The Houston Texans could reunite quarterback C.J. Stroud with one of his former Ohio State teammates in the 2024 NFL draft.
No, we’re not talking about wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., though. Tight end Cade Stover, who played the past five seasons with the Buckeyes, met with the Texans at the NFL combine in Indianapolis this past week and said it would be “unbelievable” to play with Stroud again.
That news caught the attention of Stroud’s mother, Kim, who posted a short message in support of Stover after the news that he met with the Texans.
“Yes,” Stroud wrote. “Great player, great family!”
Yes 🙌🏼 great player, great family! https://t.co/TKRej3BWGL
— Kim Stroud (@KimStroud510) February 29, 2024
Stover caught 77 passes for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Buckeyes. With Stroud alone, Stover finished with 36 receptions for 406 yards and five touchdowns. He actually began as a linebacker and defensive end for his first two college seasons before he switched to tight end full-time in 2021.
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound tight end is projected to be one of the top tight ends drafted this spring, according to Pro Football Focus, and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson. He’s likely a Day 2 pick who could be taken in the third round.
An Ohio State reunion would be nice, but not necessarily one the Texans need for 2024. Houston just re-signed starting tight end Dalton Schultz and have a breakout candidate in Brevin Jordan as his backup who flashed at times in 2023. Stover’s snapshare would be severely limited behind both Schultz and Jordan.
Houston could roster three tight ends, but likely not at the expense of a Day 2 pick. The Texans have other needs across the roster – especially on defense – that they’ll look to solve with draft picks in April.