Tag: 2024 Houston Texans

Texans host Missouri DB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. before NFL Draft

With the NFL Draft approaching, the Texans recently hosted Missouri DB Ennis Rakestraw Jr for an in-person visit.

With the NFL draft a week from Thursday, teams are scrambling to get as much information on prospects as possible. The Houston Texans have been knocking out the top 30 visits for weeks, adding another top prospect to the list on Monday.

Houston recently hosted Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr., according to Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler.

Rakestraw spent four years at Missouri and became one of the premier corners in the 2024 draft class. In his final season with the Tigers, Rakestraw allowed 197 yards and one touchdown on 28 targets thrown by opponents.

Rakestraw recorded the fifth-highest run defense grade among draft-eligible defensive backs, according to Pro Football Focus. 

A native of Duncanville, the 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds displayed the ability to play in the slot or outside during his time in Columbia. Last month at the combine, Rakestraw posted a 40-time of 4.51 seconds with a 1.54 10-yard split.

Most draft analysts project Rakestraw to be a second-round pick, and with two picks in the opening round, Houston may call the SEC corner. 

Houston continues its search for a long-term corner opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans took chances on former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson in free agency, but both are only signed to one-year deals.

With uncertainty opposite Stingley, Houston is likely to take a few shots at the position during the draft. Since being named general manager, Nick Caserio has also drafted at least one defensive back in two of his three classes. 

Rakestraw joins Canadian Football League DB Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Auburn’s Jaylin Simpson and Georgia’s Javon Bullard as the defensive backs the Texans have brought in for 30 visits. 

Caserio values in-person visits with potential prospects. Last year, the Texans hosted 28 players before the draft and selected five of them with their nine draft picks, including Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. 

The Texans own nine picks entering next week’s draft, including two selections in the second round at No. 42 and No. 59.

Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair to wear No. 0 for 2024 season

New Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair is letting his new number explain how many prisoners he’s taking in 2024.

There’s a new “Agent Zero” taking over the Houston Texans‘ defense in 2024.

Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will change from No. 2 to No. 0 as the new man up the middle for the Texans, the team announced Wednesday. He will become the fourth Texans player in franchise history to don the number since teams were allowed to assign the jersey last season.

Three different players wore No. 0 in 2023. Desmond King initially grabbed the jersey during training but was waived during the final roster cuts last season. Shaquill Griffin switched numbers before the start of the regular season but was cut following a Week 12 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Adrian Amos, who was picked up off waivers from the New York Jets, wore the number for the remainder of the season as Houston clinched its first division title in four years, but rarely saw action on defense. In five games, he recorded five tackles, four of which were on kickoffs and punts.

Signed a three-year, $34 million deal this offseason, Al-Shaair should don the persona for at least the entirety of the 2024 campaign. He’s coming off a career season where he finished fifth in tackles with 163 stops.

A standout No. 3 linebacker in San Francisco under now-Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, Al-Shaair considered reuniting with his former defensive coordinator last season, but elected to ink a one-year deal worth $5 million with AFC South rival Tennessee.

In Houston, Al-Shaair should take over as the full-time MIKE linebacker in place of Denzel Perryman and Blake Chasman. Both were stable options for an improved run defense, but the Texans felt comfortable watching both walk in free agency last month.

Perryman, a former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers, returned out west on a one-year deal. Cashman, who led the Texans with 104 tackles, returned to his home state of Minnesota, inking a three-year contract with the Vikings.

Entering draft weekend, Houston should feel content with two of its three linebacker spots. Al-Shaair can play all three spots, but started up the middle last season under Mike Vrabel’s 3-4 defensive look.

Third-year pro Christian Harris should command the WILL backer spot after recording career-highs in tackles (102), sacks (2) and pass breakups (7).

The Texans still could target another linebacker prospect to split reps with second-year standout Henry To’oTo’o during the mid-rounds of this month’s draft. Houston owns nine picks, including two selections in the second and fourth round.

Potential Texans target Cooper DeJean impresses at pro day

Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean would be a welcomed addition to the Texans’ defense if he were to fall in the draft to Day 2.

Do-it-all Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean might be off the board by the time the Houston Texans are off the clock at No. 42. If he’s not, that should be his floor following Monday’s pro day results.

DeJean held a private pro-day workout in front of scouts after being cleared to return to activities and did not disappoint. The 6-foot defender posted a 4.42 40-yard dash as timed by an NFL scout. DeJean posted a 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds and a 38.5-inch vertical jump.

DeJean, a unanimous All-American last season, missed workouts at the combine and Iowa’s team Pro Day after suffering a fractured fibula in late November that required surgery.

Scouts also worked him through drills at both cornerback and safety, watching his footwork and quick cuts out of breaks.

A healthy DeJean warrants Day 1 buzz in most NFL draft circles. He’s a human chess piece that can line up anywhere and hold his own against receivers and running backs. DeJean’s a physical in run support, always willing to put his body on the line.

