The Houston Texans had an outstanding season in the 2024 NFL season, until a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs ended the team’s playoff run. Quarterback CJ Stroud will now be surrounded by some new faces in the offseason, while Indianapolis Colts star Anthony Richardson lost a longtime teammate.
The Texans have been moving quickly to strengthen their roster, with Stroud as their centerpiece. On defense, they extended the contract of cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL. At the same time, Houston retained key players like defensive end Danielle Hunter and defensive tackle Mario Edwards.
The story is different for the Colts, as Indianapolis is focused on improving following the acquisition of Daniel Jones as the team’s new quarterback. Richardson will face competition for the starting job and will look to establish himself as a high-level professional on a team that has lost a familiar face in the lineup.
New player for the Texans
Richardson’s former teammate joining the Texans is none other than linebacker E.J. Speed, who will spend one year in Houston. Speed had played his entire career in Indianapolis, a team he joined in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.
E.J. Speed, the new linebacker of the Texans
During his time with the Colts, Speed has appeared in 92 games (32 starts). Over the past two seasons, he has worked his way into the Indianapolis lineup and posted his best single-season record with 142 tackles in 2024.
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NFL News: Texans sign former Super Bowl champion with Tom Brady to help QB CJ Stroud
Other additions for Houston
The Texans have revamped their offensive line with the additions of tackle Cam Robinson and guard Laken Tomlinson. These two players aim to strengthen the protection for quarterback Stroud, who will also have a new wide receiver following the arrival of Christian Kirk.
