Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. C.J. Stroud’s contract was a big talking point on day one. General manager Nick Caserio revealed the team had discussions with Stroud’s representation about a contract throughout the offseason. Stroud said that wasn’t his concern. He was worried about taking care of the football and letting his agent handle negotiations. When I asked Stroud if there was a point when he would want to stop discussing the contract this preseason, he said no and that his agent would handle it. DeMeco Ryans said the contracts usually take care of themselves if you are successful enough on the football field. Neither the Texans nor Stroud should be hasty about entering into a new agreement. Stroud would leave money on the table negotiating now, or the team would massively overpay. While the two sides have at least had a conversation about it, I would expect the 2026 season to begin without a new deal for the quarterback.

2. Stroud looked accurate and precise while throwing. He made quick decisions, putting the ball on his wide receivers. Jayden Higgins, who Stroud has had trouble connecting with in offseason workouts, dropped a pass. The two connected on an easy play when Higgins left linebacker Henry To’oTo’o in the dust at the line of scrimmage. Stroud got into trouble when he tried to do too much. He rolled out after the snap and had pressure in his face. He tossed the ball up into traffic where cornerback Kamari Lassiter came down with an interception. It was a play reminiscent of the bad moments against the New England Patriots from last year’s playoffs. It was one of the only mistakes of the day from Stroud. It was a solid day for him.

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Will the offense look better in year two of this system?

The old saying is “the defense is ahead of the offense,” but I can count on my hands the number of times the offense has beaten the defense in the previous two training camps. It hasn’t looked pretty for C.J. Stroud and company. Yes, this is one of the NFL’s best defenses. That’s not an excuse, but a fact. It doesn’t change the desire to see the offense win more than previous years.

It doesn’t have to be knockouts, but leaving practices with the idea the offense has more juice than the previous two years would be nice.

Has the investment in the rushing attack paid off?

The Houston Texans were putrid running the football last year. The overall statistics paint them better than a deeper dive into the numbers. They were inefficient, inconsistent, and incapable of short-yardage success.

Plenty of work was put in to change that. David Montgomery was the running back the Texans decided to pursue, eschewing a chase in free agency for a running back. Montgomery’s veteran presence should push Woody Marks into a more comfortable role. Marks is best suited to pair with another back, not carry the load on his own.

Ed Ingram was brought back. His best skill last season was run blocking. Trent Brown returned and was paired in a battle with Braden Smith at right tackle. Each player can block for the ground game. Wyatt Teller’s addition via free agency was about improving the rushing attack, as was Keylan Rutledge’s selection in the first round of the draft.

The answer to this question might not appear until the regular season, but there should be hints of its success, or failure, in training camp.

Houston Football

Running Back Room Set to Be The Best in Years for Texans

The Houston Texans haven’t had a franchise running back in over a decade. Arian Foster’s departure gave way to Lamar Miller. Miller was solid, but paled in comparison to a franchise legend…

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23 days ago · 10 likes · 2 comments · Cody Stoots

What will Tank Dell be capable of achieving?

Tank Dell will not begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. He will be available for on-field work day one.

Dell was one of the best rookies in football before his injury in 2023. The following season didn’t see the success continue, but as he hit his stride, he suffered a devastating knee injury. It’s been almost 600 days since Dell played football. Nobody, including Dell, knows what he can do on the football field.

It’s time to find out.

Dell’s return to football alone will be an achievement. It’s a decent assumption he doesn’t want just a participation trophy. How much Dell can do will change the makeup of the wide receiver room. If he has semblances of his old self, does he push someone who has an assumed spot off the roster? Does he force the Texans to do roster gymnastics at other positions?

Nobody is rooting against Dell.

Can C.J. Stroud and Jayden Higgins get on the same page?

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Last year’s draft saw the pair of Iowa State teammates selected on the draft’s second day. Higgins was the 34th overall selection while Noel was picked 79th overall.

