After a long and drama-filled regular season, the just-as-anticipated offseason is upon us. In a couple of weeks, the NFL calendar flips to a new league year, and all of the free agency moves and draft porn you can stand will overwhelm your sports feeds. So it is with the Houston Texans. Coming off arguably their best season in franchise history, the team still ran into the obsidian ceiling that is the Divisional Round of the Playoffs. Yet, they have the makings of a team that could make some noise
next season.
Before that, they still have a roster full of decisions to make before they try again for a shot at glory. Thus, the team gets to once again play everyone’s favorite offseason game: Trade, Cut, Extend. They did it last year, with a rather high rate of their actions matching those of the home game we played last year. Like last year, no shortage of possibilities. However, some players are more likely candidates for this than others. With that, on to the games:
TRADE:
OL Juice Scruggs: The former 2nd round draft pick out of Penn State, Scruggs was seen as a guy who could play either guard or center, like he did successfully in State College. However, his 3-year career to this point as not turned out that way. Between injury and ineffectiveness, Scruggs could not lock down a spot along the Texans’ offensive interior. Given how overall weak that part of the team has been for the past two seasons, that is a damning statement. If not for Kenyon Green, Scruggs could arguably be the biggest bust in the Caserio era. Still, he was a 2nd round pick, and still has one year left on his rookie deal. If inclined, the team could trade him to get either a Day 3 pick, or package him to obtain another weapon for the squad.
Considered: QB Davis Mills: His inclusion on this list is mainly a concession to some discussions floating around on the internet about what Houston could consider. Then again, remember the famous Abe Lincoln quote about not believing everything you see on the internet? Mills was the subject of legitimate trade discussions during the 2025 season, with teams such as the Bengals reportedly interested in his services. Mills is under contract for one more season in Houston, and at $7M, he would be a major bargain and could command a quality draft pick or two. The main issue is then, who do you trust to back up Stroud? Mills is not a franchise guy, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better backup in the league. Unless you want to gamble that Graham Mertz or one of the underwhelming QBs you could find later in this year’s draft will be the answer at backup, this is probably not viable.
CUT:
RB Joe Mixon: If 2024 was a revelation in a good way about what Joe Mixon could bring to the Texans, 2025 was a revelation for the exact opposite reason. While we’ve never gotten the full story about what was going on with his foot, he missed the entire year, and even with the best efforts of Woody Marks and whatever Chubb still had left, Mixon’s presence was sorely missed. He is still under contract for one more season, but he is on the wrong side of 30, and if Houston cuts him, they eat $2M in dead cap, but save $8M in cap space. Perhaps you could consider him a trade option, but more than likely, he will be a cap casualty, possibily brought back on a team friendlier deal.
Considered: OL Jarrett Patterson: A less heralded pick from 2023, the sixth rounder has arguably offered more stability and competence than his higher picked colleague Scruggs. However, injuries and ineffectiveness saw him more of a depth piece when 2025 came to an end. Like Scruggs, he is in the last season of his rookie deal. He doesn’t offer a huge amount of cap savings (~$3.5M), but as Houston looks to accumulate at least the extension of Anderson as well as bringing back other players, particular any of the rotational DTs, Patterson could also be cap casualty to be brought back on a much friendlier deal.
EXTEND
DE Will Anderson, Jr: In the “Well, no [KITTEN]ing [KITTEN]” part of the game, we come to the former #3 pick in the 2023 draft. Ever since Houston traded over a haul to the Cardinals for the right to pick Mr. Anderson, the former Alabama standout is taking his place among the best defensive linemen in Houston’s history, and even in the short history of this franchise, that is no small feat. This past season, Anderson again logged double digit sacks (12.0), had the most pressures in the league and gave about every offensive blocker night sweats trying to stop his relentless motor. Remember, he ran almost 50 yards on one play to take down Josh Allen on a sack. Madness. That his 5th year option gets picked up is a given. However, much like 2022 #3 overall pick Stingley last year, expect Houston to work out a nice extension for Anderson. Probably a short (3-4 year deal) with a high average annual value (AAV), say around $40M/yr, is in his future. Might turn into a bargain by the end of that deal.
Considered: QB CJ Stroud: As for the player taken one slot above Anderson? After his rookie season, a lucrative extension after his third year seemed a given. After this most recent playoff run? Might want to hold on that one. Yes, that 5th year option is getting picked up. However, what sort of money Stroud gets is very much in question, if he even gets that big money contract this offseason? If Houston can get him to sign a relatively team-friendly extension, ala Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield, that might just happen. If Stroud is looking for the big franchise money, ala Jackson, Allen or Prescott? Maybe not this year, as the team will want to see if that playoff performance was an aberration or the new normal.
This is but one version of Trade, Cut, Extend that you can play at home (or work, if so inclined). Perhaps you have a different version? If so, offer your respectful take for the internet here.
