Latest news with #TheHoustonTexans
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans target C.J. Stroud's former No. 2 as No. 2 WR in 7-Round mock draft
Texans target C.J. Stroud's former No. 2 as No. 2 WR in 7-Round mock draft The Houston Texans have a few questions that need to be answered in the 2025 NFL Draft. The big ones revolve around their offensive line depth and the secondary wide receiver role. Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is off to the Washington Commanders. Tank Dell is expected to miss most of the 2025 season, leaving a hole at left tackle and wide receiver No. 2, respectively. While those are two of the Texans' weakest positions, defensive line depth, linebacker and running back depth should also be on the table for additional help. The most intriguing question will be where Houston elects to make those picks. Some assume the Texans will go "best player available" at No. 25, depending on which position is ranked higher on the board. Of course, the Texans have two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk on the roster while questions still surround the offensive line, especially at guard and left tackle long-term. It's impossible to know the answers to these questions until after the draft is over, but The 33rd Team's Kyle Crabbs put together a seven-round mock draft with his predictions for each team. The Texans elect to bolster their receiving room first, adding Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka at No. 25 to shore up the passing attack for the long haul. "Houston's offensive overhaul has featured an offensive coordinator change and a revamped offensive line unit," Crabbs wrote. "There are new faces at wide receiver, as well — but the Texans pursued a deep receiver room last year only to see the depth fizzle down the stretch after injuries. "Fortifying the wide receiver grom to help CJ Stroud fire on all cylinders feels like an admirable play after the Texans were so aggressive in signing new names to play up front." Houston continues to rebuild the offensive personnel by selecting Minnesota's Aireontae Ersery at pick No. 58. He's a long-term play at left tackle, signaling that Cam Robinson will start in 2025 on the blind side. Ersery has the potential to become a full-time starter at left tackle and has the upside as a run blocker. With two picks in the third round, Houston bolsters both trenches with interior offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild from Georgia at pick No. 79 before taking defensive tackle Jordan Phillips from Maryland with the 89th overall pick. Without a fourth-round selection, the Texans wait until pick No. 166 to add a blocking tight end in Georgia Tech's Jackson Hawes. With their final two picks in the seventh round, the Texans add more depth to the defensive line with Oklahoma State's Collin Oliver at pick No. 236 and defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte from SMU at pick No. 241. Click here to read Crabb's full mock draft featuring all 256 picks.
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Texans complete restructure with OT Tytus Howard, free up over $11 million in cap space
Texans complete restructure with OT Tytus Howard, free up over $11 million in cap space The Houston Texans are adding more to the salary cap. According to reports, the Texans have restructured veteran offensive tackle Tytus Howard's $56 million contract for a second time, lowering his base salary to $1.17 million while converting his $14.3 million salary into a signing bonus for the 2025 season. Howard, who inked a three-year extension in 2023, still has one year left on the contract after this season. With the restructured contract, the Texans will add $11.64 million back into the salary cap for the 2025 season. Entering the second wave of free agency, Howard is projected to start at left tackle following the trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders. The 2019 first-round pick was due a $14 million base salary, in 2024, but Houston converted $12.875 million of that figure into a fully guaranteed signing bonus. Should Howard win the starting job over a potential first-round pick, it'll mark the first time he's started at left tackle since being drafted out of Alabama State. Houston is leaving the door open for a potential position switch over the guard, following his success in 2024 amid a postseason run. The Texans own seven picks in the upcoming NFL draft, including four in the top 100.