Higgins was a mainstay in the offense from the start. He got the nod to start opposite Nico Collins. The team’s top pick in 2025 had a slow start, but settled in mid-year. During week eight, with Collins out, Higgins had one of his best games. It was the starting point for the hot finish to the rookie’s regular season. Higgins would rack up 79 percent of his yards, 78 percent of his receptions, and all but one of his six touchdowns in his final 11 games.

Noel’s path to the field wasn’t as clear. Veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk stood in his way. Despite Kirk’s poor performance, the Texans never turned the spot over to Noel. This rookie season was drastically different from the one Higgins had. Higgins had five games of one or fewer receptions. Noel had nine in his rookie year. There was a glimmer of hope on special teams, but the consistency wasn’t there on the field.

Houston turns to these two rookies in a key season for the franchise. The offense must be better, or the futures of quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive coordinator Nick Caley, and others will be in question.

Higgins and Noel enter their second season with high expectations. If they fail, there’s no backup plan. Xavier Hutchinson hasn’t shown the ability to be a consistent starter on the outside. Rookie Lewis Bond is the likely backup in the slot. This can’t be another season where Stroud is targeting Dalton Schultz 100 times. Add in the assumption Collins will miss time, and the need for Higgins and Noel to step up is clear.

The time is now.

What Did Previous Day Two Receiver Do in Year Two?

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The need for change was clear. Houston wasted no time. The team promoted Cole Popovich from assistant offensive line coach to offensive line coach as his former colleague from the New England Patriots, Nick Caley, took over as offensive coordinator.

The coaching wouldn’t matter if they didn’t turn over the roster. Here is how each position evolved for the Texans from last season to where it stands now.

Left Tackle

Laremy Tunsil → Cam Robinson → Aireontae Ersery

The Texans made the bold decision to trade Laremy Tunsil. General manager Nick Caserio blamed rising contract costs for the future at other positions. There was a hope to change the culture in the offensive line room. Tunsil was good, but he cared about little other than himself. He did his job. He made his money. That’s all he cared about. The Texans turned him into draft picks.

Cam Robinson was added after Tunsil’s trade via free agency. The Texans paid him the seventh-highest contract among offensive linemen, hoping Robinson would bounce back after a season in which he played poorly for two different teams. He was fine, but when he got injured in training camp, he lost his spot. Rookie Aireontae Ersery would replace him. Robinson would start one game and eventually get traded to Cleveland, where he had a below-average year. He isn’t currently on a team.

Ersery dealt with growing pains in 2025, but performed admirably for a rookie. He played more than almost any other rookie tackle. He finished with comparable stats to his fellow rookies. Most importantly, he showed growth. There is a chance Ersery can become a franchise tackle. It might not happen in 2026, but the potential for him is there. The trade to get him was a worthwhile investment.

Left Guard

Laken Tomlinson → Juice Scruggs → Jarrett Patterson → Tytus Howard → Wyatt Teller

The Texans turned to a veteran of three teams to help solidify their left guard spot. A conglomeration of Juice Scruggs and Tytus Howard was hopefully a thing of the past with Tomlinson’s addition. He was a modest investment, but he brought tons of experience. Tomlinson arrived in Houston with a starting streak spanning almost six seasons.

He was bad. Tomlinson didn’t hold off Scruggs. The failed center was rotating with the veteran at one point, which was somehow the second weirdest thing the Texans tried on the offensive line in 2025. Tomlinson was waived and isn’t currently on a team. Scruggs didn’t fare much better. He ultimately got chances and lost out to Jarrett Patterson. Patterson was fine. The team moved to Howard, only going back to Patterson when Howard had to play right tackle.

Wyatt Teller might be the solution. While he’s similar to Tomlinson, a once-good player who has played poorly the previous two seasons, he’s two years younger and closer to his previous level of play. Teller is switching positions from right guard to left guard. It begs the question whether the Texans should’ve just signed a left guard.

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There was a thousand-yard season from Carlos Hyde. The David Johnson addition enraged the fanbase, but he was serviceable. Rex Burkhead had one excellent game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Dameon Pierce flashed talent, but failed to replicate it. Joe Mixon’s one season of success was followed by the most mysterious handling of an injury in franchise history. Nick Chubb was far from his old self, and Woody Marks was an inefficient rookie.

