Rick Smith, Texans Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The Houston Texans and general manager Rick Smith have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle on Friday. 

Smith has been with the Texans since 2006 as their general manager before adding executive vice president to his title in 2012. 

Texans owner Bob McNair spoke with McClain about the deal:

"

Rick's doing a good job for us, and I think stability in the organization is important. He works hard. He's very diligent. He communicates well. He knows what our objectives are.

Rick has put together a good scouting staff, and he works well with the coaching staff. I thought this was a good time to get this done.

"

During his tenure in Houston, Smith's teams have recorded winning records just five times in 10 years while making the playoffs three times. 

But four of those winning seasons and all three postseason trips have come since 2011, including a franchise-best 12-4 mark in 2012. 

Last season, Houston was able to take advantage of a weak AFC South division that was without Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck for most of it and made the playoffs with a 9-7 record before falling in the Wild Card Round. 

He's had plenty of work to do this offseason, having to address the needs at quarterback and running back. Last season, four different quarterbacks, led by Brian Hoyer, appeared in games. This inconsistency under center was a big reason why the Texans didn't advance deeper into the playoffs. 

During the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hoyer threw for just 136 yards and four interceptions as the Texans suffered a 30-14 defeat. 

In March, Smith was able to sign free-agent Brock Osweiler, who spent the last four years of his career backing up Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos. In eight games last season, he threw for 1,976 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing over 60 percent of his passes. 

At running back, he had to help make the difficult decision of releasing the franchise's all-time rushing leader in Arian Foster, who has been plagued by injuries for much of the past three years. 

As a replacement, Smith went out and signed former Miami Dolphins rusher Lamar Miller, who was just a season removed from a 1,099-yard season in 2014 before seeing his touches shared with Jay Ajayi, Jonas Gray and Damien Williams.

Heading into the 2016 season, all eyes will be on those two newest signings as Smith continues his attempt at turning Houston into a force not only in their division but in the conference. If Osweiler and Miller work out with the Texans, then Smith's extension will most likely be viewed far more favorably moving forward. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.