:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66504556/1197561188.jpg.0.jpg)
The second biggest free agent domino Houston had entering the offseason has just tipped over. After signing a one-year contract to leave Denver for Houston in 2019, the Houston Texans and Bradley Roby decided to continue their partnership for another three years.
According to Aaron Wilson (among a horde of others), Roby’s contract is for three years and $36 million, with $17 million guaranteed.
Sources: Texans strike three-year, $36 million deal with top corner Bradley Roby https://t.co/blRRp6fK90
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 15, 2020
Roby was the Texans’ best cornerback last season. Per Football Outsiders, out of 89 qualified cornerbacks, Roby ranked 46th in yards per pass allowed, 53rd in success rate, 64th in pass air yards per attempt, and 50th in yards surrendered after the catch last year. Roby is a good player. With the going rate for cornerbacks, especially in free agency, this is a good contract for the Texans.
Houston still has plenty of work to do to improve a pass defense that ranked in the bottom six in the NFL in 2019. So far, they haven’t released players that’ll create additional cap space (though they did agree to let Johnathan Joseph become a free agent); they have paid to retain their own.
The legal tampering period before NFL free agency starts will begin tomorrow at 11 a.m. CDT. When free agency kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, Houston will need to make additional moves to address last season’s Achilles’ heel.