Getty
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio on the field before a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Houston Texans have made some early adjustments to their group for next season, shaking up DeMeco Ryans’ coaching staff and making several roster moves.
Their latest decision will not make or break the 2026 offseason. The same is almost certainly true of the upcoming season. However, it should provide the Texans with a useful player, whom they already knew quite well.
In that sense, the Texans’ roster decision could be a win-win.
Texans Hedge Bets With Roster Move on Ex-49ers Draft Pick
GettyJarrett Kingston #61 of the Carolina Panthers looks on against the Cleveland Browns.
Over The Cap’s Troy Chapman reported the roster move on X on February 20, saying the Texans “re-signed OL Jarrett Kingston to a one year contract. Kingston was due to become an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA). The contract includes a $15k signing bonus.”
KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson corroborated the news with his own report, in which he further detailed the breakdown of Kingston’s contract.
“#Texans one-year extension for exclusive rights free agent offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston: $1.1 million,” Wilson reported on X on February 21. “Includes $1.075 nonguaranteed base salary with $575,000 split salary, $15,000 signing bonus, and a $10,000 workout bonus he can earn in offseason program.”
Kingston’s initial deal with the Texans was one year for $960,000.
The 26-year-old offensive lineman was the 215th overall pick of the 2024 draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco waived Kingston at the end of the 2024 preseason, and he joined the Carolina Panthers after they claimed him. The Texans poached Kingston from the Panthers’ practice squad for their roster in Week 5 of the 2025 season.
Kingston played in two games for the Texans during this past campaign.
He logged 32 snaps on offense and 12 on special teams, per Pro Football Reference, underscoring that his return bolsters the Texans’ roster in multiple phases and positions.
“Has the grit, play strength and know-how to play guard, but his size and length could prevent it. Kingston has been well-trained in pass protection, with a steady posture and quick hand strikes, but he could have issues when he’s on an island and forced to defend both gaps against an athletic rusher,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote before the 2024 draft.
“Capable of making zone-scheme blocks and does an admirable job of sustaining run blocks for as long as possible. While he never played the position in a collegiate game, Kingston’s future in the NFL might rest on his ability to prove he can snap and move to center.”
That does not mean the Texans are done working on their front, though, nor should it.
Texans’ OL Needs More Attention
GettyAireontae Ersery #79 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Minnesota Vikings.
Last offseason, Texans general manager Nick Caserio made it a point to rework the roster, specifically along the offensive line.
The Texans added veterans Cam Robinson, Ed Ingram, Jake Andrews, Laken Tomlinson, and Trent Brown. They also drafted Aireontae Ersery in the second round in 2025. They eventually moved him into their starting left tackle spot and traded Robinson. Houston also cut Tomlinson.
This offseason, Brown and Ingram are free agents, creating holes at right guard and right tackle.
Meanwhile, arguments have been made for upgrading from Andrews at the pivot. Tytus Howard filled in all along the Texans’ offensive line, but the team appears to favor him inside.
Andrews is at least under contract for this coming season. So, the Texans can focus their efforts on guard and tackle. Reserves Blake Fisher, Jarrett Patterson, Juice Scruggs, and Sidy Sow will all also try to factor into the equation.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
More Heavy on Texans
Loading more stories