Tag: Texans draft

New Texans WR Stefon Diggs lets true feelings known about Bills Mafia

Stefon Diggs didn’t say much, but one like made it clear he was ready for a fresh start with the Houston Texans.

Stefon Diggs has been known for voicing his opinion on social media, mostly “X,” formerly known as Twitter.

While the now-Houston Texans star didn’t tweet out his thoughts on the Buffalo Bills and their fans, he certainly didn’t mince his feelings by pushing the heart button in the bottom-right corner.

One user messaged Diggs to take a shot at Bills Mafia, calling one of the rowdiest fans in the NFL “bitter.” Instead of ignoring the tweet and going about his day, Diggs hit the liked button, which created a frenzy on the app among those back in Orchard Park.

Maybe Diggs does feel as if the Bills have the worst fans in the NFL. That seems far-fetched given their loyalty to a franchise that hasn’t returned to the Super Bowl since losing four consecutive matchups for the Lombardi Trophy in the 1990s, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.

Perhaps Diggs is looking to start fresh, thus doing everything to close that chapter of his life for a brighter future.

But Diggs, whom the Texans traded a 2025 second-round pick to acquire, was a fan favorite. He was a constant in the passing attack for Josh Allen and one of the league’s most productive players during his four-year stay with the AFC East champions.

Once Diggs, 30, joined the mafia, it felt like Buffalo elevated its status from playoff contender to Super Bowl one. They clinched the division title four straight times and made it to the AFC championship in 2021.

The hope for Houston is Diggs offers a similar feel without any of the drama. The Texans, headlined by rookie of the years C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr., won their first division title in four years and claimed a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Now, the Texans are all-in for winning a conference title and bringing a Lombardi Trophy back to NRG Stadium. Standing in their way? Buffalo, which heads to Houston for a must-see showdown at some point during the regular season.

Let’s hope that’s the only time drama surrounds Diggs during his time in Houston.

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.

Is Texas DL T’Vondre Sweat still an option for Texans following arrest?

Following his arrest Saturday evening, the Houston Texans must decide if they still believe in the upside of T’Vondre Sweat.

Defensive tackle and the Houston Texans go together like peas and carrots, especially when talking needs entering the NFL draft.

It’s no secret the Texans must continue to build their interior defensive line following the departures of Sheldon Rankins and Maliek Collins. Multiple prospects, including Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat, have consistently been mocked to Houston since the start of the offseason.

Sweat feels like an ideal one-tech for DeMeco Ryans’ front seven, but following this weekend, is he still a viable option?

Sweat, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Outland Trophy winner, was booked into jail after an arrest for driving while intoxicated Sunday. He was later released by the Travis County Jail Sunday afternoon after paying his bail.

Sweat dominated during his final season in Austin, racking up two sacks, eight tackles for loss, seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and 45 total tackles. Stats suggest that he underwhelmed, but his play style set the tone in helping Texas secure its first Big 12 title since 2009.

An arrest less than three weeks before the draft isn’t ideal. Teams are fine-combing over every detail of a player’s past, present and future plans to justify the selection. Sweat also faces a Class B misdemeanor, which in Texas carries a fine of up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail.

While not a first-round pick, Sweat likely would have been a lock as the third defensive tackle taken behind fellow Texas star Byron Murphy and Florida State’s Braden Fiske. For the Texans, he was a familiar face at pick No. 59, though he now could be in play at pick No. 86 given his status on draft night.

Everything comes down to Nick Caserio and ownership. Houston, which claimed its first division in four years, is riding high entering 2024. People are buying stock into the C.J. Stroud hype and have been impressed with the overspending in free agency.

In years past, adding Devin Singletary and Dalton Schultz was “winning the offseason.” Adding Pro Bowlers like Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter symbolizes the change from “off” to “on.”

Does Houston want to ruin the good vibes surrounding the franchise? Could it pivot from say cornerback at No. 42 to defensive tackle? Does Caserio believe there’s depth beyond Sweat that could make sense in Rounds 3 or 4?

