Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has significantly overhauled the roster since he was hired a year ago. Heading into his second season and now on his second head coach in Lovie Smith as the replacement for David Culley, Caserio and the Texans have a lot of decisions to make about a fluid roster situation as they get down to their 53-man roster by next week’s NFL deadline.
The Texans have some question marks at tight end, offensive line, and running back with solid depth at defensive end, upgraded talent at corner and linebacker, and hope that second-year quarterback Davis Mills is their guy going forward.
Houston Texans 53-man roster projection
The Texans didn’t spend big in free agency. They mostly retained their own players on shorter contracts. Their biggest expenditure was a two-year, $39.6 million contract extension for standout wide receiver Brandin Cooks. In the draft, Caserio selected LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. third overall and Texas A&M offensive guard Kenyon Green with the 15th overall selection. He got Baylor safety Jalen Pitre in the second round and fourth-round running back Dameon Pierce.
The Texans aren’t expected to win a lot of games after going 4-13 last season but have a ton of draft capital after the Deshaun Watson trade and should have plenty of salary-cap space to try to be more competitive in the next year or so.
Starters will be annotated with an asterisk.
Houston Texans offense (25)
Quarterback:
Davis Mills*
Kyle Allen
Running back:
Dameon Pierce*
Marlon Mack
Rex Burkhead
Dare Ogunbowale
Fullbacks:
Troy Hairston
Wide receiver:
Brandin Cooks*
Nico Collins*
Chris Moore*
Phillip Dorsett
Chris Conley
Jalen Camp
Tight end:
Pharaoh Brown*
Brevin Jordan
Teagan Quitoriano
Offensive tackle:
Laremy Tunsil*
Tytus Howard*
Charlie Heck
Austin Deculus
Offensive guard:
Kenyon Green*
A.J. Cann*
Justin McCray
Center:
Justin Britt*
Scott Quessenberry
Houston Texans defense (26)
Defensive end:
Jonathan Greenard*
Jerry Hughes*
Mario Addison
Rasheem Green
Ogbo Okoronkwo
Demone Harris
Defensive tackle:
Maliek Collins*
Roy Lopez*
Kurt Hinish
Thomas Booker
Linebacker:
Christian Kirksey*
Kamu Grugier-Hill*
Garret Wallow*
Kevin Pierre-Louis
Christian Harris
Blake Cashman
Cornerback:
Derek Stingley Jr.*
Steven Nelson*
Desmond King
Isaac Yiadom
Tremon Smith
Safety:
Jalen Pitre*
Jonathan Owens*
Terrence Brooks
Grayland Arnold
Houston Texans specialists (3)
Ka’imi Fairbairn (K)
Cameron Johnston (P)
Jon Weeks (LS)
PUP/IR
RB Darius Anderson
WR Chester Rogers
WR John Metchie III
The Texans are going with extra defensive ends but could make changes at tight end after the final roster cutdown. Ross Blacklock, Tavierre Thomas, and Antony Auclair are candidates for injured reserve. Most of the Texans’ cuts are expected to return to the practice squad.
