Tag: nick caserio

Report: Texans director of team development Dylan Thompson hired by Commanders

Dylan Thompson, the Houston Texans director of team development, is headed to the NFC East after three seasons in the Lone Star State.

Dylan Thompson is getting his shot elsewhere.

Thompson, who spent the past three seasons as the Houston Texans director of team development, has been hired by the Washington Commanders for a similar role, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson.

Thompson has been regarded for his work ethic, passion and attentiveness with players since being hired by Houston. The South Carolina native was influential in Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud’s progression and maturation from rookie to rising star.

“Dylan is one of the best human beings that I’ve ever met in my life,” Stroud said of Thompson earlier this offseason. “There’s a ton of people, great people in this organization, but DT has been the main person.

“You talk about a brother like to somebody who loves you no matter what happens on that field, you can feel that. I just appreciate that and now he’s going to be mad at me, but, man, he’s a great person, and really one of the reasons why I feel like we were very successful this year.”

Thompson, 32, joined the Texans in 2021 under then-executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby. He was known for developing player’s characteristics as they transitioned from college to the pros.

Before joining the Texans, Thompson served as the director of player development at Charleston Southern following stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

A two-year starter at South Carolina, Thompson led the SEC with 3,574 passing yards, and totaled 26 touchdowns in his senior season. For his career, he threw for 5,401 yards, 40 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

“There is no Will Anderson without Dylan Thompson,” defensive end Will Anderson recently told Texans Wire’s John Crumpler.”

Could Texans be parting ways with a WR before training camp?

With the arrival of Stefon Diggs, one of the Houston Texans receivers could be looking for a new home in 2024.

The Houston Texans have ample mouths to feed in the passing game next season as C.J. Stroud looks to go from stellar rookie to perennial MVP. 

In fact, there might be too many targets for his disposal, meaning a player or two could be on the market as a trade candidate before the season begins. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio recently appeared on Fanduel’s Up and Adams podcast to discuss the recent offseason moves, including the acquisition of Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. With his arrival, one receiver will move down the pecking order and could see their reps diminish. 

To avoid those concerns, Caserio mentioned that a potential shake-up to the receiver room would likely come before Week 1 arrives. 

“That room is going to be really competitive,” Caserio  We’re probably going to have to move on from some players who are going to be playing other places, but we’ll try to keep as many good players as we can here.”

The Texans wanted to add ample firepower to their seventh-ranked passing attack this offseason while Stroud is still on his rookie contract. When broken down, Houston realistically traded back 19 spots in the draft with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler Diggs from Buffalo. 

Right now, Diggs will only be a Texan for one season. Houston voided the final three years of his current contract and added $3.5 million to his annual salary. Last month, the Texans ended all “WR No. 1” conversations by extending Nico Collins on a three-year deal. 

Diggs, who leads the NFL in receptions since 2020 (445), joins a loaded receiving room headlined by Collins, Tank Dell, John Metchie III, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and Noah Brown. The Texans also brought back Dalton Schultz on a three-year deal and drafted Ohio State standout Cade Stover in Round 4. 

To add more fuel to the firey offense, Houston traded for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from Cincinnati at the start of free agency and still has tight end Brevin Jordan, fullback Andrew Beck and running back Dameon Pierce as part of the passing game. 

“Philosophically, what DeMeco and I have tried to do is build as competitive and deep a roster as possible,” Caserio said. “We understand there are going to be challenges we face during the course of a season. This league is so competitive … but our job is to try to build as good a team as we possibly can—give ourselves an opportunity to compete against a lot of good teams, lot of good coaches.”

Diggs, Schultz, Mixon and Collins won’t be going anywhere given their contracts. Stover was drafted last month and Dell, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury, was on pace for 1,000 yards last season as Stroud’s No. 2 target. 

Metchie, Brown and Woods feel like the clear cut candidates entering training camp. Metchie, the 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama, missed all of his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare but treatable form of cancer.

