To this point in the NFL offseason, we’ve seen trades, free agency and the NFL Draft. Organized team activities (OTAs) have started up as well with rosters either maxed out at 90 men or close to it.
It’s around this time that early assessments are made on the offseason to date for each of the 32 franchises. Different metrics are typically used with consideration given to free agent signings, departures, draft picks, cap space, continuity, etc. All of these are used to rank the teams in order of most improved rosters.
As with any early grading exercise, it’s highly subjective based on personal evaluation, intel from teams and projections on every move. It’s also a difficult exercise to attempt to view all 32 rosters and every move with a complete understanding of the intent for the present and the future.
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Here we’ll lay out, in detail, what the Texans have done this offseason and our perceived reasoning and expectations. We'll also examine of the roster to date — where they’ve improved and areas of concerns that remain heading into the summer.
How does Texans 2024 offseason rank among NFL?
The Sporting News, Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report all completed grading for each of the NFL teams. Here’s a quick review of where they have the Texans ranked and how they compare to the teams listed ahead of them.
The Sporting News
The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer gave the Texans an A-. Houston was one of six teams with an A- but finished eighth among the rest of the league. Here's what Iyer had to say about the Texans:
The Texans added more skill support for C.J. Stroud in Year 2 with Mixon and Diggs, winning veterans from other AFC contenders. DeMeco Ryans' defense got five new starters, trying to get tougher vs. the run and also keep the pass-rush pop intact. Okudah and Lassiter are sneaky secondary upgrades.
NFL offseason grades 2024: Ranking all 32 teams, from best (Steelers) to worst (Cowboys)
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox also gave the Texans an A-. Houston was one of four teams to receive that grade, along with the Raiders, Chargers and Rams. The Bears, Steelers and Eagles scored A+ with two teams, the Lions and Buccaneers, grading out with As for the offseason.
The Texans' Super Bowl window is now open, as they'll have Stroud on a rookie contract for at least the next two seasons. (He'll be extension-eligible in 2026.) General manager Nick Caserio wasted little time in maximizing the value of Stroud's rookie contract this offseason.
Houston added several quality veterans, including Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Denico Autry. The Texans also found some potential earlier contributors in the draft despite trading away their first-round pick.
Rookie corner Kamari Lassiter, rookie tackle Blake Fisher, and rookie safety Calen Bullock could all see significant roles this season. Tight end Cade Stover should give Stroud yet another capable pass-catcher.
None of this means that the Texans should be considered the new Super Bowl favorites. There's a good chance that at least a few of the moves don't work out—we all remember how the Philadelphia Eagles 2011 "dream team" panned out. Still, we have to applaud Houston's aggressive approach.
MORE: Texans boast 3 young stars on PFF's top-25 under 25
Pro Football Focus
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus gave the Texans a B+. Houston was one of eight teams with a B+. Nine teams graded higher than the Texans, which put them tied with teams ranked between 10-17.
I was worried about the Texans losing Jonathan Greenard in free agency, which did happen. However, they replaced him with Danielle Hunter, a huge plus.
I also liked the addition of Azeez Al-Shaair and the decision to trade for Joe Mixon to replace Devin Singletary. Folorunso Fatukasi, Denico Autry and Jeff Okudah were all solid new players to get into the depth chart, too.
Houston followed it up with a solid draft of Kamari Lassiter, Blake Fisher and Calen Bullock. The team continues to trend in the right direction.
The A- from The Sporting News and Bleacher Report seems fair considering the on-paper top-5 offense for the Texans. The B+ is only one level down from the A- but the similar grading to teams around the middle of the league seems off base when considering everything the Texans have accomplished this offseason.
Texans:
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) May 24, 2024
-Retain OC
-Retain QB coach
-Re-sign Schultz
-Trade for Diggs
-Trade for Mixon
-Signed Danielle Hunter
-Signed Azeez Al-Shaair
-Signed Denico Autry
-Upgraded OT depth (Blake Fisher)
-Get back several OL from injury
-Upgraded TE depth (Cade Stover)
- 2 of first 3 picks in… https://t.co/jB1FHkuuEB
Texans 2024 offseason breakdown & assessment
Here's how the Texans look heading into 2024 following their biggest offseason moves, additions and retentions.
