Tag: Texans draft

Texans sign DB Calen Bullock to rookie contract

The Houston Texans have officially locked up Calen Bullock to a four-year deal before the start of OTAs on Monday.

Calen Bullock is officially a member of the Houston Texans. 

The third-round pick agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $5.856 million contract that includes a $1.079 million signing bonus, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. 

The Texans later confirmed the news via their social media account. 

Drafted 78th overall last month, the former USC standout should be the long-term free safety for Houston’s defense in what hopes to be a revamped secondary come 2024. Last season, the Texans struggled to find consistency at the position, especially on explosive plays 20-plus yards downfield. 

While Bullock might not be asked to start right away, he could split first-team reps with Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre. Both safeties also have nickel defender experience, meaning if the 6-foot Trojan defender impresses, one could move down closer to the line of scrimmage permanently. 

Of course, second-round pick Kamair Lassiter enters OTAs next week as the favorite to command the slot role after being drafted out of Georgia 42nd overall. Lassiter could also compete with former Atlanta Falcons starter Jeff Okudah for reps on the boundary, thus opening a void in the nickel entering Week 1’s road trip against Indianapolis. 

Known for his ability to create turnovers, Bullock was a bright spot the past two seasons for USC’s secondary under Lincoln Riley. As a sophomore, he was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection and intercepted five passes, including one returned for a touchdown.

Last season, Bullock finished with  61 tackles seven pass breakups and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He started 28 games over three seasons with the Trojans and totaled nine career interceptions. 

“You see just his ball skills, his range back there in the deep half of the field. It just stood out,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said following his selection on draft weekend. “He’s an exceptional play-maker, attacks the ball. That’s what we are about on defense. That’s what Bullock does. That’s what we’re looking for him to do for us.” 

The Texans return to NRG Stadium on Monday for the start of OTAs. 

Texans land four primetime games in 2024 schedule

The Houston Texans will have more than a few games outside the noon window on Sundays this upcoming season after winning the AFC South division title.

Over the past three seasons, the Houston Texans have been known for kicking off at noon come Sunday afternoon. In fact, the Texans have rarely seen action outside of the early window.

Winning an AFC South division title will change that overnight.

The Texans will play four primetime games and three non-Sunday matchups en route to hopefully another division. Houston will have to earn its way to the postseason, however, since the league office did little favors in terms of carving out consistent start times.

After opening the season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts as a rematch of last season’s finale, the Texans return home for a Sunday Night Football showdown against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. This isn’t the same Bears roster that finished 7-10 a season ago as GM Ryan Poles spent money to build a contender around the former Heisman Trophy winner.

On Halloween, C.J. Stroud and the Texans travel to New York City to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets for a Thursday Night Football showdown on Amazon Prime. That begins a three-week period where kickoffs will come later.

The following Sunday, Houston plays host to NFC runner-up Detroit on NBC. After that, the Texans will get an extra day of rest before taking on Micah Parson and the Cowboys on Monday Night Football at AT&T Stadium in Arlington at Jerry World.

In December, the Texans will get a taste of postseason action with matchups against three contending AFC rosters. After playing host to Miami for a noon kick, Houston travels to Arrowhead Stadium to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on December 21.

This will pin the three-time Super Bowl winner against the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year for the first — and maybe not the last —time in 2024.

The Texans return home for four days of rest before facing 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Christmas Day at 3:30 p.m. as a part of the doubleheader on Netflix. Last season, Stroud lost twice to Jackson, including in the AFC Divisional Round on the road at M&T Bank Stadium.

For the list of the Texans’ entire 2024 schedule and the location, check below. To buy tickets for the upcoming season, click here.

Week Date Location Opponent Time (CT) Tickets
1 Sept. 8 Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
2 Sept.15 Chicago Bears NRG Stadium 7:15 p.m. Tickets
3 Sept. 22 Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
4 Sept. 29 Jacksonville Jaguars NRG Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
5 Oct. 6 Buffalo Bills NRG Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
6 Oct. 13 New England Patriots Gillette Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
7 Oct. 20 Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 12 p.m. Tickets
8 Oct. 27 Indianapolis Colts NRG Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
9 Oct. 31 New York Jets Metlife Stadium 7:15 p.m. Tickets
10 Nov. 10 Detroit Lions NRG Stadium 7:15 p.m. Tickets
11 Nov. 18 Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium 7:15 p.m.  Tickets
12 Nov. 24 Tennessee Titans NRG Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
13 Dec. 1 Jacksonville Jaguars TIAA Bank Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
14 Dec. 8 BYE WEEK BYE WEEK BYE WEEK Tickets
15 Dec. 15 Miami Dolphins NRG Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
16 Dec. 21 Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium 12 p.m. Tickets
17 Dec. 25 Baltimore Ravens NRG Stadium 3 p.m. Tickets
18 Tennessee Titans NRG Stadium TBD Tickets

*prime-time game

Texans CB Kamari Lassiter reacts to finding out DeMeco Ryans played at Alabama

Kamari Lassiter, a proud Georgia alum, just found out his head coach went to the rival Alabama and couldn’t contain the emotions.