The Texans still don’t have a franchise running back. They are, however, better equipped to run the football.

It’s the best running back room in years.

David Montgomery should have plenty left in the tank. The veteran back just turned 29 last month and is coming off his lowest usage season ever. Don’t let the usage fool you; Montgomery was still effective for the Detroit Lions. He rushed for eight touchdowns and 4.6 yards per attempt, which was the second-highest in his career. He will be back in a starting role after backing up Jahmyr Gibbs the past two seasons.

“He embodies everything we want here with our team and with our offense,” offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “Comes to work every single day. I’m really, really happy that he’s a part of our team. He’s made an impact. You can feel him. He goes about his business the right way every single day. He’s been great. Really, really happy he’s been an addition to our team.”

Since he arrived in the league in 2019, Montgomery has been one of the most productive running backs in football. He’s eighth in scrimmage yards among running backs since entering the league. Montgomery also ranks eighth in receiving yards and seventh in rushing yards among running backs.

Montgomery, as the lead back, should allow Woody Marks to be more successful. Marks wasn’t drafted to start last year. He would’ve been an ideal running mate with Joe Mixon, but he ended up as the team’s starter. Marks was miscast as a between-the-tackles bruiser. The Texans had a bad offensive line, and Marks was going through growing pains. Marks also visited the blue injury tent nearly every game. Judicious usage of Marks, along with a better role, should make him more effective.

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Here is a roster projection with some potential practice squad names.

Quarterbacks - 2

C.J. Stroud

Davis Mills

The first drastic change from how the Texans operated last year. I can’t imagine many teams are tripping over themselves to sign Graham Mertz. Stash him on the practice squad and hope you don’t have to promote him.

Davis Mills remains one of the better backup quarterback options in football.

Running Back - 4

David Montgomery

Woody Marks

Jawhar Jordan

British Brooks (FB)

This is a tougher position to predict if you consider British Brooks a fullback who can play running back. For this exercise, he is a running back who can play fullback. There aren’t many challengers to his spot, and he’s a key special teams force.

David Montgomery and Woody Marks could be the best tandem at running back in over a decade.

Wide Receiver - 6

Nico Collins

Jayden Higgins

Jaylin Noel

Xavier Hutchinson

Justin Watson

Lewis Bond

Tank Dell’s name is absent. I can’t predict him onto the roster when he isn’t for sure going to practice in training camp. Even if he practices, he hasn’t played in this offense. Dell doesn’t have a special teams role. The roster is tight, so keeping a seventh wideout is too tough. This could easily change if Dell practices and looks good in training camp.

Lewis Bond impressed in the practices before the summer. He can play inside and is a backup for Jaylin Noel in the slot. Bond is one of the more intriguing players when camp gets started.

Tight End - 4

Dalton Schultz

Foster Moreau

Marlin Klein

Brevin Jordan

Marlin Klein’s injury, keeping him from practicing, was one of the biggest disappointments of the pre-summer practices. If that’s one of the biggest issues, you’re living right. Klein will have plenty to prove in training camp. He could easily be buried on the depth chart by the veterans.

Brevin Jordan gets the nod over Cade Stover because he is a better receiver, and the other veterans are better blockers. Stover hasn’t been bad; he just gets squeezed out.

Tackle - 3

Aireontae Ersery

Trent Brown

Braden Smith

I can’t see the fourth tackle yet. I know they will have one, but I just can’t fit it in with the various roster machinations. Blake Fisher was relegated to emergency tackle last season. James Neal III is an undrafted free agent tackle, but I haven’t seen anything from him to earn a roster spot.

There is no backup left tackle if Trent Brown starts. Even if Brown doesn’t start, he’s mostly played right tackle.

Guard - 4

Wyatt Teller

Ed Ingram

Febechi Nwaiwu

Evan Brown

Evan Brown can back up both guard spots and center. Rookie Febechi Nwaiwu is a backup option if Brown is occupied. Jarrett Patterson got forced out by Brown’s arrival.

