By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t take their foot off the pedal this off-season. Hence, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the sleep-deprived Sean McVay reeled in another splash signing. With that said, I’m going to untwine three dream FA targets for the LA Rams.

Justin Houston

The Clowney sweepstakes are over, but there is one hungry pass rusher looking for a job: Justin Houston. The former Chiefs sack artist will surely look to play for a Super Bowl contender while being placed in a superb situation. Well, I believe Houston could nicely replace Von Miller and help Aaron Donald dismantle opposing NFC West pass protections on a frequent basis.

Odell Beckham Jr.

“Hello darkness, my old friend”

The Rams witnessed OBJ returning to impressive form in Super Bowl LVI, but he sadly left the game via a torn ACL. I would be shocked if Beckham Jr. joined the Saints WR room (that already features Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry). I would love to see OBJ reunite with LA and it may even happen. Per Ian Rapoport, there’s still a possibility that OBJ re-signs with the Rams.

T.Y. Hilton

If the Rams can’t make a poetic reunion with OBJ, I’d love to see them shift their focus to the deep-threat T.Y. Hilton. Hilton, who is a few years younger (and less selfish) than Desean Jackson, can bring a unique element of deep-speed to the Rams WR room. I trust that Matthew Stafford can squeeze the remaining juice out of the former Colts speed demon.

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By: Jake Rajala

The monster 2021 free agent signing Trey Hendrickson was the third-best pass rusher in the AFC last season, as he unleashed 14 sacks. Nonetheless, I believe there are a few FA faces that could still help the Bengals pass rush. I’m going to untwine three pass rushers available that could help the 11th best defense in sacks last season transform into a Top-5 defense in sacks next season.

Carlos Dunlap

“Hello Darkness, my old friend”

Carlos Dunlap is still a very good football player and he proved his ability last season via his 8.5 sacks. Dunlap has familiarity with Cincinnati and they are certainly a team that can help win a Super Bowl ring. He is also arguably the best pass rusher on the FA market after Clowney re-signed with the Browns. If he doesn’t ink a contract with the Seahawks, I would love to witness his return to Cincy.

Geno Atkins

It may seem like Geno Atkins fell off the face of the earth, but his former teammates have expressed their wishes for him to return. Jessie Bates reportedly texted Atkins, “You want to go play for us now” back in January. The second Bengal on this list could also wreak havoc inside while allowing Sam Hubbard to develop as the best DE2 on this team.

Justin Houston

Justin Houston might be 33 years old, but he has been a quality football player over the past three seasons (11 sacks in 2019, 8 sacks in 2020, and 4.5 sacks in 2021). It’s clear that Houston wants to ride off into the sunset on a championship-caliber team. If he doesn’t start over Hubbard, he would be an excellent rotational DE and veteran presence for the Bengals defense.

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By: Jake Rajala

The San Francisco 49ers carry the blood-thirsty, two-time Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa, but he may be missing a partner in the near future. Per Niners Nation, the 49ers are expected to cut ties with Dee Ford in June. Ford has been a pass-rushing menace in his career, but he has only played in seven games in the past two seasons for the 49ers. It’s clear that John Lynch doesn’t feel his price tag is worth the risk at this point. With that said, I’m going to simply untwine three potential pass rusher replacements for Ford.

Justin Houston

Justin Houston might be 33 years old, but he has been a productive pass rusher in recent memory (11 sacks in 2019, 8 sacks in 2020, and 4.5 sacks in 2021). Houston would have to be enticed about the idea of playing on the same DL as Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa. I don’t believe he would want the same price tag as Carlos Dunlap, but he could still provide production for a couple of more seasons.

Everson Griffen

The Vikings edge rusher Everson Griffen holds a similar outlook as Houston. He is also an aging pass rusher (34) and he mustered out 5 sacks in nine games last season. Similar to Richard Sherman, he is also a special person that has made mistakes and battled demons with his mental health. I expect him to return to a championship-caliber squad with a nice fit for his ability.