Kamari Lassiter might want to start brushing up on his new head coach’s background when talking trash about the University of Alabama in the locker room. 

Lassiter, the Houston Texans’ first pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is not only a dominant cornerback in man coverage but also a proud Georgia alum. He loves Athens, loves Samford Stadium and will always pull for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs in a new era of SEC football. 

DeMeco Ryans might have something to say about that as not only a proud native of the state of Alabama but was also an All-American for the Crimson Tide. On Friday, Lassiter found out the man he’ll be learning up under in hopes of becoming a bona fide superstar, played for “the other team.” 

“Coach went to Bama? I ain’t know that,” Lassiter said between laughs from the media. “But those two programs, very high-profile programs.” 

Lassiter, a second-round pick, faced Alabama three times before declaring for the NFL draft last offseason. In Round 1, the Crimson Tide pulled off the upset to win the SEC Championship in 2021 behind Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young. 

In Round 2, Georgia got the last laugh en route to claiming its first national title in four decades with a 33-18 victory at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Alabama, however, broke the tiebreaker in Lassiter’s career with a 27-24 win over the Dawgs last December to claim one more SEC title under Nick Saban and a College Football Playoff berth. Lassiter still has respect for the attention to detail at the program back in his hometown. 

He also notices some similarities between Smart and Ryans given their background on the defensive side. 

“Coach Smart does a really good job of just making sure that everyone buys in, and I think Coach Ryans does a great job of doing that, as well,” said Lassiter. “That probably comes from his background of being at the other place.”

All in all, it was a fun moment between the two sides. Perhaps Lassiter and Ryans can have a bet come Sept. 28 when the Dawgs visit Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on the Crimson Tide. 

 Neither will be able to attend the game since both will be preparing for a Sunday showdown. Maybe on Monday, the loser shows up in an outfit designed by the other? 

Nico Collins expects ‘dangerous passing attack’ from Texans in 2024

By adding in Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins believes the Houston Texans will have one of the more lethal passing attacks behind C.J. Stroud

It’s rare for teams to feel complete entering organized team activities (OTAs), but the Houston Texans might feel like an exception entering May 20th’s return date. 

At least that’s how wide receiver Nico Collins feels with a retooled passing attack surrounding Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud after promising results en route to an AFC South division title. 

And Collins, the NFL’s breakout pass-catcher of 2023, believes that the seventh-ranked passing attack will only get better this fall thanks to another offseason working with Stroud and Tank Dell. 

Well that, plus the addition of four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. 

“It’s going to be dangerous, real dangerous, man,” Collins told KPRC2 Sports‘ Aaron Wilson during his youth football camp Saturday morning at Houston Christian High School. “Adding Diggs to the room, it’s going to be a lot of weapons. There’s going to be great opportunities for everybody.

“The sky is the limit for us.”

Collins shined as the Texans’ go-to weapon in 2023, becoming the third player in franchise history to surpass 1,200 receiving yards in a single season. He was on pace to break Andre Johnson’s single-season record (1,572), but a strained calf sidelined him for two games in early December. 

The Texans feel like a team ready to build off their success last fall, though it’s always easy to project that out loud. Living up to the hype on gamedays is the challenging part to emulate.

Countless franchises across the league have put the pieces around their passers on rookie deals with expectations of securing a spot in the Super Bowl, only to come up short.

Los Angeles added pieces around Justin Herbert and never advanced past the wild-card round. Miami built an offense to carter toward Tua Tagovailoa’s strengths and followed a similar path to the Chargers, though Mike McDaniel is still employed entering a pivotal Year 3. 

Houston hopes it doesn’t meet a similar fate while hoping to surpass Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City in the postseason. One could argue the Texans are looking to follow Cincinnati’s formula with Joe Burrow, who thwarted Mahomes and the Chiefs for an AFC crown during his second season. 