Sweat likely remains a Day 2 prospect. His talent defending the run might be one of the best in the class while his bull-rushing passing sets add that extra “oomph” up the middle.

That doesn’t mean the Texans lock themselves on one specific player. If Sweat already came with some concerns given his weight (361 pounds) or consistency, it likely just moves him down the pecking.

Instead of being the first defensive tackle mentioned, perhaps he’s the third? Perhaps another team values his upside more, making the decision easier for Houston to surpass its temptation.

Sweat fits Houston’s current needs, but so do countless other defensive linemen. It’s a need, yes, but the Texans don’t have to make Sweat their only option when on the clock at either of the three picks.

Texans to host breakout ACC RB for top 30 visit

Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo will pay a visit to the Houston Texans before the upcoming NFL draft later this month.

As the Houston Texans continue to prepare for the NFL draft later this month, prospects will head to NRG Stadium for in-person visits.

One visit could be worth monitoring given the status of Houston’s running back room entering offseason workouts and it could end up being another key piece to the offense.

According to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo will meet with the Texans before the draft for a top-30 visit. Guerendo is expected to be a mid-round target and a potential option for Houston in the fourth round.

Few players have bolstered their draft stock through the pre-draft process as much as Guerendo. Last month during the combine, he put on a clinic in front of scouts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Guerendo’s 4.33 40-time was the fastest among running backs at the event. His 41.5-inch vertical was the best among backs, while his 10-foot, 9-inch broad jump ranked second.

After transferring from Wisconsin in the offseason, Guerendo posted career numbers while splitting reps with Jahwar Jordan. In 132 attempts, the senior rushed for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding 22 catches for 234 yards.

Even after trading for and extending Joe Mixon, the Texans remain in the market for another running back. Houston believes the best is still to come with the former Bengals’ star, but the run game woes factored into Houston’s demise during the divisional round loss against Baltimore.

As free agency winds down, sights turn to the draft for a complementary No. 3 option behind the Pro Bowl rusher and third-year back Dameon Pierce. There’s talent found in the current class, but Houston could wait to target someone on Day 3.

Guerendo should be on the shortlist of options for Houston beginning in Round 4. While he’s yet to prove his skills as a lead back, the athleticism would be a welcomed addition to a revamped offense that recently added Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs.

The Texans turned to Devin Singletary as the new leading man by midseason and saw progress in a woeful rushing attack en route to winning a division title. Singletary posted career-highs in rushing yards (898) and carries (216), but it wasn’t enough to bolster a 23rd-ranked unit that averaged 3.7 yards combined.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized during his final press conference of the season the need to upgrade the run game if Houston hopes to return to the postseason in a revamped competitive AFC South next fall.

“I think as you see as you go throughout this game, especially in the postseason, teams that win games – you’ve got to be able to run the football and sustain it,” Ryans said.  “And we weren’t able to accomplish that versus the Ravens, and it showed up. So, we [definitely] have areas to improve – many different areas – but the run game is one of those areas, for sure.”

The Texans own nine picks in April’s draft, including two second-round picks and two fourth-round picks.

Could Justin Madubuike evolve DeMeco Ryans’ Texans defense?

Breaking down the free agent fit for defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and the Houston Texans.

“The front, again, is everything for me, and we’ll invest a ton of resources into the front. If you want to play good defense, your front has to be elite, and that’s what I envision us playing: elite defensive football.”

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans finished his last press conference of the 2023 season addressing the front seven, where he had once shined as a player and now a hopeful focus for his football team.

“We have to get better there – and to get better there – you have to invest the resources there up front, so that’s what we’ll do. That’s where our focus is heading into the offseason is to make sure our front gives us an opportunity to win some games.”

It was an honest, and extremely fair, assessment of the Texans after their crushing 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson and running backs Justice Hill and Gus Edwards had combined for 206 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. They gradually wore down the Texans’ defensive front with little opportunity to rest as C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense could not stay off the field.

