Denico Autry
EDR/DE FA
Fri 2/6/26 11:18 PM

Autry logged eight tackles (five solo), including 3.5 sacks, one pass defense and one forced fumble across 12 regular-season games with the Texans in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Autry opened the season on the PUP list due to a knee injury that he played through for much of the 2024 campaign. He made his 2025 debut in Week 7, but he was consistently listed on the injury report due to that same knee issue, which impacted his production and snap count on defense. Autry has accumulated 6.5 sacks across 22 regular-season games over the last two years, which is a far cry from the six prior years, when he recorded at least 7.5 sacks in five of those campaigns. Autry will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and while he'll garner interest from teams as a veteran depth option on the defensive line, it seems as though his best days are well behind him.

QFolorunso Fatukasi
IL/DT FA
Fri 2/6/26 11:10 PM

Fatukasi (shoulder) tallied eight tackles (five solo), including 1.5 sacks, across four regular-season games for the Texans in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Fatukasi served in a rotational role on the Texans' defensive line to open the regular season, and he logged at least 0.5 sacks in two of four games before landing on injured reserve in early October due to a shoulder injury. The injury was severe enough that the 31-year-oldwasn't cleared to return to practice, and it remains to be seen how his shoulder issue will impact his availability for offseason programs like OTAs and minicamp. Fatukasi is an unrestricted free agent, and as long as he passes his physicals, he should garner interest from teams looking to add veteran depth to the interior defensive line.

Jaylen Reed
S HOU (6)
Fri 2/6/26 10:57 PM

Reed registered 14 tackles (nine solo) and one fumble recovery across seven regular-season games for the Texans in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
It was an injury-riddled year for the rookie sixth-rounder, who opened the regular season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 and played mostly served on special teams outside of Week 12 against the Bills, when he started at safety and logged 12 tackles (nine solo) and a fumble recovery. However, Reed broke the metal plate in his forearm the following week against the Colts, an injury that necessitated another stint on IR, though he was activated prior to the Texans' AFC wild-card game against the Steelers. It's worth noting that Reed was the Texans' starting safety for the team's two playoff games in the absence of M.J. Stewart (quadriceps - IR), and the former could be Houston's starter in 2026 alongside Calen Bullock.

Derek Barnett
EDR/DE FA
Fri 2/6/26 10:51 PM

Barnett logged 21 tackles (13 solo), including 5.0 sacks, across 17 regular-season games with the Texans in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
It took Barnett until Week 8 against the 49ers to post his first sack of the season, though he boosted his numbers late in the regular season after logging 3.0 sacks across Weeks 16 and 17. The ninth-year veteran operated mostly in a rotational role on Houston's defensive line, and that will likely be what his role is with whoever he signs with during the offseason, as he'll be an unrestricted free agent.

Grover Stewart
IL/DT IND (11)
Fri 2/6/26 9:54 PM

Stewart recorded 55 tackles (23 solo) including 0.5 sacks, four passes defensed including an interception and a forced fumble in 17 games with Indianapolis in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Stewart played a similar number of defensive snaps in 2025 (680) compared to 2024 (661), but his per-snap production declined - he posted 19 fewer tackles and three fewer sacks in the most recent campaign. He turned 32 in October, and age could explain the perceived decline in his effectiveness, but he still ended up leading Colts defensive tackles in snaps. Entering the final year of his contract with Indianapolis, he should again play a major role as a run stopper in 2026.

QDeForest Buckner
IL/DT IND (11)
Fri 2/6/26 9:45 PM

Buckner recorded 47 tackles (30 solo) including 4.0 sacks in 10 games with Indianapolis in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Buckner missed just two combined games in his first eight seasons as a pro, but he has now sat out 12 games over the past two years. In 2025, it was a neck issue that forced him to miss seven of the Colts' last eight games. He was on pace for 75-plus tackles and seven-plus sacks before that point though, so there's reason to suspect he could rebound in 2026. He has one year left on his contract with Indianapolis going into his age 32 season.

Neville Gallimore
IL/DT CHI (5)
Fri 2/6/26 9:32 PM

Gallimore recorded 38 tackles (18 solo) including 3.5 sacks and three passes defensed in 17 games with Indianapolis in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Gallimore signed a one-year deal with the Colts as a free agent back in March, and he proceeded to post the most productive season of his now six-year career. His 465 defensive snaps were the most he's played in a season, and as a pass rusher, his per-snap production was still the best it's been since he came into the NFL. He's on track to become a free agent again in the offseason, and he likely earned himself a raise regardless of where he lands in 2026.

Adetomiwa Adebawore
IL/DT IND (11)
Fri 2/6/26 9:20 PM

Adebawore recorded 36 tackles (14 solo) including 4.0 sacks and a fumble recovery in 17 games with Indianapolis in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
Adebawore played only minor roles on the Colts' defensive line in 2023 and 2024, but he became a starter in his third year when three-time Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner (neck) missed seven of Indianapolis' last eight games. He proved himself capable as an interior pass rusher with the elevated snap count, and he may have earned himself some more opportunities alongside Buckner and veteran Grover Stewart in 2026.

Myles Bryant
CB FA
Fri 2/6/26 9:13 PM

Bryant appeared in 11 regular-season games for the Texans in 2025 and finished with 40 tackles (22 solo).
EDGE Analysis
Bryant opened the 2025 regular season on the Texans' practice squad and was signed to the active roster in mid-November after being elevated the maximum three games. He served in a rotational role in the secondary while also contributing on special teams, and he had five games in which he logged at least five tackles. Bryant enters the offseason as an undrafted free agent, and he'll look to join a team where he will have a better opportunity at more consistent playing time.

Samson Ebukam
EDR/LB ATL (5)
Fri 2/6/26 9:07 PM

Ebukam recorded 33 tackles (22 solo) including 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery in 14 games with Indianapolis in 2025.
EDGE Analysis
After missing the entire 2024 season with a torn Achilles, Ebukam posted mostly disappointing numbers in 2025, including his lowest season sack total since his rookie year back in 2017. He'll turn 31 in May, but it's still possible that being another year removed from the Achilles injury could help his production rebound in 2026. He's in line to become a free agent during the offseason.