Front office
General manager Nick Caserio starts his fourth year with the Texans. After going through three head coaches in his first three seasons in Houston, he has a head coach returning for Year 2 for the first time.
Head coach
DeMeco Ryans put his stamp on the organization in his first season in the role. He has complete buy-in from the top down with the franchise that he started his playing career with back in 2006.
Offensive coordinator & QB coach
Bobby Slowik was a hot name around the NFL during the hiring cycle for head coaches. He ended up returning to Houston and with a raise for 2024. Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson was equally as busy making the rounds to interview to become an offensive coordinator before he returned to a bump in pay as well.
It’s not a small deal that the Texans kept in-house both pivotal coaches to quarterback C.J. Stroud’s success. Instead of being another team’s head coach and offensive coordinator, the Texans retained them in the same role for a second year with Stroud and the desired continuity that Ryans and Caserio wanted.
If Slowik does become a head coach in 2025, the Texans could promote Johnson to offensive coordinator because they retained him for another year. Both are major retentions and should be factored into the Texans' 2024 offseason success.
MORE: Texans offensive position grades post-2024 NFL Draft
Special teams
Frank Ross is one of the better special teams coordinators in the NFL. Ross was hired by the Texans in 2021 and has lasted through all three coaches with Caserio. Ross and the Texans run the special teams’ unit like a true third of the roster with difference-makers and an identity.
Houston re-signed linebacker Neville Hewitt, running back Dare Ogunbowale and cornerback D’Angelo Ross this offseason and traded for receiver Ben Skowronek. Ogunbowale (seven) and Ross (eight) finished second and third on the Texans in 2023 in special teams tackles. Hewitt not only led the team with 13 but that was also good enough to tie his new teammate Skowronek and four others for the second-most in the league.
In 2022, safety M.J. Stewart (14), Ogunbowale (11), Hewitt (10) and safety Eric Murray (10) were all in the top five on the Texans in special teams tackles with Blake Cashman (11). In 2021, Hewitt led the team with nine special teams tackles and cornerback Desmond King II tied for fifth with seven. Hewitt, Skowronek, Ogunbowale, Ross, Murray, Stewart and King are all still on the 90-man roster for 2024. The unit is set to be one of the best in the NFL.
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Houston added linebacker Jamal Hill in the sixth round of the draft and running back British Brooks as an undrafted free agent afterward. Both can factor into special teams and add to the unit this season.
Also on special teams, the Texans re-signed their long snapper Jon Weeks who is heading into his 15th season and doesn’t miss action. Houston re-signed their kicker, Ka’imi Fairbairn, and signed former Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend to replace Cameron Johnston.
Quarterbacks
Bleacher Report did a great job of understanding the Texans window with what Stroud showed as a rookie and the reason to make the additions to pursue a Super Bowl while they’re saving on his contract for at least another two years.
It’s a similar parallel to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks when he found instant success and the team could add weapons around him before his salary ballooned up and limited the ability to splurge on key personnel.
MORE: Is CJ Stroud already a top-5 QB?
Stroud gets Year 2 with Ryans, Slowik and Johnson. He also gets improved weapons and depth. I understand the concern that any time a rookie shines in Year 1 that he may struggle in his follow-up season when the league has more film on him. The addition of the weapons combined with retaining key personnel gives Stroud extra cushion to succeed.
If teams are being evaluated for having a major positive gain due to the projection of drafting a rookie quarterback high in the draft, then the No. 2 overall from 2023 coming off one of the best rookie seasons should be projected for even more growth.
Backup quarterback Davis Mills and Case Keenum also returned for another year with Houston’s staff and in the same offense.
Running backs
The Texans franchise has struggled to find a top-of-the-league running back before and after Arian Foster. While Devin Singletary stepped up big for the Texans this past season, the addition of Joe Mixon gives the offense a complete back with his receiving ability that they’ve lacked since Foster.
Mixon can rush for 1,000-plus yards and double-digit touchdowns and contribute 50-plus receptions and a few touchdowns through the air. It’s another upgrade for Stroud heading into his second season. He has put in a ton of work in the NFL and Houston may opt to keep him fresh for the long season and potential playoff run by allowing third-year back Dameon Pierce and rookie sixth-round Jawhar Jordan to share the workload.