Last season was Mecthie’s true first year in the pros, so Caserio might be hesitant to pull the plug on a player with upside, especially after his performance in the wild-card round victory over Cleveland. 

Brown inked a one-year deal to return this offseason, so it feels he could have an advantage given his guaranteed contract situation. Woods, who signed a two-year deal last offseason, might be an ideal trade candidate as a WR No. 3 for any team in the market for a proven target. 

Caserio didn’t lean one way when talking cuts, so it’s best not to assume which player is on the block. Expect all three players to be under watch as mandatory camp begins later this week.

Texans GM Nick Caserio talks DeMeco Ryans’ hiring, expectations in Year 2

It’s hard to believe just 16 months ago DeMeco Ryans was hired and Texans GM Nick Caserio detailed went into the process of his hiring

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio some gave insight into the decision to hire DeMeco Ryans as head coach ahead of Year 2. 

Caserio, who appeared on FanDuel’s Up & Adams earlier this week, played a role in securing talent to build off three failed seasons in Houston that ended with coaches being shown the door. 

Ryans, a former second-round pick and Pro Bowl linebacker for the AFC South franchise, served as the architect when placing the pieces in the correct order to win a division title for the time in four years.

 

“I can’t say enough great things about him,” Caserio said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the league, and we’re very fortunate to have, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with him every day.”

Houston finished 10-7 and won the AFC South crown, making Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud the fifth rookie head coach and quarterback duo to win the division. The Texans them thumped the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round for their first playoff victory since the days of Bill O’Brien.

Anyone who predicted those results from Houston after a 3-14-1 finish must have had Doc Brown’s DeLorean or a Texans’ super fan hat on.  After blowing a 24-0 lead to Patrick Mahomes on the road in Arrowhead, the Texans finished with a combined 7-26-1 leading up to 2023.  

“We just needed a little bit of a jolt, and we were looking for the right person,” Caserio said. “Football, in the end, is a people business, and we can talk about schemes, but you need somebody that can galvanize an entire group of people.”

Ryans previously spent six seasons in San Francisco, including his final two seasons when he served as defensive coordinator. The 49ers defense was in the top 10 in points allowed both years under Ryans, peaking as the lowest-scoring defense in 2022. 

“When you look at players’ performance in San Francisco, I would say he had a huge hand in developing Fred (Warner), Dre (Greenlaw) and Azeez (Al-Shaair),” Caserio said. “When you look at how his defenses played in San Francisco, they played with energy and fast and ferociously.”

While most NFL franchises were hiring offensive-minded coaches, Caserio took a different approach after firing Lovie Smith, though Ryans’ past times with the organization didn’t factor into the decision. 

“DeMeco and I really didn’t know each other besides knowing of each other. He’s such a great human being,” Caserio said. “He’s a great person and very genuine and sincere, and he is who he is. His energy and juice are on a consistent basis.”

A change of energy emmerged when Ryans arrived back to NRG Stadium for the first time since 2012.  Fans got their wish as the inngural defensive standout signed on the dotted line to coach for the team that drafted him in 2006.

During Ryans’ six-year stint in Houston, he was a first-team All-Pro linebacker (2007) and two-time Pro Bowler.  He spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring in 2015, but immedietly transitioned into coach the following offseason. 

“When you can put yourself in the player’s shoes when you’re talking to the team and understanding that they’re looking at the coach and understanding he sat in that chair and has grown through some of that stuff, then it makes it easier for a player to do the things we ask of them,” Caserio said. 

Ryans won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Coach of the Year and finished one first-place vote behind Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski for the honor of the Associated Press’ honors. 

Caserio took a plenty of heat for firing coaches after hiring one-and-done coaching staffs in back-to-back years. National media outlets pointed to the Texans’ record with Caserio as GM, and if Ryans had not produced the way he did in year one, it might have led to Caserio’s time ending in Houston.