Center - 2

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Sorsby is the former Indiana and Cincinnati quarterback who transferred to Texas Tech earlier this year. He lost his eligibility when it was revealed that he had gambled on college football games while at Indiana. Sorsby won a legal battle earlier this month to regain his eligibility, but a lack of faith in the ruling’s potential longevity has led him to head for the NFL via the supplemental draft.

The supplemental draft gives players who missed the regular draft’s filing deadline a path into the NFL. Teams bid one of their own draft picks in next year’s NFL Draft. The team with the highest bid is awarded the player.

Don’t let the supplemental draft interrupt summer break. Skip Sorsby.

Using a draft pick to add Sorsby would do nothing to help the Texans in 2026. He isn’t playing over Stroud or Davis Mills. The draft pick used on Sorsby would be better used in a mid-season trade to improve this year’s team.

Beyond this season, the quarterback spot could be unsettled, but better options than Sorsby exist. Stroud playing well enough to remain the quarterback of the future is the best outcome for the Texans. If it isn’t Stroud, drafting a quarterback from what should be a historically deep 2027 class would be more prudent than adding Sorsby.

Adding Sorsby is betting purely on potential. There are tools there. He has good mobility and played tough. His accuracy slipped, but he made a few big plays. Sorsby played well for Cincinnati in 2025, but he wasn’t amazing. He wasn’t going to be a top pick if he had come out in this year’s draft. He would have needed an excellent final college season to be a major factor at quarterback in 2027.

Sorsby would be buried on a depth chart with almost no chance to play in 2026 for the Texans. That is, if he isn’t suspended.

The NFL has carried over punishments in college. Terrelle Pryor, a 2011 supplemental draft pick by the Oakland Raiders, missed five games in a carryover from a college suspension. Sorsby had agreed to a two-game suspension before he opted for the NFL. The league also needs to determine if Sorsby gambled on NFL games, and if there is an avenue for punishment for those potential actions.

It’s a mess and a wait to get him on the field. Let’s pretend he started in the fall of 2027. It would have been almost two years since he played in a game. That’s without adding in any of the pressures of being a quarterback who previously gambled on football. Every mistake comes with a second guess of intent. Were any of those interceptions on purpose? Did he mean to miss that receiver? Nobody knows how Sorsby will hold up under the microscope.

It’s not a gamble worth taking for the Texans.

The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are the teams many view as the favorites to land Sorsby. I believe the Indianapolis Colts should add Sorsby as an option when their Daniel Jones experiment fails.

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Supplemental Draft History for Texans

The Houston Texans have made two selections in the supplemental draft in franchise history.

They selected guard Milford Brown in the sixth round of the 2002 supplemental draft. He played 18 games in three seasons with the Texans. Brown started most of the 2005 season. Quarterback David Carr was sacked a league-high 68 times that year. That’s the third-most all-time in a season.

In 2003, the Texans selected running back Tony Hollings in the second round of the supplemental draft. Hollings rushed for 149 yards and no touchdowns in his three-year career with the Texans. He had rushed for 633 yards in four games his final season at Georgia Tech, but was academically ineligible, which led him to the NFL.

The pick used to select Hollings in the supplemental draft meant the Texans eventually forfeited the top pick in the second round of the 2004 draft.

Minicamp, however, is over.

After watching all the practices over the past few weeks, here are seven things I believe to be true about the team.

1. C.J. Stroud hasn’t displayed the fruits of an impressive offseason yet. DeMeco Ryans has mentioned it numerous times, general manager Nick Caserio praised Stroud, and multiple teammates have explained that the quarterback worked hard in the offseason. That hasn’t shown up in the handful of practices the media has been allowed to observe Stroud. There are good moments and throws, but still too many misses for a quarterback who needs to take the next step. The offense has been in practice mode. There isn’t a lot of running, if any. Nico Collins hasn’t been in the lineup. It’s also the league’s best defense staring Stroud down. Training camp will hopefully show Stroud is ready for the next step.

