The Houston Texans' 2025 offseason has been marked by two initiatives — the complete overhaul of the offensive line and the retooling of the depth on most other areas of the roster. To the point of the latter effort, the Texans added another depth piece, with starter potential, in its linebacking corps, signing former Colts linebacker E.J. Speed to a one year, $3.25 million contract over the weekend.
The #Texans continue to add, as they are signing FA #Colts LB EJ Speed to a 1-year deal worth $3.25M with a max value of $5M, source said. pic.twitter.com/tBIoU8qQVg
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 29, 2025
Speed, 29, was a full-time starter for the Indianapolis Colts in 2024, his second season in the Colts' starting lineup. He started his career as predominantly a special teams player after being selected in the fifth round of the draft out of Tarleton State in 2019. Speed finished with 142 tackles (12th in the NFL), 7 tackles for losses and 5 pass breakups. His 93 solo tackles were tied for third most in the league.
Here are a few more Texans-specific thoughts on the Speed signing:
Another short term, depth builderAfter an offseason a year ago that was built around big signings and moves for star power, the biggest star involved in a Texans transaction this offseason was sent OUT, and that was Laremy Tunsil. In free agency, the moves have largely looked like this deal for speed. In other words, it's a one year deal for a few million bucks. This one makes a lot of sense, especially if there is still concern over Christian Harris' health. More on that in a moment.
The DeMeco EffectIf you're a free agent defensive lineman or linebacker and you're looking at the possibility of a one year, "prove it" deal, there is a great chance that DeMeco Ryans will coach you into the best version of yourself, if you sign with the Texans. Speed said Ryans' presence was a huge reason he chose to change sides in the battle for AFC South supremacy (courtesy of Aaron Wilson, KPRC 2):
“Quite honestly, DeMeco Ryans, defensive minded head coach, I loved what he did up in San Francisco with Fred and Azeez,” Speed told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview Sunday morning. “He always had a great linebacking corps. He actually worked me out coming out of college, so that was a good thing. We had that tie through there and just knowing what he did in the league.
“It’s always a good thing when you play with somebody who’s been through everything you’ve been through as a player and did it at a high level. That was a big part of my decision going to Houston.”
According to Wilson, Speed picked the Texans over the Cowboys and 48ers.
What does this mean for the other linebackers?
Christian Harris missed most of last season with a mysterious calf injury, and even when he retuned late in the regular season, he was seldom used. Ryans chose to lean more on Henry To'o To'o as the sidekick to captain Azeez Al-Shaair at the linebacker spot. Speed is coming to Houston with designs on being a starter, as he was in Indy the last two seasons. He played 98 percent of the defensive snaps for the Colts last season. Harris is heading into a contract year, To'o To'o started most of last season, and Al-Shaair is entrenched as essentially Ryans' "coach on the field," so the competition for playing time at linebacker has become a sneaky fun story as training camp approaches in a few months.
Speed's history with C.J. StroudThis just in — the Colts and the Texans don't like each other very much, and in recent years, much of the animosity stems from the success that C.J. Stroud has had, and C.J.'s propensity to discuss that success on podcasts and such. Speed was one of the Colts that Stroud would go back and forth with. here are a couple examples:
C.J. Stroud talking about new #Texans LB E.J. Speed 🤣🤣🤣
pic.twitter.com/a6971KMQzN
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) March 29, 2025
New Texans LB EJ Speed had a bone to pick with CJ Stroud at one point. A rival becomes a teammate. pic.twitter.com/5hRALIRWTR
— James Roy (@JamesRoyNFL) March 29, 2025
For what it's worth, Speed said in his interview with Wilson that there are no hard feelings between him and Stroud:
“I knew C.J. before he got into the league, actually,” Speed said. “Me and C.J. talk outside of football. we talk trash all the time, just two people who talk trash, that’s all that is. It wasn’t anything outside of having my podcast and trash talk. I just left another quarterback who has a lot of swagger and talks a lot of trash to another quarterback in the same draft class who does the same thing.”
Now, it will be Speed's job to get the ball back for Stroud and the Texans' offense to do their thing this coming season.
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