In 2021, Burrow trusted three explosive receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins to secure a spot in the Super Bowl. With the arrival of Diggs, who has led the league in catches (445) since 2020, Stroud now has a similar arsenal.  

“I feel like the offense [has] a lot of weapons. Everybody has got a chance,” Collins said. “When the ball is in their hands, an explosive play is coming. I feel like, for us, we need to continue to work on the details, continue to be us, continue to have fun and show the world what we can do. I can’t wait for it.”

While Diggs was the offseason’s prized acquisition, he wasn’t the only target brought in to elevate Stroud’s numbers. The Texans traded a seventh-round pick to Cincinnati to acquire running back Joe Mixon and later inked him to a three-year, $27 million extension. 

Mixon, 27, is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard campaign but upped his value as a pass-catcher on short routes with 52 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns. 

Houston also brought back tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million extension before the start of free agency. Last month during the draft, the Texans added depth with a familiar face in Cade Stover, Stroud’s top tight end at Ohio State. 

Collins, who’s entering a contract season, knows that Houston’s no longer viewed as the league’s laughing stock. He was part of the rebuild which saw two coaches fired in back-to-back years and lackluster offensive production. 

The Texans are built to win. So is the rest of the AFC South after an aggressive free agency period. The former Michigan receiver knows the division will be challenging but also understands that Houston has a persona to carry. 

He doesn’t intend to watch regression set in, both individually and as a team.  

“The only way is up,” Collins said. “[We] can’t go down, can’t backtrack. Got to elevate. That’s my mindset right now.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans excited to work UDFA DL Pheldarius Payne

Pheldarius Payne has already caught the eyes of the Houston Texans coaching staff through one day of rookie minicamp.

When the 2024 NFL draft concluded on Saturday afternoon last month,  Pheldarius Payne had options.

Plenty of teams came calling, hoping to secure the services of the 6-foot-3 defensive tackle from Virginia Tech. Add in his pass-rushing expertise and some would consider Payne as a top among undrafted free agents. 

Most view not being selected as a downfall for prospects, but it’s more so a strength in the later rounds. Players can choose where they want to sign, thus putting pressure on them to live up to the billing. 

Payne chose to join the Houston Texans. He’s already caught the eyes of the coaching staff within one practice at minicamp. 

“He’s an undersized defensive tackle that is very explosive and quick,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “You saw him make a lot of plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage, utilizing his explosiveness, his quickness. So, we would like to see him translate that to our scheme and what we do.”

Ryans, whose defensive persona factored into Houston securing its first division title in four years, likes interior linemen with upside as pass rushers. Last season, Sheldon Rankins finished with 6.5 sacks. Maliek Collins totaled 5.5. 

Both players weighed under 320 pounds. Payne, who began his career at Lackawanna Junior College in Pennsylvania before signing with Nebraska,  weighed in the combine at 276 pounds. 

While undersized, Payne could be a potential project for Houston’s defensive line entering organized team activities (OTAs) on May 20. Last season with the Hokies, he racked up 10 tackles for losses, four sacks and one forced fumble. 

The Texans listed him as a defensive end on the minicamp depth chart, but Ryans called him a defensive tackle. Regardless of where he lines up, Payne has the potential and willingness to attack, something required to play in Ryans’ defensive front. 

“The guys are attacking and we can utilize his quickness,” Ryans said. “Hopefully, Payne can be a guy who can add to that group as well.”

Texans rookies receive jersey numbers

The Houston Texans rookie class knows what numbers they’ll be wearing to begin their careers at NRG Stadium.

The Houston Texans returned to practice for the start of rookie minicamp, donning their numbers for the first time since being drafted. Several newcomers, including second-round cornerback Kamari Lassiter and fourth-round tight end Cade Stover, already knew what numbers they’d wear in the pros, but others were still waiting to find out what would be on their backs.

Seven of the nine numbers were released via X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning. Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher and USC defensive back Calen Bullock were not on the graphic since neither has signed his rookie contract yet.

While not listed, Bullock was seen at practice wearing No. 41. Fisher, who started 27 games over three years with the Fighting Irish, wore No. 57.

“This period or this phase here with the rookie minicamp, we’re just trying to get our guys adapted to how we do things,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Get them used to our terminology, what we’re teaching. It’s more of a teaching period for us.”

On top of the signings listed above, the Texans agreed to terms with six undrafted free agents, including Virginia Tech defensive tackle Pheldarius Payne, North Carolina running back British Brooks and BYU linebacker Max Tooley.