Ironically, this was a strength of the Texans for most of the year. They were one of the NFL’s best run defenses in 2023 and saw monster seasons from edge rushers Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard as well as the emergence of second year linebacker Christian Harris.

That leaves the question of where the front could improve primarily to two spots on the defense. The defensive tackle position, manned in ’23 by Maliek Collins and pending free agent Sheldon Rankins, and linebacker play alongside Harris. 

Defensive tackle plays a pivotal role in controlling the line of scrimmage and they’re asked to be versatile in DeMeco Ryans’ attacking front four – notably, one of the best in the game is set to reach free agency.

After terrorizing the Houston Texans with a sack in their Week 1 contest and two quarterback hits in the playoff matchup, Baltimore Ravensdefensive tackle Justin Madubuike is reaching the market after a career year.

Madubuike had an insane 13 sacks, 56 total tackles, 33 quarterback hits and 64 total pressures per Next Gen Stats. It was a season that earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and is going to yield to a significant pay day.

He was one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in football and found the quarterback at an exceptional rate. Madubuike’s 2.7% sack rate was the highest in the NFL amongst defensive tackles and a big part of why he led the position in sacks.

Part of this was due to Baltimore’s scheme, they let Madubuike play like a star player. He was employed on stunts and utilized in a way that made him dynamic and interruptive alongside players like former Texan Jadeveon Clowney. 

If the Texans want to improve the front, he represents an obvious solution in free agency.

Madubuike is a perfect fit for the attacking 3-technique defensive tackle that Ryans covets. He would impact the run game consistently while also giving the Texans a dynamic pass rusher on the interior that few NFL teams are able to employ.

This play, where Madubuike chases down Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, encompasses everything that Ryans has preached. The concept of “Swarm” and down-to-down effort that ultimately dictates the game. It’s easy to envision a brutally tough front led by Madubuike and the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Anderson.

His pass rush skillset would not only demand double teams to aid the rest of the line but his athleticism could be ideal for stunt plays with edges like Anderson and Jerry Hughes.

There are fair concerns about the potential addition, largely financial ones. A contract for Madubuike could cost over $20M APY in free agency. That would almost certainly eliminate Houston’s ability to bring back Greenard after his career season. Would Ryans more so covet the edge rusher or a defensive tackle that impacts the game in a whole different way? That’s uncertain.

There’s also the matter of regression. It’s a fair question for any player that breaks out like Madubuike.

Can the Texans expect Madubuike to perform like this into future years? He had never produced more than 5.5 sacks or 10 quarterback hits in a season prior to 2023. Even if he maintains his level of play at a high level, it’s likely that his sack percentage will decrease closer to league average moving forward as well simply off chance. 

Last year, the San Francisco 49ers signed Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a huge deal after a similar career season. He was an impactful player for the 49ers this year, but he did not touch double digit sacks the way he did in 2022.

If the Texans are comfortable financially with investing in a defensive tackle and understand they may see dominance, but never to this level, it could be a great fit for Houston.

The team has over $50 million to spend in free agency. It’ll be up to general manager Nick Caserio to decide how to invest if he wants to meet Ryans goals of improving the front. If Madubuike ultimately dodges the tag from Baltimore, he looks like an enticing solution to their problem.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023: No. 12 George Fant

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is George Fant, who played a key role at right tackle.

The Houston Texans had, by all accounts, an extremely successful 2023 campaign.

They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.

With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.

This series has already taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and Devin Singletary, and rookie Tank Dell. Today, attention turns towards right tackle George Fant.

How the Texans can improve their running game this offseason

The Texans face a pressing question heading into the offseason: How can Houston fix their run game?

Thirty-eight yards.

That’s how many rushing yards the Houston Texans left M&T Bank Stadium with after a devastating 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round.

Starting running back Devin Singletary had nine carries for just 22 yards. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was able to add nine more on scrambles while backup running back Dare Ogunbowale chipped in two carries for seven yards. Altogether, they had accounted for an abysmal ground performance that featured just one carry over 10 yards and left the passing game out to dry.