2. Keylan Rutledge is in an uphill battle to start at center. If the Texans played a

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Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. C.J. Stroud and the offense improved from their Tuesday performance. Stroud started a little slow, throwing a pick-six to Jalen Pitre in 7-on-7. It was a great read by Pitre. Stroud hadn’t made mistakes like that on quick decisions before. Stroud threaded the needle to Dalton Schultz over safety Reed Blankenship. It was one of his best throws of the day. Jayden Higgins effortlessly hauled in a strike from Stroud in the first team period for a nice chunk of yards. Stroud’s success on short passes showed up after another mistake. Xavier Hutchinson hauled in two passes to set the offense up for a field goal attempt.

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Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. The defense added another victory to their wins over the past couple of weeks. It’s an imposing group with all the expected starters lined up. They won in a variety of ways. Easy pressure from the defensive ends. Extra pressure was sent in the front seven. They played tight coverage, making it tough for the quarterbacks to succeed. The quick passing attack worked early, but was inconsistent later in practice. There were too many passes batted down around the line of scrimmage. There are two chances for the offense to bounce back before the summer break.

2. C.J. Stroud had what has become his typical day. There were some nice passes from Stroud, but he still missed a few that many would expect him to make. Some of the throws were necessary because of the coverage. The offense didn’t always appear to be on the same page, especially in the red zone. The defense had success keeping Stroud and the other quarterbacks from dominating in the red zone. There were touchdowns, but not as many as defensive stops. The tight coverage led to plenty of errant throws from all the quarterbacks.

3. Stroud had his best play of the day in the red zone. There was some pressure off

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Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. The offense bounced back from Tuesday’s practice. They moved the ball well. The short game was good, and at times excellent. The quarterbacks made sound decisions with the football. They spread the ball around to numerous receivers. The secondary didn’t have time to make many plays. There were a few plays where pressure or a sack would’ve occurred, but it looked better overall than the last practice.

2. The offense was very successful in a situational team period. The offense was down seven points with just over a minute left and a timeout. C.J. Stroud and his group did well moving the ball and took their time. Stroud found running back

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Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. The defense won the day. This secondary is filthy. They lock down wide receivers at all levels. They make it tough to complete passes. When there is room, there usually isn’t much. The offense had constant wins in 7-on-7 last week. Tuesday, they fought for their infrequent successes. I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to try to drop back and make a downfield throw on this secondary. The offense had success with some shorter throws.

2. C.J. Stroud didn’t look particularly good. The quarterback was off target on too

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Here are 11 observations from the workout.

1. DeMeco Ryans said the team is ahead of where they were last year. Despite his usual insistence that they start over, he said he observed the offense and defense as in a “much better place” than a year ago. The offense and defense each had standout moments during the practice. The offense was better in 7-on-7, but the defense was better in full team moments.

2. C.J. Stroud threw an interception at the start of the first team portion. Jalen Pitre stepped in front of a pass over the middle. It was among the only mistakes from Stroud. He was surgical in 7-on-7, fitting the ball into tight windows, mostly to Dalton Schultz, and finding the little space afforded to him by the defense. He dumped the ball off to the running backs a few times. A few plays went nowhere because the defense shut them down. Stroud had good accuracy on the throws. We didn’t get to see him uncork anything deep.

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Why?

This served no benefit for the Texans. Only Collins benefited from the cash. The Texans are not a better football team because Collins received more money.

He was under contract for the next two seasons at a perfectly reasonable deal. The Texans signed Collins to a three-year extension after just one season of success. He was excellent in 2023. It was also the only year of success to that point, and Collins still missed games and left others early.

It wasn’t a market-setting deal like a lot of players signed, but Collins had only showcased one year of success. Collins will miss games. He has never played a full season for the Texans. It was a perfectly worthwhile investment. Collins went to the table with one excellent year, and the Texans got built-in security for a player who misses time.

It was a win-win deal that didn’t need adjusting.

Collins hasn’t replicated his 2023 breakout. Almost every per-game metric from the past two seasons is lower when compared to the stellar 2023 season. Sure, the quarterback play has been shakier. The offensive systems have been sketchy. That should be factored in, but even with those, Collins hasn’t outperformed the season that got him paid.