In a corresponding move, the Texans released running back Gerrid Doaks.

Texans sign Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter to rookie contract

Kamari Lassiter, one of the top boundary cornerbacks in the SEC last season, is now an official member of the Houston Texans.

Kamari Lassiter is officially a member of the Houston Texans. 

The second-round cornerback out of Georgia and Houston agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth roughly $9 million, which includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. 

Lassiter should have a chance to compete for starting reps both on the outside and in the nickel to begin training camp. 

“Kamari provides toughness,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “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.

“He’s everything that our team is about. You talk about everything being relentless and attacking. With the relentless mindset every single day, that’s what Kamari brings.”

Lassiter said he felt a connection with the Texans from the jump. The two first met at the NFL combine in early February. That transpired over to Zoom calls as part of the pre-draft visit leading up to the second round. 

“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. I really fell in love with the coaching staff, just by how wholesome they were. I feel like they were someone I could click with, and someone I could play well under.”

Lassiter, a two-time national champion with Georgia, finished his collegiate career with 86 tackles, 14 pass breakups and an interception. During his final season, he allowed just 15 catches for 137 yards in coverage and broke up a career-high eight passes. 

“I call myself The Locksmith,’” Lassiter said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock with the name ‘Locksmith’ on there.”

The 6-foot, 180-pounder was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2023 and was expected to draw first-round interest before running a 4.6 40-time at Georgia’s pro day. Lassiter had a foot injury when he tested and usually runs in the 4.5 range.  

The Texans, who look more at the film than the metrics, were never concerned with Lassiter’s time, stating his play style carried more weight into the selection.

“I know speed is important. I’m not saying speed is not important. We don’t feel that’s an issue for this particular player,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “When you watch him play in the SEC, you don’t walk away and have that concern.”

Entering Friday’s practice, the Texans have signed seven of their nine rookies, including every pick on Day 3. Notre Dame offensive tackle Blakc Fisher [Pick No. 59] and USC defensive back Calen Bullock [Pick No. 78] are still working to finalize their deals before the start of mandatory minicamp later this month. 

Texans agree to terms with rookie TE Cade Stover

The Houston Texans are locking up their 2024 draft class and tight end Cade Stover is one of the first players to sign on the dotted line.

The Houston Texans are locking up their rookie class before the start of minicamp on Friday and have just finalized a deal with a former teammate of C.J. Stroud. 

The Texans and tight end Cade Stover agreed to terms on his rookie contract, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. The deal is a four-year contract worth roughly $4.76 million, which includes a $1.189 million signing bonus.

Drafted with the 123rd overall pick last month, Stover should serve as the long-term No. 2 tight end behind veteran Dalton Schultz. He proved to be a stable secondary weapon for Stroud at Ohio State in 2022 as the Buckeyes clinched a College Football Playoff berth. 

“It’s such an honor to play with C.J. again,” Stover said after being drafted. “A lot of emotions. I’m excited to contribute any way I can. He’s an awesome human being and an even better teammate. We were captains together. It was no surprise to me what he did last season. The dude is unbelievable.”

Outside of two-time All-American and 2023 first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr., Stroud trusted Stover to move the sticks in Columbus. The duo connected 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns. 

Last season, Stover doubled down on his success without Stroud, catching 41 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Big honors and was named a finalist for the John Mackey Award. 

Stover is technically still learning how to play tight end after transitioning to the offensive side as a sophomore from defensive end. His ability to disrupt offensive linemen has made him a sturdy blocker, especially in run support. 

“He has the mindset and work ethic to improve,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said last month. “How he was raised, this guy is everything you want in a football player and then more. He probably played hurt this year. I think he had an MCL, an issue where quite frankly it would have limited some other players, but he just braced it up and kept playing football.

“I don’t speak for DeMeco, but I think we feel the same way. This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality.” 

NFL.com recaps Texans’ offseason and draft additions

The Houston Texans enter 2024 with a new No. 2 cornerback in Kamari Lassiter, but NFL.com isn’t sold that was the top name on their big board.

How much better are the Houston Texans entering 2024? Most national pundits have them as an AFC contender so long as reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud can stay healthy. 

Even if a sophomore slump were to carry weight with Stroud, Houston became aggressive in free agency when landing premier talent. Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs was the headliner, but the trade for Bengals running back Joe Mixon and the signing of former Vikings star Danielle Hunter are far from lackluster moves. 

