The Houston Texans sport a luxury not afforded to every 2024 playoff team as they approach March’s free agency and April’s NFL draft. DeMeco Ryans’ squad enters the offseason with just three starters from last year’s team slated to enter free agency, with just one of them (wide receiver Stefon Diggs) sporting a Pro Bowl resume. The Texans are a tier below the top three teams in the AFC (Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore). Their offseason, fortunately, will likely result in an improved roster.

Houston has 25 current free agents in the 2025 cycle beginning March 26, and general manager Nick Caserio enters March juggling a roster effectively $3 million over the salary cap. So, which players represent the toughest decisions ahead this spring for Houston’s brass? Let’s address Caserio’s top burning contract questions.

Reunion time?

The Texans’ offense hummed in the first half of 2024. It cratered down the stretch.

Diggs’ absence was a significant reason for this. The former Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills star shined with Houston before suffering a torn ACL in a Week 8 against Indianapolis, tallying 31 first downs on 47 receptions. Diggs was a crucial short and intermediate target for quarterback C.J. Stroud on slants and in-breaking routes, and when Diggs exited the lineup, Houston’s passing game became increasingly boom or bust.

Stroud looked scattered in the final weeks of 2024. He was battered in a divisional round loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. Add the easy completions generated by Diggs, and I suspect Houston’s offense would finish on a less dour note entering an extended offseason.

Diggs is one of many veteran, former Pro Bowl wide receivers who could be available in free agency or trade, with Diggs joining current Cooper Kupp, Chris Godwin and Keenan Allen. The incumbent receiver, Diggs, is still the most likely option to supplement 2024 Pro Bowl selection Nico Collins. Diggs was hailed as the leader of Houston’s wide receiver room early and often last season. Stroud said in early January he hopes Diggs returns to Houston in 2025, and from a production standpoint, Diggs’ eight-game stint was more impressive than any extended stretch from the aforementioned veterans in 2024.

Houston can’t afford to enter 2025 with Collins as the lone standout wide receiver. With a shallow draft class at the position, reuniting with Diggs is the most sensible option.

Another fearsome front?

Houston harassed opposing quarterbacks with regularity last season. Edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for 23 sacks while helping the Texans lead the NFL in Pass Rush Win Rate. Houston’s bullying of the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert with four sacks and a 39 percent pressure rate in January’s wild card round win is a chief example. Anderson and Hunter will return to Houston in 2025, but the rotation around them will likely change. Starting interior lineman Folorunso Fatukasi is a free agent, as are rotational rushers Jerry Hughes, Derek Barnett and Mario Edwards Jr.

Hughes likely won’t come back after playing his age-37 (!) season in Houston. Perhaps two of the Fatukasi, Barnett and Edwards trio are retained. None seem to be a top spending priority, however. Don’t be surprised if Houston trims its defensive line group in March, then restocks (especially its interior) in April.

Run it back?

Dare Ogunbowale is a 31-year-old running back who earned a 28 percent snap share last season. He could still be a valuable piece to the Texans in 2025. Ogunbowale is a strong pass blocker who is often deployed on 3rd-and-long situations. He’s a plus special team’s player, and a back who is effective on screens and swing passes.

Houston invested in running back by adding Dameon Pierce with the second round of the 2023 draft. It doubled down with last year’s trade (and subsequent contract extension) for Joe Mixon. Don’t expect a third year of splurging at the position. Expect the same running back rotation in 2025 as 2024, with Ogunbowale and Pierce jockeying for playing time behind Mixon.