Lamarr Houston

Houston’s 2014 season was an exercise in ignominy. After coming over from Oakland on a five-year, $35 million deal with the expectation that he’d be an anchor for years to come on the Bears’ defensive line, Houston was a total non-entity in the first seven games of the season, recording no sacks and seven tackles. He finally notched his first sack in the fourth quarter of the Week 8 loss to the Patriots, and promptly suffered a season-ending torn ACL while celebrating the achievement in a game the Bears were trailing by 25 points. Houston appears to have put the embarrassing episode behind him, but at this stage, it’s looking quite unlikely that he’ll stick around in Chicago for the life of his contract. In addition to returning from a serious knee injury that will likely limit him early in training camp, Houston will now transition to outside linebacker in the Bears’ new 3-4 scheme, a position where he has no prior experience. Moreover, with the new regime bringing in another high-priced outside linebacker in Pernell McPhee aboard in the offseason, it’s difficult to see any scenario where Houston opens the season in anything but a backup role.

Houston was one of Oakland's best players in 2013, yet the Bears managed to lure him away in free agency with a five-year, $35 million deal. Listed at 6-3, 300-pounds, Houston is an end/tackle tweener who might see the majority of his passing-down work playing on the inside of a four-man front, with his end work primarily occurring in rushing situations. He's shown the ability to pile up tackles, finishing both of the last two seasons with at least 67, while posting 10 sacks over that span. He's not likely to post many sacks, but playing alongside a top-notch disruptor like Jared Allen could give Houston more pursuit opportunities than he had by his lonesome in Oakland.

Houston lacks pass-rushing ability as an oversized defensive end, but he nonetheless managed to find ballcarriers with a high frequency in 2012. His 67 tackles were a lofty total for a defensive lineman, and his 51 stops from the year prior were a respectable figure, too. While Houston should again approach the 60-tackle mark in 2013, he's not especially consistent – 27 of his tackles came from three games last year, leaving just 40 tackles for the other 13.

Raiders' starting left defensive end.

Houston will be a reserve defensive lineman for the Raiders in 2010. He has the quickness to play end and the size to play tackle, but he won't see enough snaps to be worthy of an IDP selection. He's a guy who should make a bigger impact down the road.