Texans Urged to Trade for Taron Johnson
ESPN's Aaron Schatz suggested Houston add the Raiders cornerback before the November 10 NFL trade deadline.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
ESPN's Aaron Schatz argued on November 4 that the Houston Texans, at 2-6 after their bye week, should trade for Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson before the deadline. The suggestion comes as Texans safety Jalen Pitre has been sidelined since Week 5 with a left shoulder injury.
Why it matters
With Pitre out, Houston could use more nickel depth, and Johnson could let Pitre spell Reed Blankenship at safety when Pitre returns. The proposal is an analysis piece, not a reported deal.
Johnson has 600 career tackles, 8.0 sacks and 6 interceptions across 94 starts in 121 games, per the extraction. Whether Houston has interest in acquiring him has not been confirmed.
The players
Aaron Schatz
Aaron Schatz is an ESPN analyst who writes about football analytics and roster strategy.
Taron Johnson
Taron Johnson is a Raiders cornerback who was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round.
The details
Schatz's proposal was one of several trade ideas in the piece, which also floated the Atlanta Falcons, now 3-5, pursuing Kayshon Boutte and the Miami Dolphins pursuing Braden Smith. The Texans are not actively shopping Jadeveon Clowney, according to a league source.
Timeline
Week 5: Jalen Pitre sidelined with a left shoulder injury.
November 4: Schatz publishes the Johnson trade suggestion.
November 10: NFL trade deadline.
Season Trajectory
With the deadline on November 10, Houston's 2-6 start leaves little room for error in the playoff race. Analysts often frame deadline deals around depth gaps like the one created by Pitre's absence.
A Johnson trade would affect Houston's secondary depth while Pitre recovers from his shoulder injury. Fantasy managers tracking Texans defensive players may want to watch for roster moves before the deadline.
The takeaway
Deadline speculation often hinges on depth needs created by injuries, and the Texans' pending Pitre return shapes how much of a need Houston actually has. Readers can watch the November 10 deadline for any confirmed moves.
What happens next
The NFL trade deadline falls on November 10, after which trades involving Johnson or other players mentioned in the analysis cannot be made.
Further reading
For more on the Texans' season, see Houston Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