USA Today
15-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Texans have two big needs left after free agency splashes
The Texans have two big needs left after free agency splashes The Houston Texans shored up their defense in the first wave of NFL free agency. Acquiring defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles while bringing in defensive line talent like Derek Barnett, Sheldon Rankins, Mario Edwards Jr. and Darrell Taylor should be enough to have DeMeco Ryans' unit competing for awards as the league's top defense. Now there's just one key position left to address: the offensive line. Which role? Basically everyone except right tackle. Even right tackle could use some sprucing, but it likely won't come until 2026. Houston traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders in exchange for four draft picks. It's a nice haul, but losing a talent who allowed nine total sacks over the past three seasons will be hard to replace. The Texans also cut ties with Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason, leaving long-term holes at both guard positions. For now, Tytus Howard is the only player guaranteed to start next season. Plans are to try him at left tackle, but if that fails, he'll shift inside to one of the guard spots or back at right tackle. Former second-round pick Blake Fisher will have an opportunity to lock down the right tackle job permenantly, but any struggles could lead to him being benched and out of the Texans' future. Houston signed Laken Tomlinson and traded for Ed Ingram to compete for reps at guard. Compete is the key word since neither is promised a starting job this offseason. At center, the Texans have competition between Jarrett Patterson, with the loser likely competing for reps at right gaurd. So, what does this mean? The Texans must select two linemen early come next month in Green Bay during the draft. Houston has four picks in the top 100, meaning at least half must go to shoring up the protection around C.J. Stroud. The Texans could also use a wide receiver, but after trading for Christian Kirk, that could be moved down the pecking order. Regarding pick No. 25, Texas All-American tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. should be the pipeline dream. If he's off the board, shifting inside to Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker as the top interior selection. Should both be gone, Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons and North Dakota State offensive lineman Gray Zabel are strong consolation prizes with the Day 1 potential to start. The Texans allowed 52 sacks last season, meaning change must come to keep Stroud upright. That change, at least for now, must come through the draft and a bit of hope that the picks with hit for the long haul.
USA Today
24-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
2 Texans crack '50 under 40' list, including Jerrod Johnson
The Houston Texans are in the process of trying to transform their franchise from a fun roster into a competitive team built on winning a Super Bowl in 2025. Over the past two offseasons, ownership invested plenty into the decision makers and high powers to secure the right talent, only to have finished with back-to-back 10-7 finishes. Still, Houston is filled with promising people who are respected in NFL league circles. DeMeco Ryans was considered a rising star during his time as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. So far, he's met the criteria, totaling 22 wins in two years, including a pair of postseason victories. Now, two more names under his watch are gaining that same type of love. The Athletic recently released its '50 under 40′ list, showcasing top coaches and executives under the age of 40. Two members of the Texans organization were listed. Among coaches, Jerrod Johnson was considered one of the brightest offensive minds and quarterback gurus. Having worked with C.J. Stroud since being drafted out of Ohio State, Johnson remains a staple in the Texans' community and should be considered a hot name to receive a promotion next offseason if Stroud leads Houston to its third postseason appearance. 'Johnson has interviewed for offensive coordinator jobs in the last two hiring cycles but many in league circles believe his true potential lies beyond that — as a future head coach,' The Atheltic wrote. Among the scouting community, D.J. Debick has garnered high praise. Currently serving as the director of pro scouting, Debick's influence on free agency and trades has made him one of the rising stars in the scouting world. He has helped Houston land premier talents like All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair while trading for two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs. Debick also had a crucial role in helping Houston stabilize the salary cap to extend Nico Collins ahead of his final year of eligibility on the rookie deal. He also was part of the foundation that realized trading for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon was the best course of action rather than trying to land him in free agency following a potential release from the Cincinnati Bengals. 'The ready-to-win Texans made big moves in free agency and via trade this past season, led in part by Debick's efforts in pro personnel,' The Athletic wrote. 'Debick also played a key role in bringing in new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, a former Rams assistant who was among the top candidates in this coaching cycle.' The Texans own the No. 25 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Texans offseason roster profile: RB Dameon Pierce
The Houston Texans are officially in offseason mode and we are still weeks away from free agency and the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Over the next few weeks, Texans Wire will break down each player on the roster who is signed through the 2025 season and their potential moving forward. We will recap their 2024 season, their contract status and what their status is for the coming offseason and 2025 season. Let's continue to talk about the running back room with a recap of Year 3 for Dameon Pierce. 2024 Dameon Pierce Season With the arrival of Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from Cincinnati, the days of Pierce as the Texans' top back were over. That doesn't mean his role wasn't essential as the change-of-pace No. 2 option. When Mixon missed three games with an ankle injury, Pierce and Cam Akers served as the 1-2 option. Pierce was also a key component on special teams as the Texans' primary kickoff returner, where he averaged 25.6 yards per attempt. 2024 Dameon Pierce stats In 11 games, Pierce rushed for 293 yards on 40 attempts. He scored a pair of long touchdowns against the New England Patriots in Week 6 and the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 while averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. 2025 contract status Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Pierce will earn $1.1 million as his base salary in 2025. The rest of his $203,000 salary will kick in on March 7. He has a $1.3 million cap hit in 2025. Outlook for 2025 Pierce will enter the offseason as the No. 2 back behind Mixon. He will continue in that role, provided he stays healthy, unless he either moves backward in his development or the Texans add another option in free agency or the NFL Draft come April.
