In the world of professional wrestling, the scriptwriters book weeks and weeks of storylines on television in a very episodic fashion, and they ultimately set up feuds that will carry the company into the next big pay per view event. From his standpoint, the NFL offseason isn’t all that different. OTAs and minicamp forge position battles that will ultimately, weeks later, be determined in training camp, the “Wrestlemania” of the offseason.
The Houston Texans just finished mandatory minicamp last week, and we are now in the only real gap in the NFL calendar — the six weeks between minicamp and training camp. When training camp hits, we’ve got a handful of position “feuds” that will get sorted out over the month of August.
For the Texans, thankfully, these feuds are more about backup positions than starters, as GM Nick Caserio has built one of the sturdiest, deepest rosters in the league. Still, we will find a way to get excited for these battles. After all, it’s football in the state of Texas. With all of that said, here are the four roster battles that I’m most looking forward to come late July:
4. Lewis Bond vs Justin Watson (plus the Tank Dell factor) for backup WR
The wide receiver room is an interesting one for the Texans. Nico Collins is your marquee player, and the three Iowa State guys — Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson — all look primed to contribute this season. Noel, in particular, had a nice spring, The back end of the room is kind of chaotic after that. Bond, a 6th round rookie, really flashed during OTAs and minicamp and Watson is a steady veteran. Add in the wild card that is Tank Dell, coming off three torn knee ligaments, and one of these guys will not be making the team.
3. Cade Stover vs Brevin Jordan for a spot in the TE room
Similar to the wide receiver room, there is probably a decent player who will get cut loose or traded. Dalton Schultz is the unquestioned number one tight end, and free agent signing Foster Moreau has had a great spring. Marlin Klein, as a rookie second round pick is making the team. That leaves Stover, who is heading into Year 3, and Jordan, who’s had the last two seasons cut short with knee injuries. The team will take a maximum of four tight ends into the season, so one of these two will be traded or cut. I’d bet on Stover making the team.
2. Aiden Fisher vs Jamal Hill vs Jake Hansen vs Marte Mapu vs Jake Hummel vs Wade Woodaz for LB depth spot
The Texans’ first two linebacker spots are all set with captain Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’o To’o. The third linebacker spot appeared to be set with E.J. Speed returning on a two year deal, but Speed tore a quad muscle and is done for the year. Now, there is an all out war to claim Speed’s snaps. There are at least six named that seem to be on relatively equal footing. Only one can get Speed’s snaps, and only three can make the team, maybe four.
1. Jake Andrews vs Keylan Rutledge for starting center
The Texans thankfully have a deep enough roster to where most of the starting positions are nailed down. However, the one starting position up for grabs right now is the all important center position. Andrews was the starter most of last season, albeit a subpar starter. Rutledge was drafted in the first round and the team is giving him a look at center, despite not getting any time there in college. It should be the most fascinating of all the position battles in camp.
