The roster is in Houston with the aspirations to reach the Super Bowl.Its still early in the offseason but were at a pivotal point with the draft almost upon us. NFL teams will then look to quickly add undrafted free agents that they covet soon after to fill their 90-man rosters before they circle back to the veteran free agent market to fill needs and depth.There are several veterans still available in free agency who could play key roles in Houston. However, some of those positions could be filled in the draft. There are alsopositions lacking at this point in free agency where teams will need to make an addition with a draft pick.Here's a look at po sible players Texans could draft to fill positions of need or sign in free agency if they don't select their targets.SN's NFL DRAFT HQ | | QuarterbacksQuarterback isnt a need for the Texans with Case Keenum, Davis Mills and Tim Boyle on the current 90-man roster. If they were looking to upgrade the backup or third-string position in free agency, there are really not a lot of players to pick from.VeteransRyan TannehillTrevor SiemianBlaine GabbertRookiesSpencer Rattler, South CarolinaMichael Pratt, TulaneJordan Travis, FSURattler is being mocked to teams in the third round. Hes a second-round talent that would be tempting to add if he fell to the fourth round, despite having other needs. Pratt is most likely to go in the fourth round of the draft with Travis slotted more into the fifth round. The draft gets thin after the fourth round at most positions and by the fifth round in the others. If Pratt or Travis last until the sixth round the Texans could make an addition there that would lead to Mills potential departure.Running BacksThe veteran and rookie markets are vastly different. No one on the veteran market truly upgrades a roster. While the rookie cla s may not have the big-name first-rounder among
Jerryd Bayless Jersey the group, they have a ton of guys with talent that can be had between the third and fifth rounds.The Texans dont have a pick in the fifth round, currently, but have one in the third round as well as two picks in each of the fourth and sixth rounds. Houston could make a selection at the position between the third and fifth rounds to add a player that can compete for the No. 2 spot at the position with the Texans ahead of Dameon Pierce.VeteransEzekiel ElliottKareem HuntBoston ScottRookiesBlake Corum, MichiganMarShawn Lloyd, USCJonathon Brooks, TexasTrey Benson, FSUWill Shipley, ClemsonJaylen Wright, Tenne seeRay Davis, KentuckyIsaac Guerendo, LouisvilleAudric Estime, Notre DameBraelon Allen, WisconsinCody Schrader, Mi souriBucky Irving, OregonTyrone Tracy Jr., PurdueDaijun Edwards, GeorgiaJawhar Jordan, LouisvilleIsaiah Davis, SD StateTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: Wide ReceiversThe veteran receiver market isnt as bare as the quarterback or running back markets, but its far from deep. The group is mostly made up of No. 3 and 4 receivers. The Texans wouldnt need to add anyone from the veterans list as they have after trading for Stefon Diggs.Houston should look to target someone in this deep rookie receiver cla s, though. The Texans will need to pick one between their pick at No. 42 and No. 127 in the fourth round. While they can find talent at the position into the early sixth round, they would need to wait no longer than the second of their two fourth-round picks to make a selection at the position.
Tiago Splitter Jersey The third round is the sweet spot for the Texans to take a wide receiver but its the sweet spot for most positions in this draft, including running back, offensive line, tight end, linebacker, cornerback, safety and edge.VeteransTyler BoydHunter RenfrowOdell Beckham Jr.Michael ThomasDJ CharkJamal AgnewMarquise GoodwinAllen RobinsonRookiesJermaine Burton, AlabamaKeon Coleman, FSUXavier Legette, South CarolinaLadd McConkey, GeorgiaJalen McMillan, WashingtonMalachi Corley, Western KentuckyRicky Pearsall, FloridaTroy Franklin, OregonRoman Wilson, MichiganJacob Cowing, ArizonaJavon Baker, UCFMalik Washington, VirginiaJaLynn Polk, WashingtonAinias Smith, Texas A&MBrenden Rice, USCLuke McCaffrey, RiceDevontez Walker, UNCAnthony Gould, Oregon StateTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: Tight EndsThe veteran free agents at the tight end position are similar to that at quarterback. Theres no one to look at as a fallback option if they choose to pa s on some of the prospects in this rookie cla s. Theres a chance that the Texans could stay at pick No. 86 and have their pick from any of the names listed above. Houston wouldnt need to force the i sue at No. 86 as there will still be talent available at the position into the fifth round.VeteransLogan ThomasRobert Tonyan Jr.Ro s DwelleyRookiesCade Stover, OSUBen Sinnott, Kansas StateTheo Johnson, Penn StateJaTavion Sanders, TexasJared Wiley, TCUTip Reiman, IllinoisTanner McLachlan, ArizonaJaheim Bell, FSUErick All, IowaTrey Knox, South CarolinaAJ Barner, MichiganTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: Offensive LinemenThe Texans have a lot of money and draft picks invested in their offensive line, so it would be a surprise if they pay a lot of money for a veteran. It would aslo be surprising to see the Texans use one of their two second-round picks on the offensive line.In the third round at pick No. 86, though, the Texans will be in prime position to select
