Now that the dust has settled a little bit, two weeks removed from the beginning of the free agency period, we can take a step back and get a big picture loook at where the Texans’ depth chart stands right now. It feels like they’ve made incremental, if not significant, improvement at the key areas that DeMeco Ryans identified in some media appearances he did back at the scouting combine in February.
I think the best lens through which to view the current state of the team is to do something that I’ve never done this early in the off-season before — a way, WAY too early projection of the 53-man roster!
Indeed, I’ve never done one of these roster projections before the draft, which we should point out begins a month from today, with the first round going down the night of April 23. In light of that, I am going to go position by position, and leave a few of the slots on the 53 man roster open for unnamed “drafted rookies.”
With that in mind, here we go!
QUARTERBACK (2): C.J. Stroud, Davis MIlls
RUNNING BACK (5): David Montgomery, Woody Marks, British Brooks, Jawhar Jordan, DRAFTED ROOKIE
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell, VETERAN FREE AGENT
TIGHT END (4): Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau, Cade Stover, Brevin Jordan
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Aireontae Ersery, Wyatt Teller, Jake Andrews, Ed Ingram, Braden Smith, Trent Brown, Evan Brown, DRAFTED ROOKIE, DRAFTED ROOKIE
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Tommy Togiai, Sheldon Rankins, Logan Hall, Naquon Jones, Dylan Horton, DRAFTED ROOKIE
LINEBACKER (6): Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’o To’o, E.J. Speed, Jamal Hill, Jake Hummel, DRAFTED ROOKIE
CORNERBACK (5): Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Ja.Marcus Ingram, Tremon Smith
SAFETY (4): Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship, Jaylen Reed, M.J. Stewart
JALEN PITRE (1): Jalen Pitre
SPECIALISTS (3): Austin Brinkman, Kai Kroeger, Ka’imi Fairbairn
Okay, a few thoughts on the 53-man roster I’ve constructed here:
There are some notable cuts (or possible trades)
Among the most noteworthy (in my opinion, soon to be former) Texans who don’t make my list are the two former Notre Dame offensive linemen, Blake Fisher at tackle and guard/center Jarret Patterson. The influx of veterans, along with likely rookie reinforcements, squeezes them in a numbers game. It wouldn’t shock me to see Fisher traded. With two years left on his rookie contract, he still holds value, if a team had a good grade on him coming out in 2024. Others who don’t make the cut, who’ve played meaningful snaps for the Texans, include RB Jawhar Jordan, LB Jake Hansen, and CB Alijah Huzzie.
Yes, I added a “VETERAN FREE AGENT” for one position
The one position where I feel most strongly that the Texans will add a veteran free agent over the next several weeks is at wide receiver. Right now, that is the youngest position group on the team, with sixth year stud Nico Collins the elder statesman. Outside of Collins, the other four wide receivers in that room have seven seasons of experience combined. That room could use a veteran, and there are several interesting ones (Deebo Samuel, Keenan Allen) on the market.
Let’s discuss the spots with “DRAFTED ROOKIE” in the mix
I have five drafted rookies making the team — one at running back, two on the offensive line, one on the defensive line, and one at linebacker. It’s a virtual lock that the two lines will get at least one rookie, maybe more. Running back is more a preference than a prediction. I’d love to see the Texans use one of their second round picks on Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, if he’s available. When you how much the Texans value consider special teams, and the fact that Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’o To’o are in the final year of their contracts, drafting a linebacker makes a lot of sense, too.
Yes, Jalen Pitre is the first ever position-less player on a 53 man projection
He’s a safety by name, but by function, he is part slot corner, part hybrid linebacker, part headhunter (in a good and sportsmanlike way!). He’s simply Jalen Pitre, and there are very few, if any, like him in the NFL. So congratulations, Jalen! You’re the first person in the history of the Pendergast 53-man Roster Projections to get your own position named after you!