Ryans spoke recently and mentioned that he likes the shape that Pierce has returned in and envisions him as part of a potent one-two punch with Mixon. At a minimum, Pierce should factor in on short yardage and goal line situations as well as on returns with the new kickoff rules.
The addition of Mixon and the combination of Pierce and Jordan is a much more diversely talented group than what the Texans offense had at the position last season. Ogunbowale or Brooks should compete for the fourth back spot if the Texans keep that many as they both would provide stellar special teams play and added depth at the position.
Wide receivers
The receiver group may not only have the top trio in the league but also the deepest talent at the position. Stroud found instant success with fellow rookie Tank Dell last season and with breakout star Nico Collins in his third season. Dell only played in 11 games before he fractured his fibula.
Now, Dell returns from the fractured fibula and a gunshot wound he recently suffered as an innocent bystander. Dell’s not the only talented receiver that’s getting healthier as 2022 second-round pick John Metchie III started to come on towards the end of last season and has been receiving great reviews from Stroud on how the wideout has looked this offseason.
A healthy Dell and Metchie with Collins another year more developed is a scary young core. Throwing in a veteran with the talent of Stefon Diggs is insane. Behind the four of Diggs, Collins, Dell and Metchie are several other receivers that will be on NFL rosters but all can’t fit in Houston.
Noah Brown, Ben Skowronek, Robert Woods, Steven Sims and Xavier Hutchinson give the Texans five more receivers to compete for the last 2-3 roster spots. It’s truly an embarrassment of riches for an offense that blended continuity with calculated upgrades at two key offensive positions (RB | WR) for their second-year quarterback.
Tight ends
At tight end Houston re-signed Dalton Schultz and moved up in the draft to secure Stroud’s college tight end, Cade Stover. It gives Stroud the continuity with his starting tight end while also upgrading the backup position and 12-personnel with a tight end he has chemistry with from their Ohio State days.
Instead of Brevin Jordan and Teagan Quitoriano being one injury away from starting like was the case in 2023, they could be competing with each other for a roster spot depending on how many players the Texans keep at the position.
Offensive tackles
When healthy Houston has two talented bookend tackles in Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard. The Texans found insurance and long-term stability in the draft with the second-round selection of swing tackle Blake Fisher.
Fisher’s ability to contribute in 2024 gives the Texans added versatility and depth to put their best five offensive linemen on the field. If Houston doesn’t solidify the left guard position, Howard could move back to left guard with Fisher starting at right tackle and Charlie Heck as the swing tackle. David Sharpe would provide added depth.
Interior offensive line
Kenyon Green and Juice Scruggs could provide massive upgrades to the offensive line and complete the unit. Green is now healthy and has returned in great shape for his third season. Scruggs looks ready to lock down the middle of the line.
If Green struggles, Scruggs could move to left guard with Jarrett Patterson taking over at center. If they go deeper in their depth they could consider Kendrick Green or move Howard to left guard as previously mentioned.
After all of the injuries to the Texans' offensive line in 2023, drastic improvement should be the expectation. Houston has wisely set their line up to have options in case both plan A and plan B don’t come to fruition.
Overall offensive assessment
Houston is set to be better at every position on offense based on continuity, growth and the addition of talent and depth. There’s no area on the offensive side of the ball in which they shouldn’t be improved.
MORE: What the Texans defense will look like in 2024
Defensive ends
Houston replaced Jonathan Greenard with Danielle Hunter. They brought back Derek Barnett who put up 3.5 sacks in five starts last year with the Texans to end the regular season and first week of the playoffs.
Denico Autry came over from the Texans' divisional rivals the Titans. Autry can play on the edge in a rotation with the top three at the position of Will Anderson Jr., Hunter and Barnett. Anderson Jr. enters Year 2 after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and will now play with an upgraded unit surrounding him.
Dylan Horton starts working back after being in remission and finishing his last treatment for Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Rookie seventh-round selection Solomon Byrd will compete with Horton and undrafted free agent Pheldarius Payne for reps behind the top four. Payne will compete on the edge and the interior in a role similar to Autry’s.
