to play guard for them and not center, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. He worked in both spots for the Chiefs, primarily operating as a guard since being a sixth-round pick in 2014.
Houston signed ex-Chiefs guard Jeff Allen in 2016 for $7MM per year. That agreement has not worked out like the franchise had hoped. Nevertheless, the Texans plan to use a similar strategy to bring in Fulton. Only their line is in a worse place now than it was two years ago, with Derek Newton being sidelined indefinitely and Duane Brown having since been traded.
Texans Monitoring CB Market
- The Bears placing their transition tag on Kyle Fuller may not dissuade teams from inquiring about the corner. JLC hears from multiple execs the fifth-year cornerback could be in line to see an offer sheet. However, Chicago holds $50MM in cap space and would seemingly be an obvious threat to match an offer that comes Fuller’s way. La Canfora reports the Packers, Titans, Buccaneers and Texans are doing extensive work researching the cornerback market. With Fuller tagged, Trumaine Johnson and Malcolm Butler are the prizes currently unattached.
49ers To Meet With Richard Sherman
Could Richard Sherman be joining another NFC West team? It sounds like he’s at least considering the idea, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the veteran cornerback is set to meet with 49ers officials today.
San Francisco wants to confirm that Sherman is recovering from his Achilles injuries, and if everything goes well, the two sides will “try to get a contract done.” In another tweet, Schefter says there’s a good chance that this is Sherman’s only visit. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says (via Twitter) Sherman’s apparent interest in the 49ers makes sense. The cornerback has “a strong affinity for the West Coast,” and he’s already familiar with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh‘s scheme.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter) that Sherman has received “preliminary interest” from a list of additional teams: the Lions, Titans, Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers, and Packers.
Sherman’s seven-year tenure with the Seahawks came to an end yesterday, as the team released the defensive back with a failed physical designation. The veteran is still rehabbing from surgery to fix a torn Achilles and remove a bone spur, but he expects to be ready by June. The three-time First-Team All-Pro was relatively productive in nine games last season, compiling 35 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/18
Here are today’s minor moves.
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Owa Odighizuwa
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Corey Moore
- Signed: DE Ufomba Kamalu
Texans Re-Sign P Shane Lechler
The Texans have re-signed punter Shane Lechler, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, $2MM deal, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). 
Lechler, who was ranked fourth on PFR’s list of free agent punters, is entering his 19th year in the NFL. After spending the first 13 years of his career with the Raiders, Lechler joined up with the Texans in 2013 and has not missed a game in Houston. Last year, Lechler led the league in punting yards with 4,507 and put his boot to the ball 92 times. This year, the Texans hope to use him a little less often.
In other Texans news, the team also re-signed a pair of exclusive rights free agents in safety Corey Moore and defensive end Ufomba Kamalu.