Jason Pierre-Paul

The former Buccaneers edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul has been rumored to land with the Cowboys, but he may be more interested in joining the 49ers potential empty chair for him. JPP had a down 2021 season, but he did have 9.5 sacks and 2 interceptions in 2020. He has gifted athletic ability and he may be the type of less expensive signing that can find gold with great match-ups late in his career.

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By: Jake Rajala

In 2011, the Kansas City Chiefs made one of their draft picks in Chiefs history, and they unequivocally landed one of the best third-round draft choices of all time in Justin Houston. The Chiefs fearless pass-rusher made four straight Pro Bowls from 2012-to 2015 while notching an All-Pro spot in 2014 (22 sacks in 2014).

Houston exited Chiefs territory after the 2018 season and fled to IND. He would play two seasons in Indianapolis and then fight for a new AFC contender in Baltimore last season. There is no secret that Houston is an aging defender (33 years old) and he may only have a few seasons left in the tank. With that said, I believe it’s worth reflecting on the previous magic and resume of Houston. Furthermore, I’m going to untwine if he is on a path to Canton.

Well, Houston has been a mythical Chiefs figure. Yet, it’s clear that the NFL HOF is a different animal than the Chiefs ring of honor. For example, the legend OLB Demarcus Ware wasn’t a first-ballot HOF, but he is surely a future HOF. He unleashed 138.5 career sacks, nine Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro teams, and he has a Super Bowl ring.

It’s safe to say that Ware unveiled has noticeably more impressive accolades than Houston’s career output. Although, it should be noted that Houston has had four seasons of 8+ sacks that didn’t equate to Pro Bowl glory.

I believe another fascinating, younger comparison for Houston is the Saints 2011 draft pick Cameron Jordan. Jordan has very similar overall production as Houston. The Saints pass rusher has 107 career sacks, while Houston has 102 career sacks. They both also only have one All-Pro team. Although, Jordan has three more Pro Bowl honors than Houston and he was named to the 2010 decade team (while Houston was not given a spot).

I feel like Cam needs a couple of Pro Bowl seasons (or SB ring) to cement himself as a future HOF. With that said, I believe that Houston’s outlook for Canton doesn’t look promising. I feel like he has been close to garnering a DPOY award and numerous extra Pro Bowl awards, but he hasn’t quite ousted top-tier on enough occasions. If Houston wants to be cast in football paradise, I believe he will need to have two-three more Pro Bowl seasons including a Super Bowl ring on a squad like LA to finish his career as a football god.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams made a creative, potentially life-saving decision with the trade for Von Miller last season. Unfortunately, the Rams were not able to retain the future HOF pass rusher. I expect the Rams to witness a return from the greek god-like DT Aaron Donald and they still have Leonard Floyd to hunt down quarterbacks.

Despite the Rams projected horses on their defensive front in 2022, they have been rumored to reel in a new pass rusher. Turf Show Times suggested that the Rams could reunite with Robert Quinn and Ramblin Fan believes that Carl Nassib would be a logical fit for the reigning Super Bowl Champions. With that said, I’m going to simply outline a few FA pass rusher targets for the Rams.

Carlos Dunlap

I believe that Sean McVay wants to make another splash signing. They have expressed interest in reuniting with Odell Beckham Jr, but I’d like to see LA prioritize a talented edge rusher to replace Miller. Carlos Dunlap registered 8.5 sacks for SEA last season and he could blossom in a better situation next season. Clowney is off the board and Dunlap should be the next pass rusher on McVay’s wishlist.

Ryan Kerrigan

I don’t love Ryan Kerrigan’s ceiling, but he may be an excellent value signing. If the Rams aren’t able to obtain Dunlap, I’d like to see the Super Bowl-needy Kerrigan ink a one-year contract with the Rams. Per NBC Sports, he had an injury-filled off-season in 2021 and he also wasn’t able to have a quality role on the Eagles defense in the 2021-2022 season. It should be noted that his 2021 campaign was his onle season without 5.5+ sacks. I believe the combination of the Rams Super Bowl chances and Kerrigan’s desire to win a SB should help the two sides join together.