Caserio admitted to learning from his mistakes. Smith’s firing was a wake-up call that change was needed in his approach to hiring coaches.

That led to arrival of Ryans. So far, it’s been the right move.

“You try to learn the best you can on a year-to-year basis,” Caserio said. “You have to make difficult decisions, but ultimately try to do what’s best for the organization as a whole.”

Texans hire former New England Patriots RB Shane Vereen as player personnel assistant

Former New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen is headed to join the Houston Texans….in the scouting department.

A former New England Patriots running back is headed to the Houston Texans. No, it’s a rewind to the 2021 season when Rex Burkhead hopped on a plane to NRG Stadium. 

The Texans are hiring former Patriots standout Shane Vereen as a player personnel assistant, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. Vereen previously worked as a college football analyst for Pac-12 Network and FOX Sports. 

A standout runner from Cal drafted in the second round in 2011, Vereen spent seven seasons in the pros before retiring in 2018. During his time with the Patriots and Giants, he rushed for 1,489  yards and eight touchdowns. Vereen also caught 221 passes for 1,864 yards and 11 scores.

Most used as a secondary runner, Vereen made waves during New England’s Super Bowl appearance in 2015 against the Seahawks. In Glendale, he caught a team-high 11 passes for 64 yards en route to a 28-24 win. 

Texans fans likely remember Vereen best for his performance in the 2012 divisional round playoff win, where he posted a career-high three touchdowns on five catches and seven rush attempts for 114 yards of offense. 

General manager Nick Caserio knows Vereen well from his time in the Patriots’ player personnel department under Bill Belichick. Now, Vereen gets to reunite with one of the people who believed in him coming out of the then-Pac-10 in the pros. 

Should Texans Trade For Saints Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore?

In a recent article Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay mocked the Texans acquiring Marshon Lattimore, but is it a move they should consider?

The Houston Texans have been one of the league’s more active teams this offseason as they prepare to build off last year’s surprise playoff run. 

Even after landing Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with its first selection in last month’s draft, cornerback remains a position of need. And with the Texans following the “all-in” persona, perhaps they’re willing to part with another mid-round pick for a high-profile prospect.

In the latest article Bleacher Report, Alex Kay positioned a trade that would send four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to Houston in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Lattimore, 27, could come with a lower trade value since the Saints are up against the salary cap. New Orleans will be a league-high $72.8 million over the cap in 2025 due to its refusal to rebuild since the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterbak Drew Brees. 

The Saints have been in a comparable spot for years but always got under the salary threshold by trading some of their highest earners and Lattimore fits the description. He’s slated to make $14.6 million in 2024 before the per-year price jumps to $31.4 million in 2025 and $28.6 million in the final year of the deal. 

Moving on from Lattimore seems more reasonable after the New Oreleans selection of Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2. The Alabama product has the tools to be a day-one starter, making Lattimore flexible to ship elsewhere. 

Houston continues to be in the market for veteran talent as it tries to put together a deep playoff run while franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud remains on his rookie contract. 

Below is why the Texans should and should not trade for Lattimore. 

Why The Texans Should Make A Trade

Since being selected with the 11th pick in the 2017 draft, Lattimore has been one of the league’s best defensive backs. In seven seasons, he’s had 15 interceptions along with 86  defelcted passes and two defensive touchdowns.

Houston has spent the offseason throwing several darts at the position, hoping one sticks opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. During free agency, the

Texans took chances on one-year deals with former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. In the draft, they took Lassiter, who has experience both in the slot and on the boundary. 

Lattimore would immedietly start opposite the third-year Stingley while Lassiter settled into the NFL. Lassiter likely would compete with veteran Desmond King for first-team reps at the nickel.  

Houston’s already made multiple win-now moves throughout the offseason as it prepares for a first-place schedule after winning the AFC South. Next season, the Texans face seven teams ranked in the top 10 for passing yards from a year ago.