Defensive tackles
Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins will see their starting roles split into more of a committee. Autry will provide a dynamic rush from the interior as well as on the edge. Foley Fatukasi steps in as the run-stuffer. Tim Settle can play at the one- and three-technique on the inside. Mario Edwards was also signed and can play at end and tackle as well.
Houston re-signed Khalil Davis and has Kurt Hinish returning as well. The Texans drafted Marcus Harris in the seventh round and he has the potential to develop into a key contributor at the position. Payne could get in the mix here as well as on the edge.
The Texans don’t have the biggest names at defensive tackle but they have more than enough talent and depth on their legit, three-deep at the position to more than surpass their former starters’ production.
Linebackers
The reclamation project of Blake Cashman went great in Houston. Now, they’ve brought in Jacob Phillips with the hopes that he could find similar success at linebacker and/or on special teams.
Denzel Perryman also departed but his position was upgraded on the Texans roster with Ryans’ former linebacker from San Francisco Azeez Al-Shaair. Christian Harris returns for his third season after showing that he’s an ascending talent in 2023.
Behind Harris and Al-Shaair the depth is thin with Phillips and second-year linebacker Henry To’oTo’o as the most likely to compete to be the third linebacker and top backup.
The Texans know they are thin at linebacker as seen by their drafting one in the sixth round in Jamal Hill along with using a third of their six-man undrafted free agent class on the position with the signings of Max Tooley and Tarique Barnes.
Hewitt is the key special teamer at the position but new addition Del’Shawn Phillips and holdover Jake Hansen will also be competing for roster spots and are predominantly special teamers as well.
The top-end talent has been upgraded but without a breakout from To’oTo’o, a run of health for Jacob Phillips or an impressive rookie performance, the position could become a concern with an injury or two.
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Cornerbacks
First off, Derek Stingley Jr. is ready to be a star. There’s no concern with any area of his game other than his past run of missed games. If he plays in at least 14 games this year, he’s going to be mentioned as one of the top corners in the NFL by the end of the season.
Opposite of him, the Texans have replaced a talented Steven Nelson with a second-round rookie in Kamari Lassiter and two former top-10 picks in Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson.
There’s a chance that Okudah and Henderson could play to the potential that made them each top picks just a few years ago. They’re in a defense that can get pressure early and often. That type of constant pressure would limit how long the speedy, long corners would have to cover.
Lassiter could prove to win the competition on the outside with Okudah and Henderson or he could upgrade the slot cornerback position. In the slot he’d mostly be competing with Desmond King II and Myles Bryant.
Lassiter’s versatility gives the Texans an opportunity to upgrade the position overall but it’ll be a tough ask to expect that Okudah and/or Henderson could improve the level of play over what Nelson had provided the last two seasons.
Safeties
Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre return to the safety position. They get a new addition in third-round pick Calen Bullock. Like Lassiter, Bullock is a versatile defensive back who can contribute at multiple positions.
If Ward can stay healthy and Pitre has his expected Year 3 breakout at safety, it’d free Bullock up to help at other spots on the roster. He could play as the third safety in big dime coverage, play in the slot or even get in the competition on the outside at cornerback with his prototypical length and speed for the position.
Overall defensive assessment
The defensive end position is the equivalent of the wide receiver position on offense. The top-end talent and depth of the top four is dangerous. The defensive tackle position is more of a push with multiple players with varying traits replacing two former starters.
The linebacker position is risky with the lack of proven depth in a defense behind their top two players. The safety position was upgraded with the rookie addition for depth and the future but they’re betting on Ward to stay healthy, which he hasn’t been able to do and for Pitre’s leap in play. However, if Ward gets injured or Pitre struggles, they have Bullock to step in.
The biggest projection and concerns surround the cornerback position. Out of special teams, offense and defense, the Texans improved in every regard and every position with the exception of one or two . The cornerback and defensive tackle positions are the only areas, outside of linebacker depth, that can be questioned as positions in which Houston didn’t get better in 2024.
To improve in almost every area after the season the Texans had is a scary thought. There may be five teams that had a better offseason than the Texans but even that will take some hard convincing.
While these conversations may be heavily based on opinion, it’s a hard stretch to get to where you believe the moves Houston made in 2024 were bested by or on par with half of the NFL.