He also missed time. During the 2024 season, he missed five games. Three of those games are easily argued as potential victories if Collins is available. In 2025, concussions caused Collins to miss time. He left the loss against the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion and missed the following week against the San Francisco 49ers. Collins would leave the playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers with another concussion. He would miss the playoff game against the New England Patriots.

Yes, other contracts have blown past the deal Collins had. That isn’t a reason to hand money to a player. If these extra dollars came within a negotiation that added a year, it would be easier to understand.

General manager Nick Caserio paid a player bonus money with no benefit to the Texans. Would Collins have been a malcontent? It’s a hypothetical worth pondering, but was he going to make a mockery of the team and do a workout on his driveway like Terrell Owens did when he wanted a new contract? Part of the appeal of Collins has been his lack of diva wideout tendencies.

Was it too much, if he wanted more money, to ask him to play more than one year of his extension? It would seem so.

The Texans have been generous with money. Derek Stingley Jr. blew past the highest-paid cornerback in his rookie extension. Will Anderson Jr. flew past the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. Danielle Hunter and Dalton Schultz received favorable contracts, but those came with additional time with the team.

The downside isn’t massive, yet. Could this money have been used this year and next year to add a key depth piece for a team trying to make a run to the Super Bowl? Absolutely. The Texans will have to navigate that element and need some luck at certain depth spots ahead of this season.

It’s the change in how the team handles business that could become costly.

Caserio created another expensive precedent for how the team operates. Not only are they financially generous when a player is nearing the end of their deal, but the team now allows players who have played to the value of their contract to ask for a raise with no benefit to the team.

This was great for Collins and his team. They negotiated a risk-free bonus and still hit free agency before Collins is 30. The Texans ripped up their well-negotiated deal with Collins for a reason not clear to people outside the building.

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OTA Questions

The Houston Texans begin organized team activities this week. Here are four questions that should get answered in the coming weeks.

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It is what they should do.

Stroud was amazing as a rookie. The 2023 season was one of the best seasons ever by a first-year quarterback. With high expectations in 2024, Stroud failed to live up to the hype. It wasn’t all his own doing, but what he was in control of wasn’t good enough. Last year was a little better for Stroud, but the ending soured any positives. It wasn’t good enough to make him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks.

He enters 2026 in a make-or-break situation with the Texans. The team’s remaining commitment to him after this season is the fifth-year option.

No massive extension is coming Stroud’s way soon. That’s been the norm for a few seasons at quarterback, though. Stroud is not alone. His fellow quarterbacks from his draft class aren’t cashing in either. Bryce Young enters a make-or-break season just like Stroud. Anthony Richardson is no longer the starter for the Indianapolis Colts. He requested a trade this offseason.

Between the 2016 and 2023 NFL Drafts, 27 quarterbacks were selected in the first round. Of those 27 quarterbacks, 14 didn’t receive a contract extension, including Stroud, Young, and Richardson. The last quarterback selected in the first round to be extended by his team was Trevor Lawrence, who was drafted first in 2021. Eight straight quarterbacks have failed to be extended after being first-round picks.

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A slow start similar to last season would put the Texans in a bad spot. Opposing defenses shouldn’t be too tough, so hopefully the offense gets off to a good start. The four road games in the final six games are difficult to navigate while fighting for AFC seeding.

Here is the good and bad of every game on the schedule.

Week 1 vs Buffalo Bills

Good: The Buffalo defense isn’t that tough. DeMeco Ryans has had a lot of success against Josh Allen at home. Defenses are usually ahead of offenses.

Bad: Josh Allen isn’t having three straight awful games against the Texans, right? Surely a new head coach, though Joe Brady has been there the past two seasons, and a full offseason, have the Bills more ready for this matchup than in the past years. Buffalo should be healthy for this one. They’ve been banged up in recent trips to Houston. D.J. Moore was a nice addition for them and should help their offense.

