Predictions, concerns and possible solutions on the Texans’ 53-man roster

The 2024 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, as are the first two waves of NFL free agency.

It’s time to turn our attention to the current list to see where it may cause problems. Houston aspires to play more than 20 games this season in hopes of advancing to its first-ever Super Bowl. To do so, they will need top-tier talent and key pieces to keep the team afloat as injuries arise during a long and rigorous season.

MORE: Texans have several position battles in 2024

Here’s a look at the Texans’ 53-man roster.

Predictions, concerns and possible solutions on the Texans’ 53-man roster

The goal of this exercise is not to correctly name the exact 53 players who can survive cuts to their 90-man roster in the off-season. It would rather be a matter of highlighting areas in difficulty. Houston can proactively look to fill these holes before the roster is truly full.

2024 TEXANS SEASON: Full schedule | Predictions | Prime time games

Also note: This is not a predictive depth chart. So, the order of names listed is not an indication of where players will land in their positional pecking order.

Texans could have 53 players after 2024 NFL Draft

Texans Roster Concerns

Secondary

The defensive back group is the most troubling, even after drafting cornerback Kamari Lassiter in the second round and safety Calen Bullock in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

At cornerback, Derek Stingley Jr. is the star, but he has struggled to stay healthy since his stellar freshman year at LSU in 2019. Since then, he has missed at least five games every college season and among the pros. Jimmie Ward is similar to Stingley Jr. but older and playing the safety position in the secondary. Ward has missed an average of five games per year since 2016. He has missed 12 games over the past two seasons.

So with that in mind, the Texans are lacking high-end talent at both positions in their secondary.

If Stingley Jr. and Ward continue their history of missing games — and at worst, at the same time — Houston would have a secondary comprised of draft picks, rookies and players who haven’t played to their potential.

The starting secondary without Stingley Jr. and Ward would consist of cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson on the outside with second-round rookie Lassiter on the inside. Both Okudah and Henderson joined the Texans after each being selected among the top 10 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Top 10 picks from four years ago aren’t readily available unless they failed horribly on their first few stops.

2024 NFL Draft: Full List of Picks | Winners and winners losers

At safety, the Texans would start Jalen Pitre and Bullock if Ward was out for a while. Pitre hasn’t lived up to his second-round stock so far in his career and Bullock is a rookie third-round pick who shouldn’t be counted on in year one as a starter for a team hoping beat Patrick Mahomes, Lamar. Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers in a bid to win the AFC for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.

In the scenario where Ward and Stingley Jr. both missed time, the Texans starting secondary would be cornerbacks, Okudah/Henderson/Lassiter with safeties Pitre and Bullock. Despite the quality of the pass rush and linebackers, this is a secondary that will make the aforementioned quarterbacks salivate.

Linebacker

It’s not just the secondary on defense that is causing concern. Behind starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris, Houston leaves a lot to be desired at the linebacker position. The Texans know they are thin at the position, as evidenced by the money they handed out to undrafted free agent linebackers Max Tooley and Tarique Barnes. There isn’t a lot of help available on the free agent market, so the team is turning to a sixth-round pick in Jamal Hill and two older, undrafted linebackers for depth.

The Texas linebacker depth is primarily made up of special teams like Neville Hewitt, Del’Shawn Phillips and Jake Hansen to go along with their starters, senior fullback Henry To’oTo’o. Houston also added Jacob Phillips at the position along with the three rookie linebackers.

If Harris or Al-Shaair miss time, To’oTo’o would become a starter in the team’s 4-2-5 base defense. If both were missing at the same time, I don’t know who would start with To’oTo’o at base. Whether they roster Hewitt, Hansen, one of the rookies or one of the Phillips, it would be far from ideal and would represent a huge waste of talent.

Bet big on the defensive line

The Texans are betting big on their defensive line generating early pressure and passing often. The concept makes sense on paper, but the back seven can derail those plans with injuries if they don’t make one or two other key additions, especially in their secondary.

I don’t think the Texans are done adding more. I can’t believe they’re done adding if they’re honestly looking for a title and not just another playoff series. They are not built on the back end of their defense to win a Super Bowl, no matter how good the offense has become.

Houston is hoping their four-man pass rush will force the opposing quarterback to get rid of the ball, so all the secondary would have to do is become band-aid type coverages who are asked to block the route early to allow the defensive line. have time to go home. The Texans don’t expect their defensive backs to have to cover for long. It’s a great concept, but it goes out the window against the best quarterbacks in the playoffs who will rip that band-aid off and attack the coverage responsibilities like they’re yellows.

There are veteran free agents available at cornerback and safety that the Texans need to make a play for if they truly want to be title contenders. The linebacker spot is empty and Houston is hoping the rookies step up and their stars stay healthy at the position.

The Texans could pursue their first Super Bowl this year…but not with the lack of depth in the current secondary combined with the starter’s injury history.