Texans poach Titans $40 million starter to address future need

The Houston Texans have poached a few defenders from the Tennessee Titans this year, with Tennessee’s division rival signing both defensive lineman Denico Autry and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency.

And one NFL analyst believes that could continue in 2025. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks the Texans could target Tennessee defensive lineman, Sebastian Joseph-Day, in free agency next offseason

“The Texans offense is not far from being an elite unit. If they can improve the interior of the offensive line and figure some things out schematically, they will be just fine. The defense will determine Houston’s ceiling moving forward,” he wrote.

“The best path there is to make sure the Texans have an elite front seven. Getting aggressive to add Danielle Hunter was a good move in that regard. This offseason, they have to find a way to get more talent in the middle of the defense,” Ballentine added. “Sebastian Joseph-Day came in at No. 37 on Kris Knox’s early free-agency big board and would be a good addition.”

Signed by the Titans to a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency, Joseph-Day has proven himself a serviceable starter. His 2.5 sacks are just shy of his career-high of three, and he’s posted a strong run defense grade of 72.0, per Pro Football Focus.

Joseph-Day would provide the Texans with more depth upfront and a boost to both the interior pass rush and run defense. And, he’d come cheap, which is important for Houston, a team that is projected to have just $15.7 million in cap space in 2025, according to Over the Cap.

With the Texans not being shy about signing former Titans, and with the team’s need to add more help on defense, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Joseph-Day in Houston in 2025.