Key Texans position battle should come down to these two players

The Texans have two stud starters at linebacker for their base 4-2-5 defense in Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris.

Al-Shaair is a new addition at the position after the departures of Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman, while Harris blossomed in his second year in the NFL with Houston. Behind the top duo are eight other linebackers set to compete to start as the third linebacker in 4-3-4 looks and be the top backups to Harris and Al-Shaair. The rest will be mostly special teamers that provide depth at the position.

Two guys stand out as the top two options behind Harris and Al-Shaair. They are newcomer Jacob Phillips and second-year player Henry To’oTo’o. 

Here’s how they fit and a linebacker overview as a position for 2024.

Key Texans positional battle should come down to these two players

Texans’ head coach and former linebacker DeMeco Ryans has remade the linebacker position in his image. Two of the top four at the position are from his alma mater of Alabama: Harris was drafted in the third round the year before Ryans took over as head coach and To’oTo’o was picked in the fifth round in Ryans’ first draft with the Texans in 2023.

Ryans knows what he wants in a linebacker and what he expects from them. He brought Al-Shaair over from Tennessee after coaching him as his positional coach and then defensive coordinator from 2019-2022 with the 49ers. 

TEXANS 2024 season: 53-man roster prediction | 2024 opponents | Strength of schedule

Here's how the Texans linebacker group should be broken down in 2024, highlighted by the teams' two starters in base defense, two backups and special teamers. We'll also explain the roles of the rookies heading into the year.

Texans starting linebackers

• Azeez Al-Shaair
• Christian Harris

Texans top backup linebackers

• Jacob Phillips
• Henry To’oTo’o

Jacob Phillips

The Texans hit a home run with the trade of a 2023 sixth-round pick for Cashman during the 2022 season. Houston gave Cashman a one-year extension of $2.3 million before he cashed in during free agency with the Vikings on a three-year $22.5 million contract.

The Texans found a deal in Cashman by betting on him to stay mostly healthy in Houston after having his first three seasons cut short due to injuries. Cashman started seven games and played in 14 over his first three years out of a possible 49 games. The bet paid off for Houston and Cashman as he started 13 games this past season and played in 30 of a possible 34 regular season games. 

Can lightning strike twice? That’s what the Texans are hoping with Phillips, a third-round selection for the Browns in the 2020 draft. He struggled with injuries over his first three seasons, like Cashman, in which he started eight games while playing in 20 of a possible 50. The main difference is that in Year 4, Phillips was injured again and missed all of 2023, running that number up to 20 games of action out of a possible 67.

The Texans are betting on Phillips to find health in Houston similarly to Cashman. They didn’t have to give up a draft pick and the contract was just for one year and $1,150,000. It sounds like a roll of the dice but it’s not a bad gamble and one that can pay out an immense return. Here's Phillips' injury history:

It’s been a tough run on injuries but just like with Cashman, the talent is apparent. Cashman totaled 40 tackles with three TFLs and three QB hits as a rookie in five starts and seven games on 83% of the defensive snaps before suffering a torn labrum and fractured shoulder in practice. Comparably, Phillip's last season of action (2022) saw him start four games and play in seven in which he totaled 46 tackles, two TFLs, two QB hits and two sacks on 72% of the defensive snaps. 

The parallel is apparent between Cashman and Phillips’ paths to Houston. The difference is that Phillips has the desired length for the position that Cashman lacked. Al-Shaair and Harris each have arms around 32.5 inches with wingspans slightly above 6-foot-6, as does Phillips in both regards. Cashman has arms slightly over 30 inches with a wingspan slightly over 6-foot-1.5.

Pre-draft, Phillips had other measurements and timings of 6-foot-3, 229 pounds, 10-inch hands, 39-inch vertical, 10-foot-6 broad jump and a 4.66 40-yard dash with a 1.59 10-yard split. 

Before the injury in 2022, Phillips looked in command of the defense, making sure everyone was lined up correctly, getting in position in coverage and in gaps, while starting and playing 100% of the defensive snaps between Weeks 4-6. In Week 3 he played 78% of the defensive snaps. During that four-game span of Weeks 3-6 he totaled 34 tackles, two sacks, two TFLs and two QB hits. 

