Throughout the course of Houston general manager Nick Caserio’s run as the lead football decision maker for the Texans, he’s been part of some of the more noteworthy transactions — the Deshaun Watson trade, the trade up for Will Anderson in the draft, and the Stefon Diggs trade are three that immediately come to mind.
However, if there is one staple that you can count on with Caserio, and I would imagine head coach DeMeco Ryans has major input on this trend as well, it’s that he will contractually take care of Houston Texans who embody the culture and work ethic that Caserio and Ryans prioritize.
We saw it two years ago with Nico Collins getting a healthy extension. Again, we saw it last spring with Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre. Hell, they’ve extended Danielle Hunter twice already and he’s only been here two seasons!
Once again, as the legal tampering period for free agency launched on Monday afternoon, it appears a big part of Caserio’s strategy for roster building is to, once again, retain the familiar faces. As of Monday afternoon, the two most significant moves the Texans had made during Free Agency 2026 was the retention of two key pieces in the trenches, one on offense and one on defense.
Let’s look at the two deals:
Texans retain G Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million deal
Ingram was acquired last offseason for a sixth round pick from the Minnesota Vikings, where he had been benched during the 2024 season. Ingram earned the starting right guard spot in training camp, and proceeded to put together easily the best season of his career, as all season long, he was rated among the top guards on Pro Football Focus. In a season where Caserio’s retooling of the offensive line was very hit-or-miss, Ingram was an undeniable hit. This ensures another familiar face back along the offensive line in front of C.J. Stroud, with Ingram joining left tackle Aireontae Ersery as returning starters.
Texans retain Sheldon Rankins on a two-year deal with $12 million guaranteed
Rankins, of course, was in his second stint with the Texans in 2025, after leaving the team following the 2023 season for a more lucrative deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. His 2024 in Cincinnati was a nightmare, and Rankins returned to Houston on a one-year deal for 2025, where he reestablished himself as a leader in the locker room and a playmaker on game day, including two touchdown returns, one to seal the Week 10 win over the Jaguars, and one to bust open the playoff win over the Steelers. Rankins will again be a nice mentor piece to have, should the Texans choose to draft a young defensive lineman this coming April, a move that many draft experts are forecasting.
Other Houston Texan free agents being brought back include defensive tackle Naquon Jones, safety M.J. Stewart, and linebacker E.J. Speed.