"Ahead of schedule" is the word concerning the progress of QB Deshaun Watson rehabbing his torn right ACL. Assuming he makes it back there is a need for fresh TALENT in the QB room. Someone is going to get a lot of reps this summer. Will it be QB Taylor Heinicke? Surely the team will find another talent. The Texans brought in QB Lamar Jackson last week for a private work out! Makes sense to me, just don’t see how they could trade up to draft him next month.

The OL returns players like LT Julie’n Davenport, C Nick Martin, C-G Kyle Fuller and C-G Greg Mancz. Will RT Derek Newton be able to return this year after missing 2017 rehabbing two torn patella tendons? Will he play G if he can return? Can RG Jeff Allen play LT? The Texans signed FAs G Senio Kelemete, G Zach Fulton and T Seantrel Henderson as FAs. There is fresh talent to remake the OL. They still need to draft a LT but their first pick in April is in the third round. Even if the Texans wanted to trade up they wouldn’t have enough for both a QB and LT. If they don’t find someone good to come in look for Jeff Allen or Davenport to play LT.

RB Lamar Miller and RB D’onta Foreman return but neither is an alpha back. Foreman is recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture so all bets are off with him. The Texans have three picks on the third round of next month’s college draft. They need to get lucky like New Orleans did last year with RB Alvin Kamara. New Orleans was smart as well as lucky.

Did the Texans develop another playmaker last year in WR Will Fuller? Sure looked like it when Watson was playing. Clearly WR DeAndre Hopkins is their one but Fuller played like a one there for about four straight games until Watson went down. Top TE C.J. Fiedorowicz has retired because of concussion concerns. So far no FA TE signings. The draft is deep with talented tight ends. Will Oklahoma’s TE Mark Andrews be there in the fourth round?

The D was decimated by injuries last year. Enter FAs S Tyrann Mathieu and CB Aaron Colvin to shore up that leaky secondary. DE Jadeveon Clowney is fun to watch but will DE J.J. Watt return to form? Close?

The Texans will go into the second stage of free agency with almost 34 million in cap space. Next month the Draft; this is the most exciting time of the season for people like us.

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