The Houston Texans are adding yet another new face in what has been an active offseason already, this time via a trade for Kai Kroeger.
Kroeger comes over from the New Orleans Saints. He steps into a key role for the Texans, replacing not only a Pro Bowler and former First Team All-Pro, but also a two-time Super Bowl champion.
For the Texans, this is yet another item checked off the list of needs.
Texans Replace All-Pro Super Bowl Champion With Kai Kroeger Trade
GettyKai Kroeger #32 of the New Orleans Saints in action against the Carolina Panthers.
“Punter trade!” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on March 10. “The #Texans are trading for #Saints punter Kai Kroeger, sources say, with the teams swapping 6th and 7th rounders in 2028.
Tommy Townsend, the Texans’ punter for the past two seasons–who accumulated all of the aforementioned accolades with the Kansas City Chiefs–is a free agent this offseason.
Here is the full breakdown of the trade:
Texans get:
- Kai Kroeger
- 2028 seventh-round pick
Saints get:
- 2028 sixth-round pick
The Texans get younger, with Kroeger nearly six years younger than Townsend.
Townsend had also slipped statistically from his first season with the Texans in 2024 to the second in 2025. He saw drops in the ranks for yards per punt, net yards per punt, and percentage of attempts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
That is not all on Townsend. The Texans’ work to bolster their special teams coverage units with ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jake Hummel underscores that.
Kroeger notably finished below Townsend in each of the previously mentioned metrics in 2025.
Kai Kroeger a Polarizing Addition
GettyKai Kroeger #32 of the New Orleans Saints warms up before a game against the New England Patriots.
The Texans will need Kroeger to continue developing to justify surrendering draft capital. It is still a largely unproven player at such a volatile position. However, they can also argue that Kroeger, 23, is young enough to be considered an auxiliary draft pick.
“I’m not surprised to see the Texans get a new punter with Tommy Townsend leaving who I didn’t think was very good here,” Sleeper Sports’ Texans Jacob posted on X on March 10.
“Kroeger wasn’t great in New Orleans last year (28th in Punt Net. Avg & 29th at pinning inside the 20) but HOU and Frank Ross probably think they can help him out and get to the college level.”
Perhaps tellingly, the Saints replaced Kroeger with veteran Ryan Wright.
Wright has been in the league for four seasons, all spent with the Minnesota Vikings, after entering as an undrafted free agent.
“Saints finally stop going the rookie punter route,” Audacy Sports’ Jeff Nowak posted on X on March 9. “They’ve had a different rookie punter (Lou Hedley, Matthew Hayball, Kai Kroeger) each of the past three years.”
The Texans must be hoping Kroeger improves significantly in their organization.
Texans Hold on New Punter
GettyKai Kroeger #32 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field in a game against the New York Giants.
The Texans will need him to continue developing to justify surrendering draft capital for a still-largely-unproven player at such a volatile position. However, they can also argue that Kroeger, 23, is young enough to be considered an auxiliary draft pick.
KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson noted that Kroeger was a former All-American and All-SEC selection during his collegiate career at South Carolina.
However, the Texans are also taking the situation one step at a time.
“[Kroeger is] under contract at salaries of $1.005M and $1.112 million through 2027,” Wilson noted before following up that there is “No new deal at this time for new #Texans punter Kai Kroeger, per a league source.”
Texans Trade for Saints Find to Replace All-Pro Super Bowl Champ