The ultimate goal for every NFL roster is to improve before Week 1.
It comes in free agency.
It comes with trades.
It’s finalized with the draft over three days and 150-plus picks.
Maybe the Houston Texans aren’t ready to land at the top of all Super Bowl odds, but DeMeco Ryans believes his roster is trending upward heading into Year 2.
“We’re very excited about all the guys we brought in,” Ryans said Saturday after the final pick of the 2024 NFL draft. “We feel like all these guys are quality players that add to the depth, add to the competition of our team.”
The Texans secured nine players over two days and five rounds. While without a first-round pick, it likely didn’t matter given the selection was used eventually to acquire Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. And with one of their seventh-round selections, the Texans elevated their rushing attack by trading for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon.
It’s hard to find a flaw with Houston’s makeup entering mini-camp. Are they perfect? No, but it’s April. You can see the vision without knowing the pathway. That’s where the Texans need to pivot next.
For now, here’s a look at where the Texans roster stands ahead of the draft including undrafted free agents):
- C.J. Stroud
- Davis Mills
- Case Keenum
- Tim Boyle
Not much is changing this offseason at the most important position. Well, maybe instead of throwing for 4,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, Stroud goes full-Goku with 5,000 yards and 50 scores. He’s set to take over the league in Year 2 and Las Vegas already is posting the odds of him being a dark horse MVP candidate.
Last season, Keenum started two games. Should anything happen to Stroud where his season ended, it’s hard to imagine that the 38-year-old is about to pull off a Joe Flacco 2.0 and recreate Minneapolis Miracle renamed the “Houston Heave.” Mills, who started most of 2021 and 2022, takes over as the new QB1, but neither is expected to see the field much.
- Joe Mixon
- Dameon Pierce
- Jawhar Jordan (R)
- Dare Ogunbowale
- J.J. Taylor
- Gerrid Doaks
- British Brooks (R)
Mixon headlines a hopeful revamped running back room after a dreadful 2023 season. It can’t be any worse right than 2.9 yards per run, right? That was the average of every other runner combined minus the recently departed Devin Singletary.
Mixon is coming off another 1,000-yard season, and he’ll benefit from playing behind a more sturdy offensive line. He also adds value on third down as a pass-catcher on third down and in the red zone. Pierce hopefully can find a middle ground from his rookie and sophomore season as the No. 2 rusher.
Jordan’s an interesting name to monitor through training camp. He’s a sixth-round pick, so there’s no promise he makes the final 53-man squad, but he offers upside in the return game.
- Andrew Beck
- Troy Hariston
Beck is entering the final year of a two-year deal and should be a lock to make the team entering offseason workouts. Houston’s one of the league’s only rosters that actively employs a fullback. Hairston, the Texans other fullback, missed the entirety of last season with a neck injury. He’s still learning the position and has a long road ahead.
- Nico Collins
- Stefon Diggs
- Tank Dell
- John Metchie III
- Robert Woods
- Noah Brown
- Xavier Hutchinson
- Steven Sims
- Jared Wayne
- Johnny Johnson III
- Jadon Janke (R)
- Jaxon Janke (R)
Houston walked into the draft knowing if it were to add a receiver, it had to be a talent falling fast. That didn’t happen, so the Texans didn’t worry about the pass-catching position. They shouldn’t either, given that after the Diggs trade, it’s one of the deepest position groups.
Should they remain healthy, the Texans will have one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFL. Metchie also is expected to have a more prominent role after showing improvements late last season. The question turns to which man is the odd one out among the final seven. Woods is the veteran of the locker room. Hutchinson is still growing into a decent depth receiver. Sims offers special team values, so he could make the 53 as the returner only.
- Dalton Schultz
- Brevin Jordan
- Cade Stover (R)
- Teagan Quitoriano
Schultz was always coming back to Houston on a new deal after his promising campaign as Stroud’s top target across the middle. He’s now getting paid to be the No. 1 option on a fresh three-year, $36 million extension.
Behind Schultz, there will be competition for the last two spots. Jordan, who is entering a contract year, had some big moments in 2023 and is arguably the top receiving threat in the red zone. Quitoriano is great at blocking, but he’s missed over a dozen games in two years. Stover should make the roster given his draft position, but he might be the long-term answer at tight end after 2024.
- Laremy Tunsil (OT)
- Tytus Howard (OT)
- Kenyon Green (OG)
- Shaq Mason (OG)
- Juice Scruggs (OC)
- Jarrett Patterson (OL)
- Charlie Heck (OT)
- Blake Fisher (R) (OT)
- Kendrick Green (OG)
- Nick Broeker (OG)
- David Sharpe (OT)
- LaDarius Henderson (R) (OL)
Injuries factored into the Tecans’ 10-7 AFC South-winning record, so Caserio made sure add more adquate depth this offseason. Houston should be content with its starting five, but the additions of Fisher and Henderson raise the level of expectation.
