The Texans seem to be in a perfect – and unusual spot – heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
A team on the rise without any glaring needs but armed with enough draft capital to make some moves for the right player. Who can honestly say a year ago that they thought the struggling Texans would be in this position so soon?
But with nine picks – none of which are currently in the first round – spread between the second and seventh rounds, the Texans still have a chance to improve their roster, even after some big acquisitions this offseason that included trading for wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon and then adding pass rusher Danielle Hunter.
The Texans are in the desired position to be able to draft for a need or the best player available.
“Just because we’ve added guys at a lot of different positions, that doesn’t stop us from evaluating every position and looking at every avenue to continue to upgrade our team and continue to get our team better,” said second-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, who led the Texans to a stunning turnaround that included a 10-7 record, AFC South title and AFC Wildcard win in the playoffs last season against the Cleveland Browns. “So, for the draft process, our process will be exactly the same. Who can we add to our team that adds value to our locker room and adds value to us on the field?”
That seems to be the million-dollar question because, as the draft order currently stands, the Texans don’t have a selection until the second round, where they have two picks (42nd and 59th) in the NFL Draft that starts Thursday and lasts through Saturday in Detroit. The pre-draft consensus seems to be the Texans will look to add talent and depth on the defensive side of the football this draft.
The early predictions have the Texans taking a cornerback like Tulane’s Lance Robinson to pair opposite Derek Stingley or maybe even an interior defensive lineman like Michigan’s Kris Jenkins to add depth along the defensive front after losing a few key players to free agency.
However, with two picks in the fourth and seventh rounds and also armed with a third-rounder (86th overall), the Texans could package some of those picks to move up either in the late first round or earlier in the second round. Players like Notre Dame’s Cam Hart, Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry could be available for the right trade assets.
Don’t expect the Texans to offer many clues, but we know the organization and general manager Nick Caserio are known for wheeling and dealing during the three-day draft. The Texans started last year’s trade maneuvering giving up one of their 2024 first-round picks to acquire defensive end Will Anderson Jr. with the third overall pick of the draft, just one slot after taking quarterback C.J. Stroud.
By the time the night was over, the Texans had made eight trades to bring the team’s draft weekend trades under Caserio to 14.
“As it pertains to the draft, I’m certainly excited about the opportunity we have in front of us,” said Caserio, who this offseason sent the Texans’ other first-round pick to Minnesota for a second and sixth-round pick this year and another second-round selection 2025. “We have nine picks as of Thursday night. We’ll see if that changes or stays static. But given our history, it’ll probably change at some point.”
The reality is as good as things look on paper for the Texans, there is an understanding that they keep building and adding depth to keep up with the teams in the division that are trying to improve.
“Offensively, defensively, we’re trying to build the best team for 2024,” Ryans said. “And that’s what myself and Nick [Caserio] – that’s what our job is – to add the right pieces, acquire the right players, to have us go out and be our best in 2024.”