Week 2 vs Cincinnati Bengals

Good: The Bengals might have added Dexter Lawrence, but they still stink on defense. Lawrence is excellent, but he doesn’t fix their problems. Defenses should still be ahead of offenses this early in the year. Zac Taylor hasn’t had much success against DeMeco Ryans. The Bengals still have an unimpressive offensive line.

Bad: Joe Burrow and his weapons on offense are nasty. This is one of the better opponents from an offensive talent standpoint on the entire schedule. It’s also quite the challenge for the defense in back-to-back weeks.

Week 3 at Indianapolis Colts

Good: Daniel Jones should still be reeling from his injuries last year. The defense, which has had big changes, might still be coming together. DeMeco Ryans is on a win streak against the Colts.

Bad: Jonathan Taylor is still very dangerous. There is still a little juice to the defensive line for the Colts. They might be able to get a little heat on C.J. Stroud.

Week 4 vs Dallas Cowboys

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Here are seven observations from the workout.

1. Rookie offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge is all business. While he waited for his media availability, he was practicing pass sets outside the media tent. Rutledge and three other linemen spent a lot of time working on technique with offensive line coach Cole Popovich. Rutledge stressed that his technique was key to his success and noted he wouldn’t be overpowering NFL players like the college players he sometimes overpowered. He wouldn’t list individual goals. He noted he is aware he arrives at the bottom of the totem pole, so he has to show his veteran teammates what he is about as a player. He continued to say he is comfortable making the move to center. I didn’t observe many clean snaps when he was snapping the ball in shotgun. His potential move to center is a work in progress. Rutledge said from the mental side of the position, he wanted to understand what every lineman was expected to do on every play. That will be important if he gets opportunities to play center. Rutledge played primarily right guard in college but should get opportunities at all three interior positions.

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All eyes will be on Rutledge. The career right guard has said he’s comfortable playing center. General manager Nick Caserio has played coy about Rutledge’s position. The rookies do a lot of drill-specific work during minicamp. Rutledge snapping the football would indicate that he is set to enter the battle at center. Jake Andrews, Evan Brown, Jarrett Patterson, Eli Cox, and fellow rookie Febechi Nwaiwu are among the possible contenders at center.

McDonald will hopefully stand out. Last year, Aireontae Ersery wowed with his size when he hit the field. McDonald is a unique player who, hopefully, will strike a similar presence to Ersery.

Tight end Marlin Klein is the type of specimen that can wow in a workout like this. Klein is every bit his 6’6”, 250-plus pounds. There aren’t any amazing pass catchers set to be on the field with him. If Klein glides and showcases some of the potential the Texans bet on, it will start the path to easing the overdrafted slot many, myself included, believe he occupied.

The rookie linebackers will always be compared to each other. Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher will try to both be successful for the Texans. Fisher’s team's success and playing in some huge games present a similar situation to a few years ago. Juice Scruggs was drafted higher, but Patterson was the better player. Hopefully, there is a role for both Fisher and Woodaz. They face a crowded battle when they integrate with the veterans at linebacker.

Kamari Ramsey and Lewis Bond have depth opportunities on this roster. Ramsey might get a chance to back up Jalen Pitre at this nickel spot, but he will need to showcase the athleticism that was a part of the profile of a draft pick steal. Bond needs to show all the athleticism and maybe surprise with some speed. There will be other pass catchers there. If he looks slow, it will show. If he looks quick out of his routes, his familiarity with this system will serve him well.

There’s plenty to glean from a light workout. Nothing should be written in stone, but don’t be afraid to start taking notes with a pencil. Just have the eraser handy.

Seven Undrafted Free Agents With a Shot at a Roster Spot

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But how does it compare to the masses?

Each year, draft analysts create their own big board based on information they collect on prospects. A change in the availability of game footage has allowed people outside NFL buildings to assess players like a scout or general manager would. Of course, teams have a multitude of advantages in learning about the player as a person, where most draft prognosticators only watch a player’s football performance. Teams also have a scheme they are beholden to draft for when considering a prospect. Those things should account for some ranking differences.

