The Houston Texans have the best defense in football overall, but let’s take a closer look at their linebacker unit.
Houston has a very strong leader in the middle with Azeez Al-Shaair, who recently signed a three-year, $54 million extension to remain with the team long term. Al-Shaair is the quarterback of the defense and someone who shows up every single week. He’s been one of the most consistent players on the roster and should continue producing at a Pro Bowl level in Houston.
Behind Al-Shaair,
the talent level drops off a bit, but the group is still capable of stepping up when needed. Henry To’oTo’o is entering his fourth season in the league and has shown flashes of being a very solid player, though he’s also been on the wrong end of several big plays.
To’oTo’o is entering a contract year, so there’s a lot riding on this season for him. That pressure could bring out the best in his game. No matter what, he plays hard and can absolutely be a weapon for the defense, but there are still areas he needs to improve this offseason.
Houston also brought back E.J. Speed, who is more of a depth piece but has flashed when given opportunities. He’s capable of stepping into a starting role if needed and remains a valuable contributor on special teams.
One thing that helps this group is the versatility in the secondary, especially with Jalen Pitre. Pitre lines up all over the field and spends plenty of time around the line of scrimmage. When you factor him into the equation, the Texans’ linebacker group becomes much stronger overall and has solid depth.
It’s clear the Texans feel confident in the players they currently have, and any weaknesses at linebacker can be masked by the amount of talent surrounding them on an elite defense.