The Texans, who currently own two picks in the second round, have been linked to cornerback since the start of the offseason. They also could be in the market for safety help should DeMeco Ryans shift Jimmie Ward or Jalen Pitre down to the nickel.

DeJean, who last season recorded 41 tackles, five passes defended, and a pair of interceptions in 10 games, played everywhere during his time in Iowa City. Over 84% of his reps came at corner, though six percent of reps came at safety while the other 10% came in the slot position.

Houston’s inability to cover deep factored into several shootouts last fall, forcing rookie C.J. Stroud to play hero ball in the closing minutes. The Texans allowed 234.1 yards per game last season in coverage and recorded 14 interceptions while allowing 17 touchdowns.

DeJean, who some scouts believe is best suited at safety, would be a welcomed addition to a revamped defense headlined by newcomers Denico Autry, Azeez Al-Shaair, and four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. Last season, the Texans turned a new corner in the front seven under Ryans’ coaching, improving the league’s worst run defense to a top-10 unit.

Both cornerback and safety should be positions to monitor on draft night, even if DeJean is off the board. The Texans currently own nine picks, including three on Day 2 and five within the first four rounds.

‘Top tier destination’: Texans legend J.J. Watt is a fan of Stefon Diggs trade

J.J. Watt has been pleased with the future of the Houston Texans over the past two offseasons.

J.J. Watt served as the final piece of the turning of times at NRG Stadium when the Houston Texans selected him 11th overall in 2011. Prior to his arrival, Houston had only one winning season.

Perhaps the arrival of Offensive Rookie of the Year and wunderkind C.J. Stroud sends a second wind through the franchise that ends with a Lombardi Trophy. Regardless, Watt is excited to see what unfolds in the Texans’ future.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year took to Twitter on Wednesday following the Stefon Diggs trade, praising the AFC South franchise for its two-year turnaround. Last season, Houston added Stroud, along with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and former Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans as head coach.

A year later, the Texans added Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon, Diggs and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.

The Texans were looking to build off their first double-digit win season in four years and saw the opportunity to splurge with Stroud still on his rookie contract. After failing to sign a premier running back at the start of free agency, general manager Nick Caserio traded a seventh-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Mixon.

Mixon, who will turn 28 in July, is coming off another 1,000-yard rushing season and has shown no signs of slowing down. The Texans believe his best years are still ahead and plan to use him as their bell-cow back after agreeing to terms on a three-year extension worth $27 million.

“I’m not thinking about a drop-off,” Ryans said of Mixon at the owners meetings last week. “I’m thinking about the positives and the things that [he’s] done in his career. He’s been consistent throughout his entire career — a guy who can move the chains for you, a guy who can open up the passing game with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He just opens up the things that we can do offensively.”

Defensively, the addition of Hunter should be considered an upgrade — on paper at least — over the departed Jonathan Greenard. He’s coming off a career-high 16.5-sack season with the Minnesota Vikings and led the league with 23 tackles for loss.

Signed to a two-year deal worth up to $51 million, Hunter looks to become the first Texans player since Watt to record back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns on Houston’s defense. He also will serve as a teacher and confidant for Anderson, who broke Watt’s rookie sack record this past fall.

“He’s exciting,” Hunter said of Anderson during his introductory press conference last month. “Has a lot of tools. I was with him earlier, and he just can’t stop jumping, how eager he is to go out there and rush the passer together. Very good kid. I’m excited just to be able to go out there and teach him a lot of things that I know and become a better player.

One of the greatest defensive linemen of the 2000s, Watt guided Houston to five playoff appearances in 10 years. On top of winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards, Watt also recorded 101 of his 113 career sacks as a member of the AFC South franchise.

Watt was the second player added to Houston’s Ring of Honor this offseason, joining Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Johnson. He’ll join Johnson in Canton, Ohio, when eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028.

Grading the Texans trade of Stefon Diggs from Bills

The Houston Texans are adding a top-10 weapon for C.J. Stroud with the trade for Stefon Diggs, but how does the trade look long-term?

The first goal for any rebuilding franchise is to find a promising quarterback with five years of roster control. The second? Build around him and compete for a title while he’s still on a rookie contract.

Consider all those boxes checked for the Houston Texans following Wednesday’s trade.

The Texans are adding former Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick acquired from the Minnesota Vikings. The deal will now have Diggs in Houston through the 2027 season.

Houston continues to build around Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud entering his second season. The former first-rounder already has two breakout targets in Nico Collins and Tank Dell back on rookie contracts.

Last month, the Texans inked a new three-year, $36 million extension with Dalton Schultz just before the franchise tag deadline and also brought in Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. Both are here for the long-term after the 27-year-old tailback agreed to terms on a new three-year, $27 million extension after being traded for a seventh-round pick.

Diggs, 30, is the missing piece. He’s the final element needed to turn Houston from a rising AFC South champion into a legitimate AFC contender for years to come. But how does this trade actually grade out for the Texans past 2024?

Continue reading “Grading the Texans trade of Stefon Diggs from Bills”