While the Jacksonville Jaguars opted for a deliberate approach in free agency, their AFC South rivals made several impact signings in an effort to keep up in the division arms race. The Houston Texans, in particular, allocated significant resources to beef up their offensive line, arguably their biggest weakness last year.
Aside from re-signing Trent Brown and Ed Ingram, the Texans also locked up right tackle Braden Smith. However, they saved their most meaningful move for the second wave of free agency.
The Texans signing of Wyatt Teller should put the Jaguars on notice
While most of the biggest splashes take place in the first three days of free agency, Houston waited until the second wave of free agency to sign offensive guard Wyatt Teller. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported the two-time Pro Bowl nod got a three-year deal worth up to $23 million.
Teller will give the Houston offensive line the boost it desperately needed. A fifth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns the following year. The former Virginia Tech Hokie went on to become a mainstay of the Cleveland offense, appearing in 109 games with 101 starts the past seven years. With the Texans, he'll ensure quarterback C.J. Stroud has enough time to sit in the pocket.
While Stroud struggled in 2025, his protection left much to be desired. In fact, the offensive line has been an area of need for Houston the past two years. This is why it's not surprising to see Texans general manager Nick Caserio make it a priority this offseason.
Now, Stroud has no excuse not to play at a high level next season. If he does, the Jags could be in trouble.
The Jaguars need to look over their shoulder after the Texans' free-agency spending
Signing a guard isn't the kind of move that gets the spotlight, but Wyatt Teller fixes a glaring need for the Texans. Already, they were a formidable foe because of their defense. If C.J. Stroud and the offense can also play at a high level, they could give the Jaguars trouble in 2026.
Last season, these two division rivals split the series. The Jags were close to sweeping Houston but suffered a fourth-quarter meltdown in their second encounter. They won't be caught off guard this time around, but the Texans are a much better and well-rounded team this time around.
Teller, in particular, will be tasked with containing the Jacksonville interior defensive line, which is arguably a pressing need. He's only given more than five sacks in a season once in his career, so he should have no trouble holding his ground.
The Jaguars, for their part, need to make upgrades to the interior trenches. While trading for Jalen Carter no longer looks like a viable option, perhaps they could call the Miami Dolphins about Zach Sieler. An alternative path would be to add a defensive tackle (or two) in the draft, but there's no doubt that general manager James Gladstone must fortify the position.
The Jaguars are the team to beat in the AFC South, but they cannot afford to overlooked the Houston Texans after their initial free-agency spending.