Justin Houston

The former third-round draft Justin Houston has refused to quit in the late stages of his career. Houston had 11 sacks in 2019 (IND), 8 sacks in 2020 (IND), and 4.5 sacks for the Ravens last season. Houston is a well-rounded defender that could also be a great mentor for the likes of Chris Garrett. The four-time Pro Bowl selection could re-sign with the Ravens, return to KC, or join a different contender: perhaps the Rams dream team?

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The Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Justin Houston might be 33, but he’s still a productive player at this stage in his career. Houston unleashed 4.5 sacks in 2021 and 8 sacks in 2020. Here is a closer look at how productive Houston has been in his career.

• 102 career sacks
• 22 sacks in 2014
• Four time Pro Bowl selection
• eight seasons of 7.5+ sacks

It’s clear that Houston has been one of the best pass rushers of all time. Houston is still seeking to add a Lombardi trophy to his legacy. With that said, which team could look to obtain Houston? Here are a few squads that would make a ton of sense.

• Kansas City Chiefs

It wouldn’t only be poetic if Houston returned to Arrowhead Stadium, but they desperately need him. The Chiefs inked Melvin Ingram, but they won’t be head over heels to bring him back after his earth-shattering 1 sack in 2021. They were aching for pass rush help in the AFC Championship matchup against Cincy and they get a pass rush boost from an old friend in Houston.

• Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens mistakenly let Yannick Ngakouye and Matt Judon leave the building and they can’t afford to let Houston leave, too. The Ravens really need Houston in their lineup, especially after they finished 24th in sacks last season. The Baltimore Ravens and not the Cleveland Browns were last in the AFC North last season. They can’t allow Lamar Jackson, who received the torch from Tom Brady, to miss the playoffs for the second season in a row.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals will likely lose Chandler Jones this offseason, but they can replace him with a cheaper veteran edge rusher in Houston this offseason. Houston and J.J. Watt can wreak havoc on opponents next season. It may not be 2015, but the two pass rushers can still be stars on the big stage in 2022. The Cardinals would be a nice fit scheme-wise, plus he can really pursue a Super Bowl trophy with Watt and Kyler Murray.

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By: Ladarius Brown

If you are a football fan (or a Lions fan for that matter), the Lions organization has not been great for some time. Over the last two years, it has been the defensive side of the ball that has taken a major hit. In 2018, this Lions team was 10th in the league in total defense with players like DE’s Romeo Okwara, Da’Shawn Hand, and 3x Pro Bowler & All-Pro CB Darius Slay. However, in 2019 & 2020, the Lions finished 31st and 32nd respectively. As they are rebuilding their secondary, most notably with drafting Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah in the 1st round in 2020, the defensive line needs some depth.  

One option that is out there is 4x Pro Bowler and All-Pro DE Justin Houston. Houston played for the Colts in 2020 in which he had eight sacks and 19 total sacks in his two seasons in Indy. In 2014, he led the league with 22 sacks as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 7th in total defense that year. Another reason that Houston is an ideal fit for the Lions is the flexibility he can provide. 

The Lions’ new defensive coordinator, former 15-year NFL veteran Aaron Glenn, will bring in a 3-4 defensive scheme. Here, DEs who are typically starting with their fingers in the field will have their stance be upward as an LB. Houston played LOLB in his 1st eight years in the league with the Chiefs and the transition will be seamless. Also, two of the current DE’s on the roster, the aforementioned Okwara, and Trey Flowers, will be making the move to outside LB.  

What also bodes well for Houston is that Lions general manager Brad Holmes drafted only one true DE in the 2021 Draft: Derrick Barnes in the 4th round out of Purdue. Glenn alluded to is, in nickel packages, he visualizes using a five-down front at times, with LB Jamie Collins as one edge rusher. Veteran Michael Brockers and rookie second-round pick Levi Onwuzurike are defensive ends who will play as inside rushers in sub-packages in the Lions’ new defense. This Glenn-led will have various looks, taking advantage of players who have played as DEs and LBs. Houston fits the bill in this respect and more.  

