Way-Too-Early 53-Man Roster Projection
There's Plenty of Depth to Try to Fit on This Roster
The Houston Texans finally have a tough roster projection. It’s become a tougher exercise over the years, but this version was the toughest one yet. There’s a chance training camp makes it even more difficult. This has the chance to be a great roster.
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.
