NFL Notes: Colts, Texans, Seahawks

Colts

After mulling retirement this offseason, Colts LT Anthony Castonzo saved the team from having to scramble to find a replacement at one of the most crucial positions in football by agreeing to return on a two-year deal. Castonzo said his knees were still in good shape at the end of the season but he wanted to see how his body responded during the offseason before making a final decision. 

“After the season, I kinda just went back to training as if I was gonna come back and assessed things,” Castonzo said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “When my body was way ahead of where it was last year and I kinda saw the potential to play significantly better this year than I did last year I got really excited at that opportunity. That was when I told the Colts that I’d be coming back.”

• According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Utah State QB Jordan Love has connected with a number of teams, including the Colts, ahead of the draft. 
• The Athletic’s Zak Keefer points out the Colts have been watching Love for more than two years now. 
• Colorado LB Davion Taylor has had a video conference interview with the Colts. (Nicki Jhabvala)

Seahawks

• Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times says with just around $8 million in real cap space, the Seahawks likely would find it hard to keep DE Jadeveon Clowney without making another move.
• Clowney also seems willing to wait out his market until training camp if necessary, meaning Seattle might need to explore contingency plans like DE Everson Griffen. However, Griffen is also supposedly waiting to sign after Clowney. 
• Other options at edge rusher for the Seahawks include Benson Mayowa, Clay Matthews, Michael Bennett and Markus Golden.
• Condotta writes the Seahawks could make more, small additions at defensive tackle, running back and a backup quarterback. 
• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes reports the Seahawks expressed interest in G Greg Van Roten before he elected to sign with the Jets. 
• The Seahawks met with Cal S Ashtyn Davis at the Combine. (Peter King)

Texans

Given the way the rest of the wide receiver market played out, there’s a good argument to be made WR Randall Cobb elected to sign with the Texans because their three-year, $27 million offer was miles better than anything else on the table. However, there were other reasons Cobb cited, perhaps the biggest being the chance to play with QB Deshaun Watson. 

“The reason I picked the Texans is obviously you look at what they’ve been able to do over the past few years,” Cobb said via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “Went to the playoffs four of the past five times. At this point in my career, I still don’t have a ring, so I want to be in a situation where I have that possibility. And I think when you look at Deshaun and what he’s been able to do since he’s been in the league. I’ve been really impressed from afar, watching him. He has tremendous ability, and he’s a winner. He’s won at every level. … I think he has that ability to take us to a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of something special with him.”

Of course it’s impossible to talk about the Texans signing Cobb without discussing the context of trading away star WR DeAndre Hopkins. That leaves Cobb as the most established and high profile member of a receiving corps that still includes Will Fuller, Kenny Stills and Keke Coutee, though as a slot receiver he’s more of a replacement for Coutee than Hopkins. 

“I think obviously with DeAndre leaving, it’s going to be a lot of eyes on all three of us to step up and make some plays,” Cobb said. “In particular me, because a lot of people are looking at me coming in and being a replacement, even though me and DeAndre are two totally different types of receivers.”

• Barshop mentions Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk, Clemson WR Tee Higgins and Colorado WR Laviska Shenault Jr. as options in the draft for Houston. 
• Ravens DL Derek Wolfe signed a one-year, $3 million deal that’s fully guaranteed with an additional $3 million available in incentives. Wolfe chose Baltimore over a competing offer from the Texans. (Ian Rapoport)