Prior to beginning my radio career at the age of 38, and my side hustle of freelance writing a couple years later, I was in sales for 16 years. I spent the last half dozen or so years in upper management, and thus, I was hiring and firing people on a weekly basis. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people for jobs, and I’ve been interviewed for jobs myself dozens of times.
In short, I know what it’s like to convey hirable traits and sniff them out. With the flurry of March free agency and the April draft that is now in the books, this has undoubtably been “hiring season” in the National Football League over the last several weeks. Free agents are trying to find new homes that are good fits, and college prospects are looking to get drafted by one of the 32 NFL teams, hopefully a good team.
The Houston Texans recently drafted (i.e. HIRED) eight new players last weekend. The signed (also, HIRED) several undrafted free agents on Saturday afternoon after the draft was over. For the college prospects coming in, who were ultimately drafted by or signed by the Texans, they all showed some traits that attracted the Texans to them.
So, you say you wanna be a Houston Texans, eh kid? You wanna be the next Keylan Rutledge, Kayden McDonald, or Marlin Klein? First and foremost, the key to making that dream come true is, ya know, BEING A GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER. However, there are other things that scratch GM Nick Caserio right where he itches. If you want to become a Houston Texans recently, it certainly helps if you’ve got any of these four things in your satchel:
Nick Caserio likes some sort of good story, especially stories about overcoming adversity
I actually used to look for this in my sales world in new hires, as well. Times won’t always be good, so how do people react when the chips are down? In recent years, the Texans have drafted two offensive linemen with premium picks, Juice Scruggs and Keylan Rutledge, both of whom were involved in car accidents in college, accidents that were near career ending. I’m not saying “Hey, go drive off the road, so you have a good story for Nick Caserio.” Just know that, if you’re going through some adversity, found a way out of it, and you’ll have anecdotes for days! And you might get drafted by the Texans.
Nick Caserio likes guys who play in meaningless bowl games
When the Texans drafted Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter back in 2024, Nick Caserio mentioned how much he loved the fact that Lassiter played in his team’s non-playoff bowl game. Most players of Lassiter’s stature skip the bowl game, if they’re going to the NFL. Lassiter just couldn’t stay away from the game of football. Similarly, recent draftee Marlin Klein played in Michigan’s meaningless bowl game back in January. Caserio mentioned it in the Friday night press conference. He loved it! So, if you ever play for a college team that’s not quite playoff worthy, but worthy of playing in a bowl game, PLAY IN THAT BOWL GAME, if you want the Texans to draft you.
Nick Caserio likes guys who play for certain coaches
When it comes to college head coaches, Nick Caserio definitely has a list of favorites, and history tells us, he likes drafting players from those schools. The primary example of this trend is the bevy of Iowa State players Caserio has drafted (or traded for, in the case of David Montgomery), all of whom played for Matt Campbell, who is now the head coach at Penn State. There are others, though. Kirby Smart (Georgia) and Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame) are examples of coaches Caserio has openly complimented. If you want to be a Houston Texan, it starts with committing to a Caserio Fave Head Coach out of high school.
Nick Caserio is not a fan of big draft parties
I hadn’t realized this fourth and final trait until Caserio did his press conference last Thursday night, after the team drafted Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge. Caserio mentioned that Rutledge was just sitting and watching the draft in an AirBNB with his wife. Caserio followed that up by lamenting some of the parties draft prospects throw that resemble a “circus” to the Texans’ GM. Nick Caserio is not a big party animal. Not even close. Therefore, if you want to become a Houston Texan, order some wings, invite a few older relatives over, and chill on the couch with a few Diet Cokes. Don’t invite 200 people to your apartment and install a stripper pole in the middle of the living room.