The biggest question is how much playing time Houston would see on the field. In the last two seasons for the Colts, he averaged 641 defensive snaps, or 62% of the Colts snaps on that side of the ball. Given the players currently on the roster, there is an opportunity for the 10-year vet to get a starting job. Because of his familiarity with playing in a 3-4 scheme, he has an edge on the younger players on the roster. 

Given that the Lions’ front seven are have experienced players such as Collins (8 years), Brockers (9 years), Houston would be great as added depth with the chance to compete. Regarding his price tag, he made $12 million a year in Indy when he signed in 2019. Now, at 32 years old, another question is he worth $12 million a year, even for one year. If he is willing to take a pay cut (1 year, $5-6 million), he would be well worth the risk in kickstarting this Lions defense.  

The post Why the Lions should sign pass rusher Justin Houston appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Chris Thomas

In recent memory, it is hard to recall so many extremely talented free agent players still available at this point of the offseason. The reasoning may be that teams wanted to wait till after the draft to see if they could fill the remaining needs on their roster in the early rounds. Teams may also want to wait till training camp to see if the players on their roster have developed to a point where they could fill that need. On top of that in recent years veteran free agents have decided to wait till after the draft and training camp to sign with teams so they can look at a team’s overall roster before signing and skip training camp and get ready for the season with their own personal trainers.

One of the deepest positions in this free-agent class is edge rusher. Multiple former Pro Bowl edge rushers are still on the market. There are a couple of teams around the league who could still use another pass rusher off the edge. Here is where the top free agent edge rushers could land.

Justin Houston to Baltimore Ravens

Before free agency started in March, Justin Houston was viewed as one of the best free-agent edge rushers. However, due to his age and slight decline, teams may have been hesitant to give Houston a long-term big money contract. But that being said Houston showed last year that he is still capable of being a player opposing offenses need to plan for. After racking up eleven sacks in his first season in Indianapolis, Houston had eight sacks this past year after the Colts traded for DeForest Buckner in the offseason. The pairing of Houston and Buckner was disruptive enough to give Indianapolis one of the better defenses in the league last season.

A team that has not done enough to replace the pass rushers they lost in free agency is the Baltimore Ravens. During free agency, the Ravens lost both Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon who both signed large deals with the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots. Ngakoue and Judon had 9 of the teams 39 sacks last season. Along with Jihad Ward, they were three of the six payers that had three sacks or more for Baltimore last season.

They did manage to resign situational pass rusher Pernell McPhee and former second-round pick Tyus Bowser. But neither McPhee nor Bowser has shown the capability to play like a true number one pass rusher on a playoff team. The Ravens did use their second first-round selection (31st overall) on Penn State edge rusher Odafe “Jayson” Oweh. The hype around Oweh as a prospect was his athletic testing and high ceiling, but in year one he will likely be better in a rotational role.

Baltimore hasn’t been a stranger to signing veteran defenders over the years. Houston would arguably be the Ravens’ best pass rusher next season depending on how Calais Campbell plays. His eight sacks from a season ago would have led the Ravens last year and he could very well lead the team in that category if he were to sign there. The transition to Baltimore’s defense wouldn’t be that large considering Houston was largely looked at as just a 3-4 outside linebacker before landing in Indianapolis. Actually, the reason why Kansas City let him go was because of the fear that he would not be able to fit in with Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defensive scheme. Bringing in Houston could be more than a bridge until Oweh can take on a full-time role. Houston could be what boosts this defense to play at a top-10 level this season. He has Pro Bowl upside and could very well make people question why he didn’t land with a team earlier in the offseason.

Prediction: Justin Houston signs with the Baltimore Ravens for one year $7.5 Million

Melvin Ingram to Pittsburgh Steelers

Throughout his career, Melvin Ingram has been a player who is good for about just under ten sacks a season who is capable of playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level and put up double-digit sacks. Going into this season it seemed unlikely that Ingram would play his way into another huge contract. He was likely going to land somewhere as a veteran secondary pass rusher. However, a season riddled with injuries limited Ingram to seven games. He also did not have a single sack on the season. The knee Ingram injured that put him on IR twice is likely the reason why he remains unsigned. If Ingram’s knee heals, he could be a valuable addition to a defense.

