Hitting the field, seeking answers
Next offseason phase could bring clarity on possible concerns
Expectations for the Texans will be far greater in 2024 than in recent years. Their schedule with six nationally televised games is proof of that.
But that’s what happens after you make the playoffs with a rising star at quarterback and a head coach who is also considered among the rising stars in his profession. It sort of comes with the territory.
The first two phases of the Texans’ offseason program — primarily meetings, conditioning and some limited drills with position groups — are complete. On Tuesday, the final phase begins as rookies get acclimated with veterans.
Phase three includes 10 days of organized team practice activity (OTAs) before mandatory minicamp begins June 11. OTAs are voluntary. And while live contact isn’t allowed, teams can participate in 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills.
The Texans have several questions regarding their roster as they enter phase three. Here are five:
How will rookies fit in?
This isn’t like the 2023 season, when the Texans needed their rookies to fill obvious holes at quarterback and defensive end.
The Texans’ top three picks in the 2024 draft — cornerback Kamari Lassiter, offensive tackle Blake Fisher and safety Calen Bullock — could all make a start at some point next season. But they also play positions with incumbents ahead of them.
Bullock, who signed his rookie deal Friday, is in a crowded safety group, but one that still needs to prove itself after injuries kept Jimmie Ward, M.J. Stewart and Eric Murray out for a large chunk of last season. Jalen Pitre also struggled at times and was even pulled from one game.
Bullock, who is 6-3 and 190 pounds, was known as a ballhawk at USC, where he had 10 interceptions. But general manager Nick Caserio acknowledged that Bullock must get stronger and improve his tackling. He could train at both safety and cornerback.
Lassiter also provides versatility; he can play in the slot and outside corner. The Texans currently have less depth and a bigger need at outside corner, a position Lassiter played at Georgia.
Fisher, drafted in the second round to play right tackle, figures to have the talent to start on day one, although the Texans already have their two starting of
fensive tackles in Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.
Ryans will put the best five lineman on the field. If Fisher is good, perhaps the Texans will shuffle their line and move Howard to guard. It’s an idea few like, but it could happen.
How healthy is Dell?
These last six months have been a roller coaster for the second-year receiver.
After a strong start to his rookie season, Dell fractured a fibula in December and missed the final five games and the playoffs. He rehabbed the injury and was participating in workouts but was shot in the leg in a random shooting at a party last month in Florida. The injury was treated at a Florida hospital, and Dell was released a short time later, but it did set him back.
Ryans said a couple of weeks ago that Dell would be fine. He didn’t indicate whether he’d miss any time in OTAs.
Over the weekend, Dell posted on his Instagram account a video of him running routes and showing off his speed. The video looks like Dell hasn’t lost a step at all.
What matters most is Dell’s being available for training camp in July, and there have been no indications he won’t be.
Dell was the Texans’ secondleading receiver and on track for a 1,000-yard season before the leg injury. He finished with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns and had become one of C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets.
The Texans need Dell this year if they plan on having the same explosive offense.
Collins extension?
Caserio said at the NFL combine that he would wait until the spring after free agency to begin discussions with Collins’ agent Drew Rosenhaus about a contract extension.
The time is now. And it seems likely a deal could get done.
Receivers across the league have been getting paid. It makes the most sense to sign Collins before training camp begins, which Caserio has shown he will do. He signed Howard to an extension before training camp began last year.
According to the NFLPA’s website, the Texans have about $24.4 million in cap space, which will likely shrink slightly with Bullock’s signing. Fisher is the Texans’ only draft pick who hadn’t signed as of Friday afternoon.
The Texans have enough to extend Collins, but it could also lead to more moves to give them additional cap space. Collins was the Texans’ top receiver in 2023, finishin with 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. He was only the third receiver in franchise history to have more than 1,200 receiving yards in a season.
Ryans has spoken highly of Collins, who figures to be a big part of the Texans’ future. It’s just a matter of how much he’ll get paid. Based on players with similar numbers, expect somewhere between a $23 million and $25 million average per year.
How good can defense be?
The Texans are not a finished product on defense. In fact, they still have questions, including who will be the starters at tackle and who will start opposite Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback.
Though they have a bevy of options at both spots, don’t be surprised if the Texans are active in the summer, particularly at defensive tackle. That’s when things will pick up a little bit as teams part ways with players.
The Texans are better and deeper at edge rusher with the additions of Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry. But they took a step back at defensive tackle after losing Sheldon Rankins and Maliek Collins this offseason.
The Texans will likely have at least five new starters on defense, including four new faces on their front seven and a new cornerback.
At this point, it’s unclear if they’ve gotten better on defense. But we’ll learn a little bit in
OTAs.
A big year for Stroud?
The Texans were steadfast this offseason in their commitment to build around Stroud, the 2023 NFL offensive rookie of the year.
They traded for four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs, resigned tight end Dalton Schultz to a three-year deal and wide receiver Noah Brown to a one-year deal, traded for running back Joe Mixon, then extended him, and drafted an offensive tackle.
That showed that the Texans are trying maximize their window to win while Stroud is on a rookie deal and are committed to giving him the best opportunity to succeed.
After an impressive year first season in which he threw for 4,108 yards 23 touchdowns and five interceptions, Stroud has all the tools to have an even better year. Now he must stay healthy, and the offensive line must give him time.
But the Texans have the pieces to be one of the elite offenses in the NFL with Stroud leading them.