DeMeco Ryans and Caserio said they’d want the best five linemen out on the field, regardless of age or expierence. Fisher likely is a long-term plan at tackle, but he could prove to be a promising starter entering Year 1. Howard is a tackle by trade, but the Texans could consider shifting him back inside. And Kenyon Green is entering a critical Year 3 after missing his entire second season with a shoulder injury.
The Texans have depth in the trenches. That’s a win for the organization.
- Will Anderson Jr. (DE)
- Danielle Hunter (DE)
- Denico Autry (DL)
- Folorunso Fatukasi (DT)
- Derek Barnett (DE)
- Tim Settle Jr. (DT)
- Khalil Davis (DT)
- Mario Edwards Jr. (DE)
- Kurt Hinish (DT)
- Dylan Horton (DE)
- Solomon Byrd (R) (DE)
- Marcus Harris (R) (DT)
- Ali Gaye (DE)
- Marcus Haynes (DE)
- McTelvin Ingram (DT)
- Pheldarius Payne (R) (DT)
From a pass-rushing standpoint, the Texans have built an elite room headlined by the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Anderson. Hunter is a playmaker who consistently finds his way into the backfield, finishing top-five in sacks and tackles for loss last season. Atury can do a bit of everything from the five and three-tech.
Houston’s biggest weak point remains defensive tackle. It was a need the team wanted to address earlier than the seventh round, but most of the quality starting-caliber talent came off the board before Houston was on the pick at No. 42. At least Caserio signed Fatukasi and Settle to recoup the losses.
Harris is a really intriguing Day 3 option and could end up starting part-time with a promising training camp.
- Christian Harris
- Azeez Al-Shaair
- Henry To’oTo’o
- Neville Hewitt
- Jacob Phillips
- Jamal Hill (R)
- Del’Shawn Phillips
- Max Tooley (R)
- Tarique Barnes (R)
Linebacker was a strength in terms of starting talent entering Thursday night, but Houston improved its depth by selecting Hill. He’s a safety who began the transition over to linebacker last season, so he should provide upside in coverage.
Harris and Al-Shaair remain the peremenant fixutres up the middle. The former played phenomenally over the second half of the season and came up huge in the wild-card round with his pick-six. Al-Shaair, who inked a three-year deal worth $34 million this offseason, thrived under Ryans in San Francisco but also proved he could work outside the system, totaling 163 tackles last year in Tennessee.
To’oTo’o enters camp as the favorite to start as the No. 3, but Phillips’ health could change that.
- Derek Stingley Jr.
- Jeff Okudah
- Kamari Lassiter (R)
- C.J. Henderson
- Desmond King
- Myles Bryant
- Mike Ford
- Lonnie Johnson
- D’Angelo Ross
- Kris Boyd
- Troy Pride
Lassiter, Houston’s first pick in the draft, fits everything Ryans is looking for defensively. He’s physical, tough, fluid, and versatile with an ‘Alpha Dog’ mentality. He’ll likely be competing for starting cornerback, opposite of Stingley, with Okudah to begin the year, but he also could start in the slot given his previous track record..
Is this the year where Stingley solidifies himself as a top-10 defensive back? He’s been great when active, but he’s also missed over 10 games in two years due to injury. Last season, Stingley notched five interceptions and totaled 10 breakups. Those numbers would be higher if a lower-body concern wasn’t a thing.
Keep an eye on the nickel position. King isn’t promised a roster spot after being cut last August. Anyone stepping up in the role might surpass the former All-Pro returner.
- Jalen Pitre
- Jimmie Ward
- Calen Bullock (R)
- M.J. Stewart
- Eric Murray
- Brandon Hill
Bullock might end up being Houston’s top draft pick. It certainly was a favorite of Ryans and Caserio, who were seen celebrating like mad men after the card was turned in. Keep in mind Caserio has cooked in the third round all three drafts, so the USC safety is looking to keep the streak alive.
Safety was one major liability at times last season due to injury. Ward, Murray and Stewart all ended the season on injured reserve. Pitre struggled in coverage deep and saw regression in turnovers. Bullock should compete for first-team reps by midseason, but he’s likely Ward’s long-term replacement after 2024.
Kicker: Ka’imi Fairbairn
Punter: Tommy Townsend
Long snapper: Jon Weeks
Townsend replaces Cameron Johnston, who inked a new deal with the Steelers this offseason. Nothing else needs fixing after free agency here.