It’ll be weird to see Vince Wilfork playing for anyone other than the New England Patriots, but they did turn down their contract option which makes him a free agent, and one close to signing with the Houston Texans.
Wilfork has been sighted in Houston where he will visit with the Texans, trying to bring over the 11-year veteran, a first round pick in 2004 who has played his entire career with the Patriots.
At 33, Wilfork is coming off his second consecutive season without any sacks and is clearly not the monster he used to be when it comes to stopping the run, but is still likely to be of huge help to any team using him as a defensive tackle that plugs holes in the middle.
Wilfork missed most of the 2013 season with an injury but bounced back rather well in 2014, playing in all 16 games and helping the Patriots win a Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years, making it his second Super Bowl ring.
He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection with one First Team All-Pro as well (in 2012). He also made the second team All-Pro on four other occasions, and comes to a Texans team that has J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney dominating the pass rush, but need quite a lot of help in stopping the run.
Wilfork is not going to have a problem finding a team to play for, although at his age and his recent serious injury, a multiyear deal or getting the promise for a lot of snaps might be out of the question, with the Texans or with someone else.