If Phillips stays healthy this season he’s the most likely to play with Harris and Al-Shaair in three linebacker sets. He’d also be the top backup behind this duo if either were to miss time. The talent is there, it's all about availability. If he’s able to play, he’ll shine. 

Henry To’oTo’o

Ryans got him and Harris another 'Bama backer in this past year’s draft in the fifth round with the To’oTo’o selection. This was after trading up and taking his former teammate defensive end Will Anderson Jr. with the third pick overall. In 2021, while all were playing for Alabama, the trio totaled 292 tackles between them with To’oTo’o (111) leading the group, followed by Anderson Jr. (101) and Harris (80).

In 15 games that season they also combined to total an amazing 50 TFLs and 29 sacks. For To’oTo’o’s part, he totaled between that season and his last in 2022 at Alabama, 205 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. To’oTo’o matches the desired length at the position for the Texans with arms just shy of 33 inches and a wingspan about a half an inch shy of the 6-foot-6 mark that we see with Harris, Al-Shaair and Phillips.

To’oTo’o has already proved that he can do it at the NFL level. He had a stretch between Weeks 3-6 this past season in which he played 95% of the snaps or more in each game. During that four-game span, he totaled 35 tackles, two PDs and a TFL. In his rookie year, he played 43% of the defensive snaps and 46% of the special teams snaps in six starts and 14 games of action.

To’oTo’o has added value to two of the three phases of the team. He’s a dependable backup and special teamer. He’ll be competing with Phillips for the top spot behind Harris and Al-Shaair. It’ll be tough for any of the rookies or special teamers to unseat him among the top four of the current group.

Texans special team linebackers

• Neville Hewitt
• Del’Shawn Phillips
• Jake Hansen

The Texans and their special teams coordinator Frank Ross treat the unit as a true third of the team and keep around difference-makers. Hewitt tied for second in the NFL in total special teams tackles (13) with new teammate receiver Ben Skowronek in 2023 and four others. The Texans brought Hewitt back for the unit while adding Del’Shawn Phillips to the returning Jake Hansen. 

In 2023, Hewitt (84%), Hansen (82%) and Phillips (79%) all played predominantly on special teams with each seeing over 75% of the special teams’ snaps. Collectively the trio totaled only 127 defensive plays in 2023 with none of them seeing more than 7% of the defensive snaps this past year. That should continue in 2024.

Texans 2024 rookie linebackers

• Jamal Hill
• Max Tooley
• Tarique Barnes

The rookie additions include a sixth-round draft pick in Hill who should be a stud on special teams and two undrafted free agents in Tooley and Barnes. Both have the potential to factor into the roster down the road. 

Tooley has the age, maturity and style of play which could put him in the mix as more than a special teamer. Tooley has the potential to make the roster and compete for a top backup spot behind Phillips and To’oTo’o.

Texans projected LB depth chart

Harris and Al-Shaair are the starters in 4-2-5. Jacob Phillips is the top backup and favorite to play alongside them in 4-3-4 looks. To’oTo’o is solid depth behind the top trio and ready to step in if Phillips struggles to stay on the field.

Hewitt is fifth behind them in a special teams-only role, unless forced into action due to injuries. He totaled three defensive plays all season this past year. Hansen will most likely be unseated by Jamal Hill for his special teams role and developmental upside on defense. Tooley and Barnes will compete to show their worth on special teams and on defense and one of the duo should edge out Del’Shawn Phillips on the roster. Tooley has the maturity and style of play to contribute immediately if forced into action on the defense. Barnes should be slid to the practice squad if he clears waivers for added developmental depth. 

Assuming everyone comes out of the summer completely healthy, the positional roster should align like this:

• Azeez Al-Shaair
• Christian Harris
• Jacob Phillips
• Henry To’oTo’o
• Neville Hewitt
• Jamal Hill
• Max Tooley

Ideally, the Texans would keep six and be able to sneak Tooley and Barnes onto the practice squad. One or both might not make it through waivers. Here they keep seven to protect Tooley and keep added depth at linebacker behind two special teams specialists. That being said, it’ll be extremely hard to keep seven linebackers on the Texans’ 2024 roster, particularly with needed defensive tackle depth and defensive backs.