The Houston Texans.

are trying to build off their 11-8 AFC South champion season in 2024

With NFL free agency approaching, Nick Caserio appears to be a player.

The goal of the Houston Texans is to improve upon their 2024 11-8 AFC South winning campaign. DeMeco Ryans is the ideal coach for them. They have C.J. Stroud, a wunderkind quarterback, on a rookie deal.

Houston also boasts young, core players with several years remaining on their current contracts. The lone player eligible for an extension is Nico Collins, a breakout receiver. Defensive standouts Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, and Christian Harris still have a lot of work to do before they can begin contract negotiations in 2025.

The Texans have roughly $63 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, but also have 30 impending free agents. Sure, Houston could splurge on a player two, making them an offer they can’t refuse, but it also needs stable depth now facing a first-place schedule in 2024.

Should the Texans let Jonathan Greenard, Sheldon Rankins, Blake Cashman, Steven Nelson and Devin Singletary walk, those spots become essential positions to target once the legal tampering period begins Monday.

Here are five potential outside names who should be on the Texans’ radar if the price is right.

If the Texans are to swing big for one of the marquee names, Wilkins should be the target. He was a staple for five seasons in the Dolphins’ front seven as one of the league’s better run defenders but turned it up a notch in the pass-rushing department this season with nine sacks.