HOUSTON – Mario Edwards Jr. didn’t have to spend a lot of time contemplating his next business move when he became a free agent in March.
The veteran defensive tackle knew what he wanted. And, most importantly, he knew that he was wanted.
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Before he could hit the market and potentially get into a decision-making process, Edwards quickly agreed to sign a new two-year, $9.5 million contract to remain with the defending AFC South champion Texans.
That’s the kind of impression that Edwards and the Texans made on each other during his first season in Houston as he emerged as a disruptive interior force as a key part of coach DeMeco Ryans’ aggressive 4-3 defense.
“It made me feel great, man,” Edwards told KPRC 2. “This is probably the fastest I’ve got signed in a minute. So for them to do that, it just showed how much they really did like me and appreciate me being here. So, I was excited about it."
Edwards, 31, sarted a dozen games last season despite serving a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy.
Although the suspension was a setback, Edwards’ play warranted his return to the Texans as he recorded 31 tackles for the second-highest single-season total of his career with three sacks, eight quarterback hits and three tackles for losses.
With his eighth NFL team after being drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 2015 out of Florida State, the Gautier, Mississippi native wishes he had been in this type of defense his entire career.
“I think if i could have gotten in this attack style defense earlier in my career, a lot more stats, a lot more different things going on,” Edwards said. “But I’m glad on the back end of my career, the next four, five, six years of my career, I’ve been attack style.”
Losing Edwards, 30, represented a blow to the Texans’ defense as he started every game before the NFL discipline.
Edwards played extremely well before and after the suspension. For his career, he has 187 tackles, 31 tackles for losses, 24 1/2 sacks and 60 quarterback hits.
Edwards had eight tackles against the New England Patriots.
The Texans also re-signed defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and Foley Fatukasi to go with Edwards, Tim Settle Jr. and Denico Autry.
It’s a strong defensive line anchored by Pro Bowl bookend edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., and coached by Rod Wright and Frank Okam.
“Just coming back, man, we’ve got a lot of familiar faces,” Edwards said. " We’ve got a lot of guys back on that defensive line. Just in the second year, where all of our guys going in and putting it on the menu. I feel like we were clicking toward the mid to end of the season. And to just start off now with the same bunch of guys, it’s great."
“I think there’s so much talent in here, man, so you get the best of you. Everybody’s pushing you. Everybody’s going hard. So, you don’t have any error.”
With a reputation for his ability to line up on the edge of the defense or as an interior rusher, Edwards drew strong reviews from the coaching staff.
The Texans simply liked the way Edwards was playing.
“Mario has been disruptive all camp, and I wouldn’t have expected anything different from him,” Ryans said last season. “He showed up, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage and being disruptive. That’s what we need from all our guys up front. I’m very pleased with what Mario did.”
Living and working in the South agrees with Edwards. He’s been in California previously with the Raiders when they were based in Oakland as well as the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks prior to joining the Texans.
"Earlier in my career, I was so far away with California, going to New York and things like that," said Edwards, who graduated from Billy Ryan High School in Denton. “I’m originally from Mississippi, so to come back to some Southern hospitality, get some good southern food, it was really good."
Edwards’ favorite restaurant in Houston is Pappadeaux. He also likes The Pit Room for barbecue.
Favorite homecooked meal?
“Mom and grandma, always their fried chicken, collared greens, macaroni and cheese and cornbread,” Edwards said. “That’s my go-to. Big cup of Kool-Aid and we’re good to go.”
When Edwards isn’t playing football, he enjoys the outdoors. He also has a livestock farm with 40 acres.
“l like fishing,” he said. “The last year or so, I’ve been developing my land. I’ve got 40 acres. I’ve got four livestock barns. I’m about to get 10 bred Black Angus cattle.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
