Following a 10-7 regular season and playoff appearance, the Texans’ roster turnover may surprise you.
The team has spoken about continuity recently, but the Texans are on par with franchises who have new regimes when looking at how many players from the 2023 roster will return in 2024. Numbers don’t tell the whole story, so we’ll look at the data combined with where the moves have left the 2024 edition of the roster by position.
Here’s a look at how many players returned in 2024 — from re-signings and new additions to those who left. And how that compares to the rest of the NFL.
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Texans 2024 roster turnover among highest in NFL
The Texans rank 29th in percentage of roster returning in 2024, according to Over The Cap. Houston returned 62.2% of their 2023 roster this season.
| Team | % Returning |
|---|---|
| Commanders | 57.0% |
| Chargers | 58.2% |
| Dolphins | 61.0% |
| Texans | 62.2% |
| Steelers | 62.5% |
| Titans | 63.2% |
| Bills | 63.3% |
| Vikings | 63.8% |
| Ravens | 64.7% |
| Eagles | 64.9% |
Two of the lowest teams listed are the Commanders and Chargers — who both are under new regimes with expected turnover as they look to construct the roster to their liking. The only other team with a lower percentage of returning players is the Dolphins.
Miami and Houston don’t have new regimes as it relates to this year, but it wasn’t too long ago that both of the former 49ers’ coordinators, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, were hired into their new jobs. This is only McDaniel’s third season in Miami and Ryans’ second in Houston.
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The Texans mention wanting continuity on the roster. But by just looking at the numbers it would appear to be the opposite. That’s if we take nothing else into account, though. Houston did retain offensive continuity by retaining offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and quarterback coach Jerrod Johnson and the Texans didn’t lose any receivers. Instead, they added a premier talent at the position in Stefon Diggs. The offensive line has better depth as does the tight end group.
The only true lack of continuity is at the running back position where Houston needed to upgrade their depth. They did that by switching Devin Singletary for Joe Mixon and drafting sixth-round rookie Jawhar Jordan to pair with Dameon Pierce. The Texans improved the offense while staying true to the plan of continuity, with the exception of bringing in a needed upgrade to the running back position as a whole.
The defense has a completely different look at all three levels. Cornerback Steven Nelson is out in the secondary, Azeez Al-Shaair moves into a pivotal role in the middle of the defense while 2023 stalwarts like Blake Cashman, Jonathan Greenard, Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins were all replaced as starters on the defense.
It’s not as simple as not wanting continuity, though. Ryans and Caserio may have both wanted to move on from guys they didn’t select, in Year 2. Ryans is a defensive mind that knows what he wants in players and may not see players he inherited as exact matches. Also, the Texans tend to have a number set on what they’re willing to pay players and guys like Greenard, Cashman and Rankins could have easily surpassed their price point to which the Texans then pivoted to their next best alternative at the position at a value they would entertain.
Texas re-signings in 2024
- TE Dalton Schultz
- DE Derek Barnett
- WR Noah Brown
- DT Khalil Davis
- CB Desmond King II
- OT Charlie Heck
- WR Steven Sims
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Neville Hewitt
- S Eric Murray
- K Ka’imi Fairbairn
- CB Kris Boyd
- CB D’Angelo Ross
The Texans prevented a huge need by getting Schultz to return. He was the only starter to re-sign. Barnett was productive in his starts to end the season and his re-signing provides a talented depth piece at a key position. Brown stepped up when needed and is a trusted veteran behind the top trio of receivers in 2024. Houston brought back key depth pieces and special teamers with the other internal free-agent signings.
Texans departures in 2024
- DE Jonathan Greenard
- LB Blake Cashman
- RB Devin Singletary
- CB Steven Nelson
- DT Maliek Collins
- DT Sheldon Rankins
- DE Jerry Hughes
- OT George Fant
- CB Tavierre Thomas
- LB Denzel Perryman
- RB Mike Boone
- OL Josh Jones
- C Michael Deiter
- S Kareem Jackson
- S Adrian Amos
- P Cameron Johnston
- S DeAndre Houston-Carson
- CB Ka’dar Hollman
The defensive line and linebacker group was hit the hardest in regards to departing free agents. Houston let Nelson test free agency and he’s currently still on the market. The Texans let some of their top players walk due to the offers the players were receiving on the open market being over the price Houston was looking to spend on each player.
Texans 2024 additions
- DE Danielle Hunter (free agency)
- WR Stefon Diggs (trade)
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair (free agency)
- RB Joe Mixon (trade)
- DT Denico Autry (free agency)
- DT Foley Fatukasi (free agency)
- DT Tim Settle (free agency)
- CB Jeff Okudah (free agency)
- LB Jacob Phillips (free agency)
- CB C.J. Henderson (free agency)
- CB Myles Bryant (free agency)
- OT David Sharpe (free agency)
- P Tommy Townsend (free agency)
- DL Mario Edwards (free agency)
- S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (free agency)
- CB Mike Ford (free agency)
- LB Del’Shawn Phillips (free agency)
Houston was active in free agency and on the trade market to fill the void left by departing free agents. The Mixon addition gave the Texans a better receiving threat and solid runner at the running back position. The Diggs trade completely upgraded a talented position while the Hunter signing signified that the Texans meant business. Houston weakened their rivals in the Titans by signing Tennessee’s 2023 starters Autry and Al-Shaair.