With nine new players joining the squad via the 2024 NFL, Houston seems poised to remain the front-runners for the AFC South division title. NFL.com recently unveiled its thoughts on all 32 teams heading into minicamp and said Houston likely would have rathered one of the two cornerbacks selected before settling on Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with the No. 42 pick. 

In March, the Texans traded the No. 23 pick (and No. 232) to the Vikings for second- and sixth-round picks in 2024 and a second-rounder in 2025. That already paid off in the addition of Stefon Diggs, who was acquired from Buffalo in exchange for that 2025 choice. But in terms of the 2024 second-rounder (No. 42 overall), the board cruelly didn’t appear to set up in Houston’s favor. The Texans needed cornerback help and saw the Eagles and Saints trade in front of them to take first-round-caliber talents Cooper DeJean (No. 40) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (No. 41). The Texans wound up taking cornerback Kamari Lassiter from Georgia.  – NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal

DeJean and McKinstry were both considered first-round talents who fell due to injury. DeJean, a unanimous All-American and standout returner, suffered a broken leg in November and missed the remainder of Iowa’s regular season. 

McKinstry, a three-year starter at Alabama, suffered a Jones fracture weeks before the scouting combine and did not participate in drills, though he did have a formal meeting with the Texans while in Indianapolis. McKinstry later impressed at Alabama’s pro day with a 4.47 40-time. 

Lassiter, who fell down draft boards after running a 4.6 40-time at Georgia’s pro day, was a fan favorite to land with Houston given his aggressive play style. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans loves defensive backs willing to tackle and play the run. 

A two-year starter for the Bulldogs, Lasiter earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2023 after finishing with a career-high eight pass breakups. He also offers position flexibility given his experience playing on the boundary and the nickel.

“He can play inside, he can play outside,” Ryans said. “You just talk about a guy who is a leader, a guy who works hard. He’s everything that our team is about.

“You talk about everything being relentless and attacking. With the relentless mindset every single day, that’s what Kamari brings.”

Maybe Houston would have leaned in favor of McKinstry over Lassiter, but it doesn’t make the pick wrong. Time will tell if the board hurt or helped the Texans land another top-level defensive back for a revamped secondary. 

Dane Brugler believes Texans had bottom-five NFL draft class

The Houston Texans overall draft class has potential but was not among the favorites of The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

The Houston Texans didn’t need to win the NFL draft weekend to be offseason winners, but any extra praise is a bonus. 

Houston improved its roster makeup with nine new additions. Some, like Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter and USC’s Calen Bullock, are viewed as Day 1 contributors. Others, like Auburn’s Marcus Harris and Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher, might be more so here for the long run.

“We’re very excited about all the guys we brought in,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Saturday afternoon. “Feel like all these guys are quality players that add to the depth, add to the competition of our team.

A majority of draft pundits agree that Houston finished middle of the pack, often grading out with something in the “B” range. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, however, listed the Texans as the 28th-ranked class heading into 2024.

Brugler, one of the nation’s top draft expected, credited GM Nick Caserio for the selection of Lassiter, who played like a first-round defensive back, but dropped down boards after running a 4.6 40-time at UGA’s pro day.

The Texans didn’t have a draft pick in the top 40, putting them at a disadvantage for these rankings. They did, however, draft two promising players in the second round: Lassiter and Blake Fisher. Although several teams were concerned about his lack of speed, Lassiter’s tape shows a tough, competitive player — and it was clear DeMeco Ryans saw the same thing. — Dane Brugler

As for a player he believes could surprise fans in Year 1, Brugler singled out Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, who already knows what Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud is looking for given their time together in Columbus.

After their rookie quarterback had a record-setting season, what could the Texans do to help him continue to climb? Adding his college tight end is one idea. Stover might not truly have an A-level trait, but he is well-rounded as an athlete, pass catcher and blocker. — Brugler 

Draft grades mean little now as live reps will determine who lives up to the hype and which prospects crumble under the pressure. Most of the Texans’ new additions will be limited in their roles in Year 1 given the state of the roster following a productive free-agent period. 

Brugler also had questions surrounding two of the other three AFC South teams, listing Tennesee and Jacksonville 26th and 29th overall, respectively. While a fan of the first-round selections, there’s questions among the rest of the roster. 

There are still moves to be made this offseason before the Texans return Week 1, but it is shaping up to be a promising year down off NRG Drive for the reigning AFC South champions.