Newton has signed a five-year deal with the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Another domino falls in the free-agent offensive tackle market, as Doug Free signs with the Cowboys and now Newton with the Texans. Newton had a breakout year in 2014, entrenching himself as a strong presence in the Texans' zone blocking scheme.

Newton is grading out as the second best offensive tackle in football after two games, according to Pro Football Focus, CSN Houston reports.

Newton came under fire last season as the weakest link on the offensive line, particularly in pass protection, but has always been good as a run blocker. He still needs to improve as a blocker in the passing game, but with Houston's run-dominated attack early in 2014, Newton has been dominant.

Coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Derek Newton will be the Texans' starting right tackle.

Newton struggled to play at a replacement level despite starting all 16 games last season, grading out as a bottom-five tackle by Pro Football Focus. He was a major liability in pass protection, allowing 37 quarterback hurries. Newton is a weak spot in Houston's offensive line and could eventually face competition for snaps from Brennan Williams.

Derek Newton is working as the starting right tackle at Texans OTAs.

Newton was tossed around both as a pass protector and run blocker across 16 starts last season, grading out as Pro Football Focus' No. 72 tackle out of 76 qualifiers. He and now-free agent Ryan Harris split snaps. Newton has started 30 games the past two seasons and underwent patellar tendon surgery in the 2013 offseason. He's currently the biggest liability on Houston's line and should face competition from Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry.

Texans RT Derek Newton (patellar tendon surgery) says he's "doing great" and "will be ready" for the start of training camp.

The single biggest liability on Houston's offensive line last year, Newton will enter camp the favorite to start over journeyman Ryan Harris and rookie Brennan Williams. Newton got knocked around in the 2012 run game, contributing to Arian Foster's YPC decline. But at this point, he's still the Texans' best option.

Coach Gary Kubiak is concerned with the Texans' right tackle position.

The Texans practiced without the top two candidates for their starting right tackle job during OTAs and mini-camp. Derek Newton (knee) started 14 games last season, and had offseason surgery to repair his patellar tendon. Brennan Williams (knee), a third-round pick from North Carolina, injured his knee in rookie mini-camp in May. Both are expected to be ready for training camp on July 26.

Coach Gary Kubiak says both RTs Derek Newton (knee) and Brennan Williams (knee) will be ready for training camp.

Both players missed all of OTAs. Newton underwent offseason patella tendon surgery, and Williams "tweaked" his knee during rookie minicamp. Veteran Ryan Harris has been getting the first-team right tackle reps in their absence, but one of Newton or Williams is expected to open the season as the starter.

Texans RT Derek Newton weighed in at 330 pounds at the outset of OTAs.

To be fair, Newton is recovering from patellar tendon surgery. 330 is still too heavy for a zone-blocking lineman in Houston's scheme, and Newton will have to shed weight before camp if he's to keep his starting job. Newton got pushed around in 2012, particularly in the run game. But it's not more weight that he needs.

Texans RT Derek Newton (knee) will not be healthy until training camp.

Newton underwent patellar tendon surgery after the season. It's a serious injury, but not nearly as serious as a ligament tear. Still, it's a chance for third-round rookie Brennan Williams to get a leg up as the two battle for the starting right tackle job.

Texans RT Derek Newton is recovering from patellar tendon surgery, and is questionable for OTAs.

Texans RT Derek Newton (knee) has been ruled out for Week 13 against the Titans.

Newton was injured in Houston's Thanksgiving Day win over the Lions. A 2011 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, Newton has started every game this season on the right side, but according to Pro Football Focus has struggled mightily as a run blocker. Veteran Ryan Harris will fill in at right tackle this week.

Texans RT Derek Newton was forced from Houston's Thanksgiving game against the Lions with a right knee injury, and will not return.

Ryan Harris has come on at right tackle. Newton has 10 days to get healthy for Week 13, but it's never a good sign when a player is ruled "out" as opposed to "questionable" for an in-game injury.

Derek Newton has beaten out Rashad Butler for the starting right tackle job.

The two have rotated throughout the preseason, with Newton getting the nod in the pivotal third tuneup. The Texans scored two touchdowns during his two series. He's a downgrade from the departed Eric Winston, but the Texans still field one of the game's premier zone-blocking offensive lines. Butler sticks as a quality swing tackle.

Coach Gary Kubiak says the Texans have a "good battle going on" at right tackle between Rashad Butler and Derek Newton.

Butler has an inside track on Eric Winston's old job, but he'll be pushed by Newton. "He's doing really well," Kubiak said of Newton. "We're in shorts, so it's hard to tell with big guys. Athletically and then now mentally, Newton's catching up enough to battle for a starting spot." Only one year removed from being a seventh-round pick out of small-school Arkansas State, it's doubtful Newton is polished enough to truly challenge Butler.