Texans coach Bill O'Brien anticipates fruitful free agency

Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Coach Bill O'Brien is eager to see how much the Texans can improve...

Coach Bill O'Brien is eager to see how much the Texans can improve on both sides of the ball and on special teams when free agency begins Wednesday at 3 p.m.

The Texans are planning to use free agency and the draft (April 26-28) to fill needs as they approach the start of the offseason program April 2.

The Texans are about $66 million under the salary cap, which gives new general manager Brian Gaine ample room to sign free agents to fill needs in areas like the offensive line and secondary.

"We're excited about where we are," O'Brien said Sunday night before a Special Olympics benefit. "We evaluate our roster and try to make the best decisions for our team.

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"We're looking forward to an exciting offseason."

O'Brien is a celebrity co-chair at the annual event for Special Olympics of Texas with former Oilers Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews. O'Brien got a lot of questions about free agency at the event.

Because the Texans have enough room under the cap to sign two or three high-priced free agents, fans are excited about the possibilities.

"I don't get too wrapped up in the buzz about free agency or the draft, but it's great for the fans," O'Brien said. "I think the way the NFL markets free agency, the draft and combine is great for the game.

"For us, it's about the best way we can make our team better. It's about making good decisions throughout the offseason. We have to concern ourselves with improving as coaches and improving the players on the field."

This is the first time since 2007 the Texans have approached free agency without general manager Rick Smith in charge of personnel. He was replaced by Gaine, who worked on free agency with the Texans for the last four offseasons before going to Buffalo last season.

O'Brien has been working closely with Gaine.

"There's been a lot of communication, a lot of hard work," O'Brien said. "We have similar philosophies and believe in the same things about how we want to build our team and the kind of culture we want to have.

"It's (relationship with Gaine) been good, but there's a long way to go. Hopefully, it'll make us better."