And keep in mind that the Bears just added No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Jets welcome back Aaron Rodgers in their hunt for a postseason berth. 

While the Texans had an above-average defensive unit a year ago, their pass coverage numbers were underwhelming. Opponents averaged the sixth-highest (6.5) net yards gained per pass attempt against Houston’s secondary last season. Houston’s upgraded its pass rush, but adding Lattimore would take the defense from the middle of the pack to the upper echelon. 

Lattimore might be a veteran, but he’s still in his prime entering Year 8. His addition would bring a veteran presence to a young but prosperous defensive back room. 

Why The Texans Should Not Make A Trade

Despite still having $23 million in 2024 cap space and a projected $46 million next offseason, Houston needs to plan beyond this fall when discussing extensions to players who prospered a season ago. 

Nico Collins is in the last year of his deals and will command a significant pay raise. So will Stefon Diggs, whom Houston traded a 2025 second-round pick for to Buffalo earlier this offseason. Even after voiding the final three years of his contract, the four-time Pro Bowl target remains in talks toward a new deal. 

Christian Harris, Denico Autry and Jalen Pitre will be free agents entering 2026. So could Stingely and fellow former first-round pick Kenyon Green if GM Nick Caserio elects to pass on picking up their fifth-year options. 

In 2026, four of Houston’s anticipated offensive line starters, including All-Pro Laremy Tunsil, will hit the market.

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and Stroud’s second contracts will likely be near the top of their position group if they continue their trajectory toward stardom. 

More to the point, acquiring Lattimore is an immediate splash move, but it also impairs Houston’s spending limits in the future.

Injuries have also limited Lattimore to playing in half of the Saints’ games the past two seasons, making him a risky option with a significant hit against his team’s salary cap. 

 

The same injuries have hurt Lattimore’s versatility in coverage. When Lattimore has been in coverage the past two seasons, the opposing receiver’s average yards per reception is 11.3, the lowest mark of his career. 

New Orleans is no longer asking Lattimore to carry receivers downfield. Instead, it’s transitioned him to playing more underneath coverage. It’s hard to imagine the Texans wanting to bring in an oft-injured, expensive, scheme-dependent cornerback rather than find a cheap stop plug.

Caserio has also done well in this area in recent years, gaining quality play from veteran options such as King and Steven Nelson, who could return on another short-term deal. 

Should Texans extend Nico Collins before 2024 season begins?

With Nico Collins entering the final year of his rookie contract, and annual salaries rising, The Houston Texans should extend him now.

NFL free agency started over a month ago, and the NFL draft happened last week, leaving fans to wait for rookie minicamp and offseason training activities to start.

Now enters one of the quietest times of the year for fans, but it doesn’t mean teams aren’t working hard behind the scenes to improve their rosters.

The Houston Texans are in a good spot after an extremely active offseason. Houston filled several holes in free agency and through offseason trades, bolstering its roster to compete with the elite teams in the AFC for years to come.

There’s more work to do, and with $23.6 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, the Texans have plenty of ammunition to secure deals. But what about taking care of one of their own?

Wide receiver Nico Collins is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because he was not a first-round pick, he cannot receive a fifth-year option.

Houston’s options are either to make him a deal, put him on the franchise tag after the season, or watch him walk in free agency.

Collins had a breakout third season, totaling 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns while becoming quarterback C.J. Stroud’s primary target. The former third-round pick is in line for a cushy new contract that reflects his level of play.

On “The Athletic Football Show“, co-hosts Nate Tice and Robert Mays argued that Houston should look to make a deal sooner rather than later. So what’s the holdup?

 

Injuries, inadequate quarterback play, and an overall bad environment for a young wide receiver hurt Collins in his first two seasons. The results were 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns across 24 games. 