As such, it was no surprise what happened next. Houston was unable to manipulate any of Baltimore’s defensive looks and the variety of coverages and designer blitzes the Ravens proceeded to throw at Stroud were devastating. Houston scored only three offensive points the entire game.

It’s made the most pressing question for the Texans’ offseason a very apparent one to most fans as they transition towards free agency, the draft, and preparation for the 2024 season.

How can Houston fix their run game?

It’s going to be a multi-faceted question for head coach DeMeco Ryans, general manager Nick Caserio, and whoever is tasked to serve as Houston’s offensive coordinator in 2024. At this time, Bobby Slowik is still interviewing with multiple teams for their head coaching positions.

It’s likely that Slowik, an internal promotion such as quarterbacks coach Jerod Johnson, or another coach from the same style of offense that yielded Stroud his great success as a rookie. Under that scenario, the first thing that football operations may need to consider is simply patience.

Houston has multiple young offensive lineman on the roster that could potentially take leaps in 2024. Second-round pick Juice Scruggs will almost certainly improve as a second year NFL player and will have the added boost of being moved from left guard back to his natural position at center. Late round investments such as Jarrett Patterson and former Pittsburgh Steeler Kendrick Green showed promise prior to season ending injuries and will both play their second year in the system.

Finally, it would be amiss not to think about Kenyon Green. The former 15th overall pick in 2022 from Texas A&M, Green was drafted to be a tone-setting, run-mauling guard for head coach Lovie Smith’s team. He had a dreadful rookie season that was followed up by a sophomore campaign that never happened due to injury.

If Green is able to get healthy and play to the potential he was drafted, he could be exactly what the Texans need in 2024. There’s arguably no greater avenue for improvement than if their formerly elite prospect can become what draft pundits projected him to be.

Beyond the young players, history suggests everyone improves during Year 2 of the zone-based Shanahan scheme.

The 2018 San Francisco 49ers, 2020 Green Bay Packers, and 2023 Miami Dolphins all had enormous leaps in yards per carry during their second year under Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel, respectively. It’s a difficult scheme that both linemen and running backs naturally find more success in with more time to slow down and understand conceptually where the gains are going to come from.

Those factors alone, better health and expected internal improvement, are likely enough where Ryans and Slowik can expect to be better in 2024. That’s before factoring in potential external additions.

Houston has $72 million in salary cap space and it’s going to allow for a bevy of upgrades across the board. They also have a draft pick in every single round, including 23rd overall, and that could yield 2-3 new starters. There are significant needs on both sides of the football and it’s hard to imagine multiple investments that would aid the running game specifically, but a few are feasible.

The free agent running back class is a loaded one and includes names like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard. If the Texans want to make a splash and attempt to maximize their existing, expensive offensive line, plugging in a former All-Pro like Barkley or Jacobs would make a lot of sense. They could be asked to more reliably hit home runs while also picking up the available yardage they saw with Singletary in 2023.

A three-year, $30 million deal that expires as Stroud prepares to sign his quarterback extension could be the right type of deal for Houston to target for improving a “luxury” position like running back. The rival Indianapolis Colts recently completed a similar deal with their star back Jonathan Taylor.

Singletary could be a very affordable re-sign option for Houston, as well. He almost certainly would have topped 1,000 yards if the team had pivoted to his services earlier in the season. Whether it’s Singletary alone, or Singletary in conjunction with one of the names above, he could be part of a far more lethal 2024 rushing attack.

For the offensive line, it’s difficult to envision more huge investments considering what the team has already spent on their front-five. However, it’s possible they pursue a scheme specific fit as they did with Kendrick Green in the $3-6 million range in free agency for further competition at left guard.

Finally, the offense becoming more explosive will only help the run game as defenses are forced to account for the pass.

The team could make a big splash in free agency with a player such as Texas native Mike Evans or someone like Calvin Ridley. Caserio could also pursue a more affordable option such as former Bengal Tyler Boyd or former Commander Curtis Samuel. The draft also projects as a strong place for a receiver.

