HOUSTON--- The Texans have now continued to display a positional issue that has plagued the franchise since its inception: nose tackle. Houston went out and signed an aging veteran free agent in Vince Wilfork for a hefty $9 million dollars over two years with $5 million guaranteed. Wilfork has so far has been a huge disappointment during the team’s first six games posting just one run stuffed, along with just eight tackles.

When Vince Wilfork signed with the Texans, the signing was paraded around both the Houston media and national media as a big signing for Houston as Wilfork would be joining the reigning Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and 2014 first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.

When Wilfork arrived in Houston, I thought we overpaid him. For his age (33 years old and turns 34 in November) and the production we could squeeze out of him it seemed like too much money. Everyone justified the signing by pointing out Houston finally will have a big nose tackle to draw a double team and open the lanes up for Brian Cushing. While simultaneously, Vince should be able to draw a double team to free up J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. However, he has yet to display that ability in Houston. During the first six games this season, when Wilfork gets blocked by only the opposing teams center, he stays blocked.

One justification of Vince Wilfork’s signing was to be a veteran mentor for 2014 3rd round pick Louis Nix iii. Unfortunately for Houston, the team decided to release Nix before he ever made a regular season game appearance just to make a statement. Nix was immediately signed to the active roster of the New York Giants and the Texans elected to keep the undersized 2015 6th round pick Christian Covington instead along with acquiring Brandon Dunn from the Bears practice squad on October 13th.

So with the release of Louis Nix iii, the Texans will now be looking to draft another nose tackle relatively high in the first three rounds of the 2016 draft. Louis Nix iii looked great this preseason as he played all four games as the starter. With the play of Vince Wilfork, it appears the Texans paid him $5 million guaranteed to be a cast member on Hard Knocks. There is still plenty of time for him to make up his lack of production this season, but Houston should start looking at some quality nose tackles for the 2016 draft. Houston fans should watch A ‘Shawn Robinson, the big 6’4 320 lbs. nose tackle out of Alabama. Two other names to watch are Montravius Adams, 6’4 306 lbs. nose tackle who has been making a lot noise for the Auburn defense and Josh Augusta, 6’4 300 lbs. nose tackle who has been putting up some steady and consistent production for the Missouri Tigers.