The Pittsburgh Steelers arguably had one of the worst offseasons last year. Not only did they lose four of their five starters along their offensive line, but they also lost two starting cornerbacks, and edge rusher Bud Dupree. To replace those players Pittsburgh is betting on the players they have drafted in the middle rounds over the years that have shown the ability to potentially become starters for them. 2020 third-round pick Alex Highsmith is expected to take over for Bud Dupree this coming season. After Dupree tore his ACL last year, Highsmith was thrusted into the starting lineup. He had 48 tackles and two sacks in five starts. But since Pittsburgh believes they are in a win-now mode they should try to bring in a veteran to compete with Highsmith for the job starting opposite T.J. Watt.

Ingram appears to be the perfect veteran for Pittsburgh to bring in to compete with Highsmith for one of their starting edge rusher roles. Over the course of his career, Ingram has been very consistent over the last couple of seasons averaging 8.6 sacks a year between 2015-2019. That type of production is good enough to take away attention from premier edge rusher T.J. Watt and keep this defense playing near an elite level. At the worst, Ingram and Highsmith rotate rough out the season, and as the year progresses Highsmith develops into a full-time starter while Ingram reverts into a situational role. If Ingram signed to a low-risk contract he could be the real difference-maker this upcoming season.

Prediction: Melvin Ingram signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers for one year $5.5 million

Olivier Vernon to Dallas Cowboys

One of the forgotten free agents that hit the market this offseason is former Cleveland Browns edge rusher Olivier Vernon. He had nine sacks in 14 games this past season which is his highest total since he had 11.5 during his second season in the league in 2013-14. It was so unfortunate that during Week 17 Vernon tore his Achilles. Vernon was a vital part of the Browns’ defense this past season and could have gotten a large payday. His Achilles injury may be a large part of why he remains unsigned, but the fact that he has not been able to stay healthy and finish a 16 game regular season since 2017-18 may have derailed his market.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams that could finish near the top or bottom of the league this year. It is hard to predict how they will finish the season. They are expected to have an elite offense but may be held back by their defense. Besides replacing Mike Nolan with Dan Quinn and drafting a couple of defensive rookies early, what else has Dallas done to improve their defense this offseason? How much better is Dallas’ defense this season compared to last year? After evaluating their roster, the answer is not much better.

The one position Dallas did not address this offseason is pass rusher. Since getting his huge contract from the Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawerence has been extremely inconsistent putting up five sacks in 2019 and six and a half sacks this past year. A trend Dallas has had the past couple of seasons has been adding a veteran pass rusher later in the offseason to pair up with Lawrence. In 2019, Dallas traded for Robert Quinn who had a borderline Pro Bowl season and got a huge payday after that. Last year Dallas signed Pro Bowler Everson Griffen to a deal but dealt him once it became clear that Dallas would not be contending after Dak Prescott’s injury. Dallas could do the same by adding Oliver Vernon this offseason. If Vernon is healthy and added to Dallas’ defense it gives them an extremely athletic pass-rushing duo who are dynamic enough to put up between 15-20 sacks combined next season.

Dallas desperately needs a veteran player opposite Lawerence because there is uncertainty whether Randy Gregory, Dorance Armstrong, Bradlee Anae, or third-round pick Chauncey Golston could fill that void.

Prediction: Olivier Vernon signs with the Dallas Cowboys for one year $5 million

Everson Griffen to Kansas City Chiefs

At this point last season one of the best available free agents was former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Everson Griffen. Late in the offseason, Griffen signed a one-year $6 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys. He had 2.5 sacks in his seven games with the Cowboys but then was traded to the Detroit Lions for a conditional sixth-round pick. Griffen started two out of seven games with the Lions and had 3.5 sacks for them. So overall in 14 games, Griffen had six sacks which is solid for a secondary or rotational pass rusher.

