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The Houston Texans are adament about starting the Wade Phillips defensive regime out on the right foot.

After spending their first five picks in the 2011 NFL Draft on defenders they have actively pursued top free agent defensive players including adding stud CB Jonathan Joseph.  Well now you can chalk up another much needed piece to that secondary.  The Texans have signed former Chicago Bear safety, Daniel Manning.  The deal is a 4-year, $20 million with $9 million guaranteed.

Manning wasn’t what Bears fans had hoped he would be but is a solid starting safety in the NFL.  In his five-year career he has amassed 331 tackles, 7 INT’s, 2 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles.  He is not stellar in coverage but he will provide an immediate upgrade over any of the 2010 Houston starters at the position. 

With the additions of Joseph, Manning and Glover Quin moving full-time to FS the Texans have dramatically upgraded the talent in their secondary.  Fans have waited for the Texans to take that step forward to being a legitimate Playoff contender and with these additions they have done so.

We all thought Jonathan Joseph would sit back and allow Nnamdi Asomugha set the market for the free agent CB class.  Well I guess we were wrong.

Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the news that the Houston Texans and Jonathan Joseph came to agreement on a five-year deal at 8:09 p.m. ET.  This is good news for Texan fans as their secondary was abysmal.  The addition of Joseph to Wade Phillips defense will bring stability to a very bad secondary. They still need to find a starting safety after Eric Weddle chose to re-sign with San Diego for an enormous pile of cash.

Joseph has racked up 272 tackles, 14 INT’s, and 3 TD’s in his five year career with Cincinnati.  His best season came in 2009 when he made 69 tackles and 6 INT’s.

Somewhere in Jets-land Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum may be smiling right now as the Texans were the “front runner” for the services of Nnamdi Asomugha.  Now it looks like it may come down to the Jets and 49ers for Asomugha.

Terms of the deal have yet to be released but keep checking back for the latest developments in this story.

EDIT:  Contract details are in; 5-years, $48.75 million with $23.5 million guaranteed and $12.5 million signing bonus

In what has become a three team race between the Jets, Texans, and 49ers appears to have a leader.

Michael Lombardi of NFL Network is reporting that the Houston Texans have emerged as the leader for Asomugha’s services.  He believes the Houston deal will average between $12-14 million per.

This is contrary to my belief that Asomugha would come down to the Jets and 9ers in a play for money or the bright lights of NYC.  Reports are surfacing that the 49ers may be moving onto Jonathan Joseph as their next target and giving in on the Asomugha race.  The Jets are still out there as a darkhorse.

Both Houston and New York have the most to gain from acquiring Asomugha.  For Houston, Asomugha is the missing piece to an abysmal secondary.  He would make the Texans a legitimate Playoff contender.  In New York, Asomugha would serve as icing on the cake and as I said yesterday would have to make the Jets the odds on favorite for claim to Super Bowl XLVI.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Houston Texans have come to terms with two of the teams own free agents, Jacoby Jones and Rashad Butler.

Jones has agreed to a 3-year, $10.5 million deal with $3.5 million guaranteed.  Jones is coming off a season where he caught 51 passes for 562 yards.  He serves as Matt Schaub’s third option in the high power Texan passing game.

Rashad Butler agree to a 2-year, $3.8 million deal with a $1.25 million signing bonus.  Butler is a backup offensive tackle that saw plenty of action last season due to Duane Brown’s suspension.  He provides the Texans with a quality backup with starting experience.