What does the consensus big board tell us about the Texans? Arif Hasan creates his Top 300 Big Board each year. He compiles the big boards of over 100 draft analysts to create his consensus big board. I used those rankings to compare where the Texans selected their players compared to the consensus big board rankings.

Here are the results.

The 2026 NFL Draft

The consensus board hated this draft from Nick Caserio. A few spots difference is negligible, but there are huge overdrafts when comparing the board from the Texans to hundreds of draft analysts.

This is raw data without the context of the draft. Rutledge was rumored to be sought after by the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans in the first round. If you believe the rumors, two teams would’ve selected him close to where the Texans selected him.

Marlin Klein is a selection with a similar caveat. Teams seemed to overvalue tight ends who were blocking-forward, leading to a worthwhile guess that Klein might not have been an overdraft of nearly 100 spots.

Plenty of people agreed with the notion that the selections of Ramsey and Fisher were value picks, though hard to approach either as a “steal” selection being so late in the draft. None of these players has played a snap, so the projections carry more weight than any other draft.

Total Difference From the Consensus Big Board: -285

The 2025 NFL Draft

This draft obviously has a little more context because these players have seen the field. Injuries drastically affected two selections, with Jaylin Smith and Jaylen Reed missing time.

Smith will be interesting because he’s the biggest overdraft by Caserio compared to the consensus big board in the top three rounds. The actions of the Texans haven’t eliminated Smith’s chances of being the top backup at outside cornerback.

Higgins was rumored to be highly sought after, so a few spots didn’t matter for him. Plus, the Texans had extra assets via the trade back. No wide receiver drafted after Higgins had more yards than him. Despite his limited production, Noel outperformed three players who were considered reaches ahead of him.

Mertz and Hamilton were not ranked in the top 300, so they could be even worse value than the board indicates. Neither played in 2025, but Hamilton missed because of injury. They’re also late-round selections, so any failures there should be adjusted in perception.

The Texans seem to have nailed the Marks selection. 16 running backs were drafted after Marks, and only two had more rushing yards than him. Neither of those two backs was drafted before his consensus big board spot of 196.

Total Difference From the Consensus Big Board: -280

The 2024 NFL Draft

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How do they fit the current roster? Let’s dive in.

26th Overall - OL - Keylan Rutledge - Georgia Tech

The top pick for the Houston Texans, and their first selection in the first round since Will Andersion Jr., doesn’t have a defined role. Rutledge is a mauler who played almost every snap at right guard in college. The Texans brought veteran Ed Ingram back on a massive multi-year contract to play right guard. The team added veteran Wyatt Teller to play left guard.

Beating out those two veterans isn’t impossible. Aireontae Ersery beat out Cam Robinson last season to be the team’s starting left tackle. Robinson might have been an easier foe than Teller or Ingram at this point in their careers. Another position presents a different set of challenges.

The Texans need better production from their center in 2026. Rutledge didn’t play center, but he was the emergency center for Georgia Tech, and he spent the offseason working on snapping the football. While he might have a physical advantage over all the other center candidates, they possess vastly more experience.

Jake Andrews played center for the Texans last season. Jarrett Patterson has played center for multiple seasons in the NFL. Evan Brown previously played center in his NFL career. Eli Cox played center at Kentucky.

Rutledge has competition wherever the team intends for him to land. He said last week he isn’t afraid to compete for his spot.

36th Overall - DT - Kayden McDonald - Ohio State

It’s quite the win for the Texans to add what many believe is the best defensive tackle in the draft. McDonald mentioned the team told him they thought highly of him. General manager Nick Caserio reinforced their belief in McDonald’s place within this draft class.

While there are experienced veterans in his position, McDonald possesses the size and run-stuffing ability that his new teammates don’t. He is an early-down player until his pass rush moves develop. DeMeco Ryans spoke about his ability with an excitement that indicated he has more pass-rush prowess than he showed in college. McDonald might end up being a steal for the league’s best defense.

As a bonus, for a team trying to get better at running the football, McDonald presents an excellent test case for improving the rushing attack.

59th Overall - TE - Marlin Klein - Michigan

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