The Houston Texans’ 2025 offseason has focused on two main strategies: completely revamping their offensive line and adding depth across various positions on the roster. As part of this effort, the Texans strengthened their linebacking corps by signing former Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed to a one-year, $3.25 million contract. Speed, 29, was a full-time starter for the Colts in 2024, his second season in the starting lineup after initially being drafted by Indianapolis in 2019 as a fifth-round pick. He began his career primarily as a special teams player. Last season, Speed registered 142 tackles (ranking 12th in the NFL), 7 tackles for loss, and 5 pass breakups, with his 93 solo tackles tying for the third-most in the league.
Here are some insights on Speed’s signing with the Texans:
Building Depth for the Short Term
After a big offseason in 2024 that saw the Texans focus on major acquisitions and star power, the biggest offseason move this year was sending Laremy Tunsil out of Houston. In contrast, most of this year’s free-agent signings, including the one for Speed, have been one-year deals worth a few million dollars. This makes sense for the Texans, especially with lingering questions about linebacker Christian Harris’ health.
The DeMeco Effect
For any free-agent linebacker or defensive lineman considering a one-year “prove-it” deal, DeMeco Ryans is an appealing option. Speed cited Ryans’ leadership as a key factor in his decision to join the Texans, noting Ryans’ success as a defensive coach in San Francisco. Speed expressed admiration for Ryans’ ability to develop linebackers, including Fred Warner and Azeez Al-Shaair, and stated that Ryans’ impact played a significant role in his decision to come to Houston. In fact, Speed said that Ryans had even worked him out when he was coming out of college, strengthening their connection.
What This Means for the Linebacker Corps
With Harris recovering from a mysterious calf injury that sidelined him for most of last season, Speed’s signing adds another layer of competition at linebacker. Speed played 98% of the defensive snaps for the Colts in 2024, and he’s expected to compete for a starting spot with Harris, Henry To’o To’o, and Al-Shaair. With the linebacker competition heating up, training camp promises to bring some intriguing battles for key spots on the depth chart.
Speed’s History with C.J. Stroud
While the Texans and Colts have a longstanding rivalry, Speed and Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud have a history of friendly banter. Speed explained that he and Stroud had previously exchanged playful trash talk, both on and off the field. Speed emphasized that there are no hard feelings between them, adding that he’d just left one quarterback with plenty of swagger for another in Stroud. This season, Speed’s role will be to help the Texans’ defense create opportunities for Stroud and the offense to thrive.
