Linebacker isn't a definitive need for the Texans, but it's a position they could add depth to in the 2024 NFL draft.
The Texans ran a 4-2-5 defense on over 78% of their plays during the 2023 season. Meaning, they only played two linebackers on more than three-quarters of their defensive snaps. Their top “sub-package” was their 4-3-4 defense, which they ran fewer than 20% of the time.
If Houston pivots from this past season and wants to improve the talent of their top three linebackers in 4-3-4 looks, they would need to make a selection at the position early in the draft. The Texans have two picks in the second round but none in the first after they traded it to the Vikings.
Two linebackers could be available with either of Houston's second-round picks at No. 42 or 59:
Full draft target breakdowns: WR | RB | TE | OT | DB | DT | EDGE
Texans 2024 NFL draft LB targets
Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, LB
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds | 34-inch arms | 6-foot-8 wingspan
Combine numbers: 4.51 40-yard dash | 1.54 10-yard split | 34.5-inch vertical | 9-foot-10 broad jump
Cooper has a deadly delayed blitz with a receiver-like start/stop ability. He’s able to take offensive linemen straight on and discard them with relative ease. The former Aggies linebacker is also a tenacious tackler who's explosive shooting gaps.
He’s instinctual to see the play and break before the action. Cooper displays a slap-and-step technique to easily avoid pulling linemen. He’ll surprise quarterbacks by accelerating quickly around the back of one of his defensive linemen to unexpectedly shoot a gap, arriving in the quarterback’s vision too late for them to alter course.
His style of play would allow him to play outside linebacker with Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris in a three-linebacker formation for Houston and could eventually replace Al-Shaair as the middle linebacker. Cooper does need to be wrangled in a bit as he can over-pursue at times.
Edgerrin Cooper likes to lineup over the Center.
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 22, 2024
He has WR-style start/stop & routinely toys with the OL with it.
Instinctual to see pressure coming & know how Jayden is going to try & escape, heads that way before he does. pic.twitter.com/dkxk4RERLL
Payton Wilson, NC State, LB
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 233 pounds | 31-inch arms | 6-foot-4 wingspan
Combine numbers: 4.43 40-yard dash | 1.54 10-yard split | 34.5-inch vertical | 9-foot-11 broad
Wilson is a different type of linebacker than Cooper as his game is pursuit, effort and speed. He’s a weakside linebacker in a 4-3-4 as he’s best at flying around on plays and chasing running backs from the backside of the line.
He has added value in a league with talented dual-threat quarterbacks to spy the signal-caller and keep them from single-handedly beating the defense. Wilson can pick up and stay with running backs in coverage as well as get into the correct positioning in a zone. Coaches will love seeing him on film routinely pursuing plays 40-60 yards downfield as he doesn’t quit until the whistle.
His 30.5-inch arms are concerning as they show up on tape as an issue. He gets stuck on blocks and routinely goes high on tackles leading to him missing too often. Wilson turns when facing pulls and instead of fighting through or around blocks, he spins out and away from the block and play, consuming extra time to get back into the action.
Just starting Payton Wilson but looks as if strength is in pursuit with proper angles.
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 22, 2024
Arm length shows up. When balanced & prepared, can take on OL and shed.
Some clips from Notre Dame game on some of these points pic.twitter.com/H5Fzya9JAd
Who should Texans draft?
Houston would most likely need to secure Cooper with their pick at No. 42, if he makes it that far into the draft. There’s a chance Wilson could be available when the Texans get back on the clock with pick No. 59, though.
The biggest concern with selecting one of these players with one of Houston’s first two picks is that they would be using either them or Harris/Al-Shaair on the field together just 20% of the time. For the other 80%, only two of the trio would be on the field together. However, the addition of another linebacker would allow the Texans to rotate amongst each other more frequently in 4-2-5 and limit the falloff in talent if any of the trio were to get injured during the season.
Even if the Texans had a 100% increase in their 4-3-4 defensive reps in 2024 from 2023, they still would be selecting a player who is a part-time player over guys that would play double the snaps at their position, in a season where the team has huge aspirations. Most likely, the Texans could pivot from a player like Cooper to a linebacker with similar measurables and times that will be available a couple of rounds later, such as Tyrice Knight from UTEP.