The Day 2 crop of receivers includes names like the Texas Longhorn duo Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, Washington’s James Polk and Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley. All of them would provide an affordable option to plug in next to Nico Collins and Tank Dell for a more explosive passing offense.

None of this is a simple equation for the front office. There’s a risk/reward element to consider and lots of questions about resource allocation to answer as they look to create a more comprehensive 2024 offense. However, for fans, the optimism is readily apparent with multiple avenues that they can await that improvement.

Texans go Bralen Trice in Draft Wire 2-round mock

The Houston Texans take Bralen Trice in the first round of the latest Draft Wire mock.

The Houston Texans had a fabulous season and added a playoff win to show real progress for the organization.

Even though the Texans are turned around, technically, they could be at a standstill if they don’t make moves in the offseason.

According to Brennen Rupp from the Draft Wire, one move that the Texans make is take Washington defensive end Bralen Trice with the No. 23 overall pick.

The pressure king. Trice finished the season with 62 pressures, which ranked third overall in college football. Pairing him with the explosive Will Anderson would give the Texans a pair of edge rushers to build around. 

The Texans already have a pair with Jonathan Greenard, who led the team with 12.5 sacks. Greenard is out of contract, and Houston would need to re-sign their former 2020 third-rounder or let him walk. A scenario wherein the Texans are picking Trice is one where Greenard is elsewhere.

The Texans could also re-sign Greenard and take Trice as a vast replacement for Jerry Hughes, who will be 36 next season.

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Texans pick Washington DE Bralen Trice in CBS Sports 2024 mock draft

The Houston Texans take a first-round defensive end in the latest CBS Sports mock draft.

Even though the Houston Texans are finally finished rebuilding, draft season never goes away, especially in the age of salary cap football. Teams are constantly involved in talent acquisition.

According to Josh Edwards from CBS Sports, the Texans use their projected No. 24 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft to take Washington defensive end Bralen Trice.

DeMeco Ryans is not going to settle for one or two pass rushers. He wants an Army. Bralen Trice paired with Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. is a solid foundation.

The thought that the Texans include Trice as part of a triumvirate with Greenard and Anderson is interesting as it presumes the Texans work out a deal to keep Greenard around. The former 2020 third-rounder is currently in the final year of his rookie deal, and no doubt his performance on-field is his best negotiating power. If the Texans believe Greenard is too pricey, they may take Trice nonetheless.

The Washington edge rusher has 28 combined tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery through 10 games for the Huskies, who face Oregon State on Nov. 18.

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Texans’ James Liipfert identifies WR Tank Dell’s biggest trait

Houston Texans asst. director of player personnel James Liipfert identified the trait that jumped out to them regarding WR Tank Dell.

The University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium and NRG Stadium are almost 10 miles away from each other. It may be the shortest scouting trip for the Houston Texans.

The offensive explosion orchestrated by quarterback Clayton Tune and wideout Tank Dell wasn’t going unnoticed as far as the Texans were unconcerned. The Cougars generated 455.8 yards total offense with Dell catching 113 for 1,407 yards and 17 touchdowns.

However, it wasn’t until the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in the beginning of February that Texans assistant director of player personnel James Liipfert start to recognize Dell’s best trait.

“One thing that Tank did which really showed itself I would say at the Senior Bowl was just how well he separated as a route runner,” Liipfert told reporters Nov. 9. “Tank is very, very quick and very sudden. Everyone likes to watch the one-on-ones and that kind of thing, but just the amount of separation he was getting out of his cuts and creating windows.”

The Texans selected Dell in the third round with the confidence what he had shown with the Cougars would translate to the NFL.

Said Liipfert: “I would just say his speed out of cuts, his ability to separate with his quickness in addition to a lot of other things, but I would those couple of things are at the top of the list as far as positive traits that he had that we really liked and kind of made him attractive to us to draft.”

Dell has given rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud a weapon through the first eight games. The 5-10, 165-pound receiver has caught 28 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

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