Texans Hosting Patrick Mahomes
Earlier today, Deshaun Watson‘s Texans visit schedule became known. He will have some company, it appears. Patrick Mahomes is also meeting with Texans brass, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. Mahomes is already in Houston and will be visiting with the Texans tonight and on Monday, John McClain of the Chronicle adds (via Twitter).
The Texas Tech product is one of the fastest-rising commodities in this draft. He’s had 18 visits and private workouts thus far, but this one is among the more interesting for the high-volume college passer because of the Texans’ status as a two-time reigning division champion and void at quarterback.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noted earlier this month Mahomes was unlikely to slip past the Texans at No. 25, and the team is now doing some work on him. Houston would have a better shot at drafting the strong-armed former Big 12 signal-caller at No. 25 than Watson, but the former looks to have gained extensive ground and could be a priority for a team holding a higher pick — or one that trades up in front of the Texans — at this point.
- After picking up his fifth-year option, the Texans are expected to pursue an extension for Jadeveon Clowney. But they are waiting to see if he can deliver a repeat showing of last year’s Pro Bowl campaign.
Deshaun Watson To Visit Texans
Deshaun Watson‘s pre-draft tour will go through an interesting place early this week. The former Clemson star passer will make a trip to Houston and meet with the Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), who adds the visit will commence on Monday and Tuesday. This is the Texans’ first known summit with one of the high-profile quarterbacks expected to come off the board in Round 1.
The Texans may not have hosted such passers, but the team is expected to take a quarterback early, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. The reporter believes Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes won’t get past the Texans at No. 25. Watson has visited the 49ers, Browns, Jaguars and Cardinals thus far.
Houston hasn’t taken a quarterback in the first round of the draft since its first-ever draft pick (David Carr, 2002). Watson could require the Texans to trade up, being connected to the Browns at No. 12, but La Canfora noted recently the post-Mitch Trubisky tier of quarterbacks’ destinations are difficult to pin down. It’s not completely out of the question Watson is there at No. 25, but it would be unlikely.
- In more cornerback news, USC’s Adoree’ Jackson has a busy schedule lined up this week. The former Trojans standout will meet with three teams — the Eagles, Rams and Texans — in the coming days, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Jackson’s first stop this week will be in Philadelphia, where cornerback is a need area.
Texans Visit With Josh Jones
- The Texans hosted safety Josh Jones on a visit today, per Caplan (via Twitter). Safety may now reside as Houston’s top need on an otherwise loaded defense after the unit lost Quintin Demps to the Bears. An N.C. State product, Jones paid a visit to Miami last week and has trips to meet with the Panthers, Jets and Redskins set up.
Texans Eyeing Jadeveon Clowney Extension?
The Texans made the predictable decision to exercise Jadeveon Clowney‘s fifth-year option earlier today, but the team appears to have bigger near-future plans for its former No. 1 overall selection.
Expectations are the Texans will plan a Clowney extension after the 2017 season, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Wilson provides the caveat that Clowney will have to show last season wasn’t a fluke. If Clowney is not extended before the 2018 season, he would make $13.8MM, the Chronicle’s John McClain notes.
Of course, Wilson tweets that the near-$14MM amount isn’t certain yet. The Texans moved Clowney to defensive end, and he will have to play more snaps there than at linebacker (approximately $12MM) to earn the end figure. However, if Clowney can stay healthy opposite J.J. Watt and finally provide the Texans with a glimpse at the tandem they thought they were securing in 2014, that figure could be a moot point.
The 24-year-old Clowney would be in line to exceed both Watt and Muhammad Wilkerson‘s 3-4 defensive end salaries with another big year, considering the cap’s continued climb. Wilkerson leads the lot at $17.2MM AAV. Although, the Texans could be forced to then revisit Watt’s wages in that event. The three-time defensive player of the year is signed through what would be his age-32 season 2021 on a six-year, $100MM extension that now looks incredibly team-friendly given Watt’s historic production.
Texans Exercise Jadeveon Clowney’s Fifth-Year Option
The Texans have exercised defensive end Jadeveon Clowney‘s fifth-year option, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26. Clowney is now in position to stay in Houston through at least the 2018 season.
Potentially keeping Clowney in the fold for an extra year was undoubtedly an easy call for the Texans, who originally chose the ex-South Carolina star first overall in the 2014 draft. Clowney missed 12 games as a rookie and failed to make much of an impact when on the field, but he has progressed significantly since then.
The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder has totaled 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons, including six in 2016, and started all 14 of his appearances last year. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod and a second-team All-Pro selection as an integral part of one of the NFL’s top defenses. Pro Football Focus was also impressed, ranking Clowney ninth among 109 qualified edge defenders.
The fifth-year option for Clowney is guaranteed for injury only, and he’s currently due to make a meager $690K salary in 2017 as he closes out a four-year deal worth upward of $22MM. However, odds are the Texans will look to extend the 24-year-old, who figures to become one of the league’s highest-paid defenders in the near future. The Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson paces all 3-4 DEs in both annual salary ($17.2MM) and guarantees ($36.75MM), while Clowney’s teammate, superstar J.J. Watt, leads the way in total contract value ($100MM).
Texans Interested in Ryan Ramczyk
- Texans offensive line coach Mike Devlin has met with Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, a source told Wilson. PFR’s Dallas Robinson currently has Houston selecting Ramczyk with the 25th pick in the draft, noting he’d give the team a much-needed upgrade at right tackle.
Texans To Host Adoree' Jackson
- USC cornerback Adoree’ Jackson has met with the Titans and Browns, and has visits scheduled with the Eagles and Texans, as he tells SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Jackson could help a club on the defensive side of the ball, but he’d also add immediate value as a dynamic special teams maven. In 2016, Jackson averaged 29.5 yards on kick returns and scored two touchdowns, and posted 15.8 yards per punt return (and scored twice more).
Texans Waive Gerald Rivers
- The Texans have waived linebacker Gerald Rivers, the club announced today. Rivers, 26, has bounced around the league since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013, spending time with six different clubs in that time. He’s appeared in three career games, but those all came during his rookie campaign. Rivers spent the entire 2016 season on injured reserve, and had inked a reserve deal with Houston in January.
Texans Release OL Tony Bergstrom
The Texans are cutting offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Cutting Bergstrom will save the club $2.875MM while leaving $375K of dead money against the cap. 
One year ago, Bergstrom joined the Texans as a free agent, agreeing to a two-year, $5.75MM deal with $1.5MM guaranteed. He went on to appear in 15 games as a reserve, but didn’t see a lot of playing time in total. In the previous season, Bergstrom appeared in every game for the Raiders and made three starts.
Bergstrom turns 31 in May and was buried on Houston’s depth chart in 2016, so he won’t have big bucks thrown in his direction. However, he did an alright job filling in for the injured Rodney Hudson in 2015 and he offers experience at both tackle and guard. Bergstrom could get a look as line depth this summer, should he choose to continue playing.
Forrest Lamp Visits Texans
- Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp visited the Texans on Wednesday, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The guard seems likely to come off the board somewhere in the 20s, which is in the neighborhood of the Texans’ pick (No. 25). In Houston, Lamp would presumably unseat left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, who has disappointed since going 44th overall in 2014. Although Su’a-Filo started a career-high 15 games last season, Pro Football Focus ranked him as one of the NFL’s worst guards.