Houston may want to see another year of production before they hand out wide receiver one money to Collins. The acquisition of former All-Pro Stefon Diggs adds to the target competition, so how Collins plays alongside a fellow upper-echelon wideout may factor into its decision.

However, it’s a dangerous game to wait and see. Around the league, teams are locking up their young receivers, with Indianapolis signing Michael Pittman Jr. to a three-year deal worth $70 million, including a $46 million total guarantee, and Philadelphia inking Devonta Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract.

Neither Pittman nor Smith reached Collins’ level in 2023, though both have been sturdy options in their respective passing games, hence why Tice and Mays argue the Texans should get the deal done now before the asking price expands to top-10 status next offseason. 

“He (Collins) looks like a top-10 guy now, and I would give him Devonta Smith pay, so he plays like A.J. Brown,” Mays said.

Smith’s $25 million annual salary serves as a good benchmark for a potential Collins extension. However, as more time passes, more teams iron out deals. 

The Lions inked Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million contract – the largest annual average for a receiver until Brown’s three-year, $96 million extension –  on Apr. 24. St. Brown’s contract includes $77 million in guarantees the second most behind Brown’s monster deal which guarantees him $84 million. 

Star receivers like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase are awaiting new deals, and both will likely reset the market by this time next offseason. 

The price tag for receivers — more specifically leading targets — only continues to grow. In 2019, Julio Jones’ three-year, $66 million was the largest extension. Today, Jones’ 22 million salary would rank lower than  Diggs’ $22.5 million pay, which currently is the 12th highest-ranked contract among receivers, according to Spotrac. 

While the logic of waiting another year and making Collins prove he’s elite holds some merit, what if he takes another step in Year 4?

In games featuring Tank Dell, Collins posted 50 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Over 17 games, the average comes out to 85 catches, 1,360 yards, and eight touchdowns. 

Diggs’ arrival only takes more attention off of Collins. An improved run game and better health along the offensive line bodes well for the offense as a whole and for Collins to raise his efficiency level, which was top five in nearly every metric last season.

Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth-best receiver last year, and he finished top in yards after catch per reception and yards per route run. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio hasn’t been keen on giving lucrative contracts. In three years, the largest contract he’s dished out was to All-Pro Laremy Tunsil worth $75 million over three years. 

It would make sense for Collins’ deal to be in a similar range. A three-year extension would come off the books right as Stroud enters his sixth season, which, if the Texans use the fifth-year option, would be the first year of his perceived monster deal. 

Nobody expected Collins to be a number one option heading into last season, but now it’s clear he can be for years.

The clock is ticking for Caserio and company to complete a deal. 

Texans new CB Kamari Lassiter ready to live up to ‘Locksmith’ persona

Nicknamed ‘The Locksmith,’ new Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter is ready to lock down receivers in the AFC for years to come.

Sporting a silver chain with an industrial-sized lock engraved with ‘K3‘ in the center, Kamari Lassiter made sure to properly introduce his alter ego to his new fan base. 

“I call myself the locksmith,” the newest Houston Texans cornerback said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock [made] with the name ‘locksmith‘ on there.” 

Lassiter, a consistent playmaker and lockdown defensive back at Georgia, will be expected to live up to his name down at NRG Stadium this fall. Fans in Athens were able to see him bloom from a four-star defender into a two-time national champion. 

The 6-foot Alabama native did it all during his three seasons with the Bulldogs. He started his career in the nickel, then moved to the outside in 2022 and became the alpha of Kirby Smart’s secondary. 

“Kamari provides toughness,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Saturday following the draft. “You talk about energy and the way he plays the game. He loves football. It shows on the tape. It jumps off the tape. He’s a versatile player. He can play inside, he can play outside.”

Lassiter saved his best collegiate season for 2023, totaling 37 tackles and a team-leading eight pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 15 receptions on 37 pass attempts for 135 yards.

While earning second-team All-SEC honors, Lassiter didn’t allow a touchdown. In three seasons with the Dawgs and over 1,110 snaps in coverage, two players have crossed the pylon. 