Texans 2024 rookies and UDFAs
- CB Kamari Lassiter
- OT Blake Fisher
- S Calen Bullock
- TE Cade Stover
- LB Jamal Hill
- RB Jawhar Jordan
- DE Solomon Byrd
- DT Marcus Harris
- OG LaDarius Henderson
- LB Max Tooley
- LB Tarique Barnes
- DT Pheldarius Payne
- WR Jaxon Janke
- WR Jadon Janke
- RB British Brooks
Houston doesn’t have major holes in the roster, mostly just a needed starter here or there. They had a few positions, entering the draft that had questionable depth. Outside of the Texans' first pick in the draft, Lassiter, Houston made selections that filled depth holes on the roster with a blend of prospects that displayed either talent, upside or both.
Texans position groups following 2024 NFL Draft
Quarterback
No change as the Texans return all four QBs in C.J. Stroud, Case Keenum, Davis Mills and Tim Boyle. Stroud should take another step forward at the quarterback position in Year 2.
Running back
Mixon replaced Singletary. Jordan replaced Boone. Pierce and Ogunbowale are back. Mixon hasn’t been as efficient of a rusher recently but he’s carried more of the workload and stays productive. He averaged 70-plus more touches per season than Singletary. Houston will also have the option of easing back his workload with the upgrade of Jordan over Boone and Pierce looking for a bounce-back in Year 3.
Fullback
No change at the position as Andrew Beck and Troy Hairston remain at the position.
Tight end
The Schultz re-signing with Teagan Quitoriano and Brevin Jordan still under contract ensured the same core unit would return. The Texans upgraded the position with the fourth-round selection of Stover in the draft. Houston will be more diverse in 2024 at the position with the blend of talent, veteran presence and upside.
Offensive tackle
The Texans replaced the departing Fant with a second-round selection at the position in Fisher. Houston also re-signed Heck and brought in Sharpe. Fisher gives the upside and talent behind the Texans’ starters that they’ve been lacking. He can step in right away if needed or provide depth as the swing tackle. In a couple of years, he should be a starter on the line at the tackle position. Houston is better situated at the position for a long season.
Interior offensive line
The Texans lost some pieces on the interior but nothing detrimental. Former first-round pick Kenyon Green could surprise at left guard but if not there’s ample talent at the position in the form of second-year players and veteran backups. The interior may see their improvement as a unit with the health and personal improvement in play by their recent draft picks in Green, Juice Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson. Houston drafted Henderson towards the end of the draft but he’s more of a developmental prospect that should play on the interior.
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Defensive end
Greenard and Hunter switched teams in free agency between the Vikings and the Texans. Greenard is the younger of the duo but has struggled to stay on the field. In four seasons in Houston he totaled 23 sacks, 32 TFLs and three forced fumbles. This past year alone Hunter had 16.5 sacks, 23 TFLs and four forced fumbles. Will Anderson Jr. enters Year 2 after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023. Dylan Horton is back as well. The Hughes and Sanders departures were filled by seventh-round draft pick Byrd, along with Autry taking reps on the edge as well as inside. The re-signing of Barrett was key to solidifying the unit.
Defensive tackle
The departures of Rankins and Collins left big voids. The Texans signed four outside free agents in Autry, Fatukasi, Settle and Edwards, along with re-signing Davis to fill the hole with a heavy rotation of talent without the big-name starters. Houston hedged their bet at defensive tackle with the seventh-round selection of Harris and the signing of undrafted rookie free agent Payne. The Texans will have the depth and traits to attack continuously throughout games all season long.
Linebacker
The losses of Cashman and Perryman will be filled in different methods. Al-Shaair will start in the Texans' nickel base defense with Christian Harris. Second-year linebacker Henry To’oTo’o will be first up when the Texans switch to 4-3-4, Behind To’oTo’o the rest of the roles left behind by the departing linebackers will be filled by Jacob Phillips and one or more of the rookies in Hill, Tooley and Barnes. Houston is betting on a few things here — first, that Harris and Al-Shaair stay relatively healthy, second, that Phillips could be Cashman 2.0 in the hopes that he can stay healthy in Houston after struggling with it through the first couple of years and finally, third, that the youth that they scouted and added at the position plays to the level they project when called upon.
Cornerback
Nelson isn’t officially a departure as he remains unsigned by any team and the Texans still have a need at his position. They’ve attacked the cornerback position opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. with former top-10 draft picks from the 2020 NFL draft in Okudah and Henderson. Houston brought back King II and signed Bryant after the departure of Thomas. They also drafted Lassiter who with King II and Bryant are a solid nickel and dime group of corners from a talent and depth perspective. The Texans may even try Lassiter on the outside if Okudah and Henderson don’t click early in Houston. To this point, they haven’t improved this unit over last season’s group. The Texans could still add a veteran cornerback to solidify the group from the free agency market or even via a trade.
Safety
The Texans didn’t lose any core pieces at the safety position while adding Bullock on Day 2 of the draft. The blend of Jalen Pitre, Jimmie Ward and Bullock isn’t a bad top-three on paper. Ward’s struggles with missing games and Pitre still hasn’t played to his potential while Bullock is a rookie. Similar to the cornerback position the Texans need an addition here.
