There has been a lot of attention on some veteran defensive linemen about to hit free agency. Players like Kansas City’s Chris Jones, Miami’s Christian Wilkins, Carolina’s Brian Burns and Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter. However, team sources feel another defensive lineman who is going to have a big free agency market is Houston’s Jon Greenard. Greenard might not cost as much as those other veterans, so sources feel there could be a lot of teams going after him.
Team sources said they like Greenard’s combination of production, youth, size, strength and upside. He is turning 27 in May, so he will be entering the prime of his career and is coming off a season in which he produced 12.5 sacks for the Texans. Greenard notched eight sacks in 2021 as well.
The Texans could keep Greenard from getting to free agency because they have a lot of cap space and their quarterback is on a cheap rookie contract, so they definitely are capable of paying Greenard his market value. However, if Houston wants to spend elsewhere, that could lead to Greenard seeing a bidding war among multiple teams in free agency.
Houston says it is interested in signing Greenard to an extension, but has surprisingly waited close to free agency to start down that road. If the Texans lose Greenard, that would create a big void in their defense. In my latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, I have the Texans taking another edge rusher to replace Greenard. With Houston or another team, Greenard will be highly paid next season.