“You just talk about a guy who is a leader, a guy who works hard. He’s everything that our team is about,” Ryans said. “You talk about everything being relentless and attacking. With the relentless mindset every single day, that’s what Kamari brings.”

From an on-field standpoint, Lassiter was considered one of the top corners. He impressed during pre-draft meetings with teams, but a 4.6 40-time knocked him out of the first-round conversation. 

While the Locksmith has been known for ending plays with breakups, he hasn’t been able to turn the key in turnovers. Lassiter finished his collegiate career with one interception compared to 14 pass deflections. 

General manager Nick Caserio wasn’t concerned. The film shows Lassiter’s natural ability to guard shifty receivers in the slot or on the perimeter, areas he’ll both work at during training camp. 

“We’re drafting football players; we’re not drafting track teams,” said Caserio Friday evening. “I know speed is important. I’m not saying speed is not important. We don’t feel that that’s an issue for this particular player. When you watch him play in the SEC, you don’t walk away and have that concern.” 

Lassiter was on Houston’s radar from the beginning of the draft process. Caserio said he was one of the top prospects they identified who fits Ryans’ “SWARM” mentality. 

With the Texans, Lassiter should be a Day 1 starter, whether it be at the nickel position or opposite former first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr. Houston elected not to retain veteran Steven Nelson this offseason, pivoting toward younger options in Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson on one-year deals. 

Okudah, the 2020 No. 3 pick, has been hit-or-miss throughout his career and is on his third time in five years. He saw progress early last season after being traded to the Atlanta Falcons from Detroit but was benched toward the year’s end in a playoff hunt. 

Henderson, a fellow 2020 first-round pick, mostly was a reserve during his final two seasons in Carolina after being traded by Jacksonville following his rookie season. 

The Texans also re-signed Desmond King on a one-year deal and replaced Tavierre Thomas with Myles Bryant. Lassiter will have to earn playing time, but he’s excited to learn under Stingley, someone he remembers watching at LSU while at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa. 

“When you talk about just pure raw talent and true corner who can just go out there and just play anywhere on the field and go with the best of them, I feel like Derek Stingley is one of those guys,” Lassiter said of Stingley. “Being able to learn up under a guy like that who’s been in the league for a couple of years now and earned respect, that’s someone who I can take parts of his game and add on to mine.”

While the Texans were sold on Lassiter, the latter was sold on Houston. Not just the coaching staff, but also the vibes. He told his family and friends that the roster was young and it felt like a place he’d thrive. 

Throughout the draft process, countless mocks featured Lassiter as the 42nd pick for Houston given his play style and demeanor. Scouts considered him an ideal fit for Ryans’ man-heavy defense after mixed play in coverage during the team’s run to the postseason. 

Back home in Alabama, Lassiter was envisioning the same.

“You watch football and you think you’d fit in and enjoy playing at,” Lassiter said. “I feel like Houston is one of those places.” 

Watch: Highlights of new Texans RB Jawhar Jordan

The Houston Texans have found another running back to add to the mix with the addition of Louisville’s Jawhar Jordan. Take a look at his highlights here!

The Houston Texans are adding more speed to their backfield in 2024. 

After moving back with the Detroit Lions, Houston wasted little time at pick No. 205 to select Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan in the NFL draft. 

Jordan, known for his straight-line speed and special teams skills, should compete for a role on kickoff and punt returns. He also should fill the void as the No. 3 running back behind Pro Bowler Joe Mixon and third-year standout Dameon Pierce. 

A transfer from Syracuse, the 5-foot-9 runner shined during his time at Lousiville, totaling nearly 2,000 yards in two seasons. Last year, he rushed for 1,128 and scored an ACC-leading 13 touchdowns under new head coach Jeff Brohm. 