The biggest theme for the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason was upgrading the trenches after their loss in the Super Bowl. Kansas City primarily focused on adding to their offensive line but has made some upgrades to their defensive line as well. They retained former first-round pick Taco Charlton and made the extremely underrated signing of former Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed. The Chiefs have an elite group of defensive linemen including Frank Clark, Chris Jones, Jarran Reed, and great run defender Derrick Nnadi. According to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, the Chiefs are planning to use Jones as an edge rusher this season opposite Frank Clark while playing Reed and Nnadi primarily in the middle. Jacob Lang of the St. Joseph News-Press reported that Jones has wanted to play defensive end for the Chiefs, but played in the interior because they had Justin Houston and Dee Ford at the time off the edge. Over the last four seasons, Jones has developed into one of the elite pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the league. Jones has averaged 9.6 sacks a season since 2017.

So if Jones has been so dominant rushing the passer from the interior, why would the Chiefs try to move him around the line instead of keeping him at his natural position on the interior and finding another player to put opposite Frank Clark. Jones deserves the right to lineup at defensive end in a couple of packages a game, but it may not be the best thing for him to move all over the line.

Very few defensive linemen are able to play on multiple spots across a defensive line. It seems like almost every season a star defensive lineman signs with a large money deal with a new team and that team tries to play him in a different role than he is accustomed to and that player struggles. Jones may be one of the few players who can transition to a different role on the defensive line. But signing a veteran like Everson Griffen could give Kansas City a security blanket at edge rusher in case Jones is unable to transition well to his new role and lines up in the interior for a majority of the season. Griffen showed last year he is still capable of producing at a starting level and could rotate with Taco Charlton off the edge opposite Frank Clark. If he can mimic the production he had last season on this dominant defensive line it could be well enough to not consider this a major need or hole on the roster until they address it the following offseason.

Prediction: Everson Griffen signs with the Kansas City Chiefs for one year $4.5 million

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By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

It is now the back half of the NFL offseason and there are still some big-name free agents that are without a team for the 2021 season. One of the best available remaining players is edge rusher Justin Houston. He is now 32 years old but has shown in recent years that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Over the last four years combined he has recorded 37.5 sacks, including a minimum of eight sacks in each of those seasons and a high of 11 in 2019. That’s not quite as impressive as his career-high of 22 sacks back in 2014 but it clearly demonstrates that he still has the ability to contribute in a big way.

The ideal landing spot for Houston in this upcoming season is a contending team that could use some help in the pass-rushing department. He could help a win-now team take a step to the next level. Additionally, his age would imply that his price tag should be relatively reasonable. In comparison, Ryan Kerrigan, who is the same age as Houston, just recently signed with the Eagles on a one-year contract worth 2.5 million guaranteed. Houston will likely be looking to get more than that, but he will not break the bank for interested candidates now that the market has been set. All things considered, here are his top three landing spots.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are a team that is looking to improve their pass rush. They were middle of the road last season, ranked 16th in the NFL with 38 team sacks. They did use a first-round draft pick on Gregory Rousseau and a second-round pick on Carlos Basham, which demonstrates that it was an area of focus this offseason. Houston would not only give them an established pass rusher to help them win now but would also assist in the development of the younger players in the position group.

The Bills are a real Super Bowl contender this season, but if they could improve their pass rush they would become a whole new level of competitor. Houston could help them do exactly that. After recently restructuring the contract of Stefon Diggs, they have some available cap space to play with, and this may be the best way for them to use it.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have done a great job in recent years building their offense, but this offseason they have focused on improving their defense. They know they have to be better on that side of the ball if they want to improve from a playoff team to a real contender. They were fifth-worst in the NFL last season in yards allowed per game with 398.3 and ninth-worst in points allowed per game with 27.4. Knowing they have to be better than that, they made moves this offseason in an attempt to improve defensively including adding Bud Dupree and drafting Caleb Farley.

Pass rush is a particular area that they struggled in, recording the third least team sacks in the NFL last season with just 19 total. Adding Dupree will help that number, but pairing him with Houston would provide a significant jump in that category. They would potentially go from one of the worst teams in the league at pass rushing to one of the better ones, and that would be a wise move for a team trying to contend this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are a team that did not struggle at all in rushing the passer last year. They had the most sacks in the NFL with 56 total. The problem is that they lost Bud Dupree this offseason to free agency. He was an extremely important part of their defensive scheme and they do not have a proven replacement on their roster. Having a complementary pass rusher to play opposite of superstar TJ Watt is crucial to their philosophy of pressure defense.

