The Houston Texans on Wednesday afternoon were awarded former Buffalo Bills defensive end Erik Flowers, a former first-round draft choice who was released just one day earlier.

Flowers is hopeful a change of scenery and a scheme that relies heavily on its outside pass rushers might resurrect his career.

The expansion Texans are still seeking upfield speed and, while he was a disappointment at times during his Buffalo tenure, quickness is a commodity that Flowers does possess. The release of Flowers by the Bills did not come as a surprise. In fact, two weeks ago, he was cited in an ESPN.com article on players who were in a make-or-break situation in training camp.

Flowers, 26, had been limited in camp by a neck injury. The Bills attempted to trade him but found no takers. The Texans, however, felt that Flowers was worth a gamble, since they had to invest nothing upfront to get him.

Houston does assume the final three seasons remaining on Flowers' original NFL contract signed in 2000. His scheduled base salaries are $600,000 for this season, then $700,000 in 2003 and $800,000 in 2004.

A former Arizona State standout, Flowers was the 26th player chosen overall in the 2000 draft. In two seasons, he played in 31 games and started five of them. He had 60 tackles, four sacks, 13 pressures, an interception, a forced fumble and two passes defensed.

Since he was chosen by the former Buffalo personnel staff, the new regime headed by team president Tom Donahoe had no emotional ties to him, and knew it could release Flowers without having to assume blame for the pick.

At 6-feet-4 and 273 pounds, Flowers might have enough hybrid skills to play some at a rush linebacker spot in the Texans' 3-4 scheme. It was not known on Wednesday night if any other clubs made a claim on Flowers' rights.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.