Jordan’s proven to be a runner who can take over games. In 2023, he 134 yards against Boston College and had a 75-yard touchdown catch and a 40-yard kickoff return. He also hit the 100-yard marker six times in 12 games last fall. 

In 2022, Jordan was named the MVP of the 2022 Fenway Bowl, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Cincinnati. In his final season with the Cardinals, Jordan averaged 6.33 yards per rush attempt. 

The Texans won’t need Jordan to be a difference-maker initially, but they could see him carve out a niche role on third down. He’s also been a standout in the passing game, totaling 31 receptions for over 300 yards and a touchdown in two seasons. 

These highlights from Lousivlle show exactly what Jordan brings to the Texans’ offense in 2024.

Texans select TE Cade Stover with 123rd overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

C.J. Stroud is reuniting with Ohio State tight end Cade Stover as the newest member of the Houston Texans.

C.J. Stroud might not have gotten Marvin Harrison Jr., but he’s getting an Ohio State weapon.

The Houston Texans traded up four spots with the Philadelphia Eagles to land former Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover with the 123rd pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

In return, Houston gave up its fourth-round pick (No. 127) and a 2025 fifth-round selection.

Tight end remained a secondary need for Houston following the signing of Dalton Schultz to a three-year, $36 million extension, but with Brevin Jordan entering a contract year, having a secondary long-term option was essential.

Stover shined in 2022 with Stroud as Ohio State clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff. He finished with 406 receiving yards on 36 catches and scored five touchdowns while helping the Buckeyes’ passer earn his second Heisman nomination.

Last season. Stover served as the Buckeyes’ No. 2 weapon behind All-American Marvin Harrison Jr., hauling in 41 passes for 571 yards and five scores. He was named a John Mackey finalist while earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.

During the NFL combine, Stover said he would love to reunite with Stroud in Houston and bring the Columbus magic to NRG Stadium.

“It would mean so much to go back with C.J.,” Stover said last month in Indianapolis. “We were captains together two years ago. I could not tell you how much respect and how close I really was with that guy, just for his pure knack for wanting to win and my pure knack for wanting to win. I would love nothing more than to reunite with him.”

The Texans still have four picks remaining on Day 3, including back-to-back selections in the sixth round.

Watch: Highlights of new Texans safety Calen Bullock

It wouldn’t be a Texans draft without a draft-day trade and with the move up eight spots, who recently secured the services of Calen Bullock from USC.

Nobody is surprised general manager Nick Caserio is making a draft-day trade. Actually, it’s shocking that it took until the third round. 

The Houston Texans moved their third-round pick (No. 86) and one of their two fourth-round (No.123) picks acquired in the Deshaun Watson trade in exchange for pick No.78 from the Philadelphia Eagles to select USC defensive back Calen Bullock in the 2024 NFL draft Friday evening. 

Last year, the two teams made three draft-day trades. Houston still holds pick No. 127 in the fourth round heading into Day 3. 

Bullock, an All-Pac-12 first-team defender, is the second defensive back drafted by the Texans on Friday evening, joining Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Houston also used another second-round pick (No. 59). on Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher. 

“My mom was crying. I felt good about the pick. The coaching staff, they loved me as a player and a person. I felt good about it,” Bullock said to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.

 

Bullock intercepted nine passes at USC, broke up 15 passes, and returned two for touchdowns. He is a rangy safety gifted with length and athleticism and upside in coverage. 

The move follows a rocky season from former second-round pick Jalen Pitre. He struggled to shore up the back end, specifically on deep passes. Jimmie Ward’s health likely contributed to the selection as well.

Bullock can play multiple positions. He played 42 percent of his defensive snaps at free safety, 30 percent at slot corner and 19 percent in the box in packages with more defensive backs on the field.

Because of his 6-foot-2 frame, the Texans may flirt with the idea of moving him to cornerback. Bullock is a welcome addition to a defense looking to improve upon allowing the 10th most passing yards a year ago.