Houston could definitely solve this problem. He is a piece that would allow them to continue their defensive dominance, which is a staple of their organization. The Steelers believe that they are Super Bowl contenders this season, so if Houston believes that as well then this could be a perfect fit. They currently have around 8 million in available cap space so they have more than enough to sign him.

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By: Charlie Friar Twitter: @charliefriar

As we stand right now, it appears Justin Houston has options. That’s significant news because it means teams recognize that the 32-year-old edge rusher has plenty of value left, and it’s not just speculation. 

Houston, We Have Value 

Houston hasn’t made the pro bowl since 2015, but he’s still been effective. He’s played in all 16 games the past two seasons with Indianapolis. His numbers in 2020 were also more than serviceable: 

• 25 Pressures

• 8 Sacks
• 8 Tackles For Loss
• 2 Safeties

While he’s far from his Pro-Bowl prime, he could be a critical piece to several teams. 

Current Chatter

The chatter around Houston has been active recently. He’s already visited one of the most edge-needy teams, the Ravens, but left Baltimore without a deal. Houston has also been tied to Houston (that was fun to write). But that perfect name union doesn’t seem to be happening. 

Colts Owner, Jim Irsay, has also recently told reporters that Houston could be back in Indianapolis. Irsay felt confident in the roster being filled out through the draft, but specifically mentioned Houston as a guy they’d like to bring back. That could certainly be the case. 

Indianapolis may be the most likely spot for Houston because that’s familiar to him, but let’s ignore that for now. There are plenty of other teams that could use Houston’s services. 

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Just because Houston left Baltimore without a deal, doesn’t mean they’re done with each other. As we wrote about in our piece for Olivier Vernon, the Ravens need edge help. In free agency they lost pass rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Matt Judon. That’s a lot of veteran leadership gone, and they take with them a total of 9 sacks from last season. 

Baltimore will also be looking to maintain/enhance their defensive unit. The Ravens ranked 4th with a 26.8% pressure percentage, but only ranked 14th in sacks. The sack total is surprisingly low given the Ravens posted the league’s highest blitz rate at 44.1%. 

The scheme the Ravens offer would work well for Houston and his 12 QB hits. Baltimore has to get to the quarterback if they’re going to keep blitzing at that rate.

Only issue with the Ravens, Baltimore reportedly doesn’t want to sign another UFA until after the May 3rd deadline. That’s when compensatory picks will no longer be negated for signing such players. So Indy could nab Houston before that date, which it has been reported that Houston wants to sign before the draft on April 29th. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 

The Vikings have a lot of work to do to their defense this off-season. While they plan to get Danielle Hunter back from injury in 2021, their pass rush was just as inefficient as their secondary last year. 

At the end of the 2020 the Vikings found themselves with the 32nd-ranked pass rush, according to PFF. The team also ranked dead last with a 21.6% pressure rate. To make matters worse, the Vikings only had one player record more than 25 pressures.

Minnesota needs help. They’ve already signed CB Patrick Peterson to have a veteran presence in the secondary, and now they can get their veteran in the box. If the Vikings really want to make a run at the division, they’ll need to do everything they can to improve the defense that ranked 25th with a 0.099 EPA/play last season. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 

PFF ranked the Seattle pass rush 26th to end the season, but that’s a little deceiving. Seattle’s defensive unit really came on later in the year, and finished strong. Now it’s time to continue that late season effort. 

Carlos Dunlap helped tremendously when joined Seattle, and now that he’s back the team needs to fill the other side. Houston’s 25 pressures will help Seattle’s 13th ranked pressure percentage (24.1%). 

Another reason Seattle could be a fit: draft picks. The Seahawks only have 3 picks in this draft. Yes, you read that right, 3. So, if they want to improve that average pass rush and defend their NFC West title they need to go through free agency and grab a guy like Houston. 

Be ready to see Houston sign somewhere soon. Again, reports say he wants to land somewhere before the draft. Teams now have about a week to act.

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