Everything is Bigger in Texas

The Texans added another big body and big name to their defensive line on Monday, agreeing to terms with former Patriots NT Vince Wilfork on a two-year deal worth over $4 million annually.

Wilfork will take over as the point man in Houston’s three-man front; last year’s starting nose tackle, Ryan Pickett, is 35 years old and considering retirement. Wilfork joins a defensive front seven that includes Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and reigning No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney.

Wilfork became a free agent when the Patriots declined his option for the 2015 season, saving more than $8 million in salary cap space in the process. Although the move was widely expected, it clearly affected New England head coach Bill Belichick.

Said Belichick of Wilfork: “He is the best defensive lineman I ever coached, an all-time great Patriot whose place on our team will be missed but whose remarkable career as a Patriot will be remembered forever.”

The transition should not be too rough on Wilfork, despite having spent his entire 11-year career in New England. He will find plenty of familiar faces waiting for him in Houston, including coaches Bill O’Brien, Romeo Crennel and Mike Vrabel. O’Brien has made a habit of bringing in former Patriots players, a list headlined by quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.

Wilfork arrives in Houston not only as a run-stuffer, but as a mentor. He hopes to share his championship experience with a young Texans team that has missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons. One player eager to learn from Wilfork is Louis Nix III, a 2014 third-round pick who missed his rookie season with a knee injury. Nix was considered a steal in the third round and can ideally be groomed to be the Texans’ nose tackle of the future.

“The coaching staff in Houston has made this new exciting transition feel like home to us,” said Wilfork in a statement posted on Monday.

It was part of a busy Monday in Houston, as the team signed a franchise mainstay away from the Patriots and went about replacing a franchise mainstay of its own. The Texans signed free agent receiver Cecil Shorts to a two-year deal, plucking a playmaker from their division rivals in Jacksonville as they seek to fill Andre Johnson’s massive shoes.

Borland Opts to Go One-and-Done

The hits keep coming — and going — for the 49ers. Less than a week after losing seven-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis to retirement, San Francisco saw his projected replacement, Chris Borland, follow his path out the door.

There are several factors that make Bortland’s retirement even more stunning. For one, he was just one season into his rookie contract, so he has yet to truly cash in on his immense earning potential. For another, Bortland walks away completely healthy, whereas Willis was forced from the game due to chronic foot pain.

Borland describes his decision as preventative; he has done his research and decided the risks of serious brain trauma do not justify the fat paychecks. His decision comes at a time when massive amounts of research is being done to determine how brain injuries affect players later in life. More than 70 former players have been diagnosed with progressive neurological disease following their deaths.

“While unexpected, we certainly respect Chris’ decision,” GM Trent Baalke said. “From speaking with Chris, it was evident that he had put a great deal of thought into this decision. He was a consummate professional from day one and a very well-respected member of our team and community. Chris is a determined young man that overcame long odds in his journey to the NFL, and we are confident he will use the same approach to become very successful in his future endeavors. We will always consider him a 49er and wish him all the best.”

The loss of Borland, a third-round pick last year, is just the latest hit in a turbulent offseason for the 49ers. After “mutually parting ways” with coach Jim Harbaugh, the team has lost free agents Frank Gore, Mike Iupati, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox and Dan Skuta. There is also the undetermined status of DE Justin Smith, who is considering joining WIllis and Borland in retirement.

If Smith retires, he will finish his career with more seasons played (15) than Borland did games played (14). That is a scary thought for the NFL, which is working hard to promote the idea that it cares about player safety. Apparently, Borland feels there is more work to be done.

Speaking of Rough Offseasons

It has been a rough couple months for the 49ers, but there is another California team enduring an even more difficult offseason. The Chargers have quietly gotten their asses handed to them in free agency, putting the team in jeopardy of taking a major step back in 2015.

San Diego’s inactivity is shocking. Third-year GM Tom Telesco entered the offseason with money to spend for the first time in his tenure (roughly $30 million). He got off to a good start, re-signing his two most important in-house free agents (King Dunlap and Brandon Flowers) and swiping OG Orlando Franklin from the rival Broncos.

However, since that time the Chargers have made only one other addition (CB/S Jimmy Wilson) while losing critical depth across the board. Starting defensive backs Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright left for the Jets and 49ers, respectively. Also gone are RB Ryan Mathews (Eagles), WR Eddie Royal (Bears) and LB Andrew Gachkar (Cowboys), And that doesn’t even account for offensive linemen Nick Hardwick and Jeromey Clary, who both retired earlier this offseason.

None of those players was expected to play a major role for the Chargers in 2015, but the sheer volume of departures means Telesco will use most of his draft picks plugging holes rather than seeking upgrades.

San Diego has already lost out on some early targets. The Chargers made a run at Andre Johnson, but he opted to take less money to stay in the AFC South and join Andrew Luck and the Colts. San Diego also brought in Stevie Johnson for a visit on Friday, but he left town without a deal.

“This is where your scouting department comes into play,” Telesco said. “You’re really looking for guys who have a couple traits you think can help you. It may be just in a role — maybe it’s a small role that could expand into a staring role or maybe it’s a backup role — but this is where the scouts make their money. We have to work through that list of who’s still available, who can help us and who fits into our financial structure.”

The 2015 season is massively critical for the Chargers. For one thing, cornerstone players like Philip Rivers, Eric Weddle, Antonio Gates, Corey Liuget and Malcom Floyd are all entering contract years. For another, there is a very real chance this will be the team’s final season in San Diego, barring an unexpected stadium resolution.

A winning season would encourage players like Rivers, Weddle and Liuget to re-sign, while also helping the City of San Diego rally around its team. Unfortunately, a winning season starts with a winning offseason, and so far that has certainly been lacking.

UPDATE: Telesco managed to land one more free agent on Monday, as the Chargers agreed to terms with WR Stevie Johnson on a three-year deal. 

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