Charles Barkley Jersey a solid offensive lineman, whether for the interior of the line or on the outside. The third round still feels like it may be too early for the Texans' liking. If the Texans are going to draft an offensive lineman its most likely to be with one of their fourth-round picks. The talent falls off at these positions after the fourth round and the Texans lack a fifth-round pick, currently.VeteransDonovan SmithCharles LenoConnor WilliamsRookiesKingsley Suamataia, BYUChristian Mahogany, Boston CollegeCooper Beebe, Kansas StateBlake Fisher, Notre DameDominick Puni, KansasPatrick Paul, HoustonRoger Rosengarten, WashingtonMatt Goncalves, PittHunter Nourzad, Penn StateDelmar Glaze, MarylandZach Frazier, West VirginiaSataoa Laumea, UtahChristian Haynes, UCONNZak Zinter, MichiganKiran Amegadjie, YaleBeaux Limmer, ArkansasCaedan Wallace, Penn StateIsaiah Adams, IllinoisJavon Foster, Mi souriBrandon Coleman, TCUTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: Defensive TacklesHouston previously showed interest in Arik Armstead, so they could add a defensive tackle in free agency if they don't draft one.The first round may only see one defensive tackle come off the board in Byron Murphy II. While there will be talent available at the position until the early to middle of the fifth round, the second round is the sweet spot for defensive tackles in this years draft, and the Texns are in prime position to land one of the top players at the position. If Houston waits until Round 3 to make the selection at pick No. 86, theyll be left with talented, situational fits at the position.VeteransCalais CampbellRookiesMichael Hall Jr., OSUKris Jenkins, MichiganBraden Fiske, FSUTVondre Sweat, TexasMekhi Wingo, LSURuke Orhorhoro, ClemsonDeWayne Carter, DukeLeonard Taylor III, MiamiJordan Jefferson, LSUMaason Smith, LSUMarcus Harris, AuburnFabian Lovett Sr., FSUMcKinnley Jackson, Texas A&MKhristian Boyd, Northern IowaJustin Rogers, AuburnJustin Eboigbe, AlabamaTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: Edge rushersThe group of veteran free-agent pa s rushers and rookies is lacking in premium talent.The Texans could look to draft developmental depth in the middle rounds or if they dont land on a prospect they like, they could head back to the veterans and sign a role player for a one-year depth role. If they do draft an edge player this year, its most likely to be in the third or fourth round. There will be two to three guys that last until the fifth round but Houston would be best to grab one in the fourth at the latest. Theres not much separating the fourth-round talent from other prospects that will be selected at the position two rounds earlier.VeteransYannick NgakoueEmmanuel OgbahCarl LawsonCharles HarrisTyus BowserBud DupreeRookiesDarius Robinson, Mi souriAustin Booker, KansasMarshawn Kneeland, Western MichiganGabriel Murphy, UCLAChris Braswell, AlabamaAdisa Isaac, Penn StateJalyx Hunt, Houston ChristianBralen
Maurice Cheeks Jersey Trice, WashingtonMohamed Kamara, Colorado StateJonah Elli s, UtahXavier Thomas, ClemsonJavon Solomon, TroyTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: LinebackersThere are not many options at the linebacker spot in free agency. The Texans are set up perfectly to have the top options at the position to fall to their first and/or second pick in the second round, too.No off-ball linebacker may be selected in the first round. The first one off the board might not come until the Texans select at pick No. 42. Houston could sit at their first pick and wait and see if their top linebacker prospect falls right in their lap. If they mi s out on their top guy, theyll be able to find talent at the position through the rest of the second round and into the fifth round. Again, the third round seems like the ideal spot to pick their future linebacker. However, needs or value at other positions may lead the Texans to wait until the fourth to take a Day 2 prospect at the position that fell to Day 3.VeteransShaq LeonardKwon AlexanderJarrad DavisRookiesEdgerrin Cooper, Texas A&MPayton Wilson, NC StateCurtis Jacobs, Penn StateJeremiah Trotter Jr., ClemsonCedric Gray, UNCJunior Colson, MichiganTyrice Knight, UTEPMarist Liufau, Notre DameAaron Casey, IndianaTommy Eichenberg, OSUTrevin Wallace, KentuckyTyRon Hopper, Mi souriJ.D. Bertrand, Notre DameTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: CornerbacksThe Texans are sitting in a position of luxury here.While they have a need at cornerback on their roster, there are still talented veteran cornerbacks on the market. Steven Nelson could be in play to return to the Texans if they dont select one early enough in the draft. If Houston doesnt want to go that route again they could look to bring Xavien Howard, who expre sed interest in playing for the Texans and is fromt Houston. Stephon Gilmore is another talented veteran with a little juice left that could upgrade the position.Before the Texans decide on signing a veteran, they can allow the draft to play out and see which prospects are available when Houstons on the clock. While talent can be had until the fifth round, the Texans would need to make a selection by the third round at the latest but more preferably with one of their second-round picks for a chance to land a guy who can compete to start as a rookie. If Houston waits until after the fourth round to make a selection for the position, they should turn back to the veteran free agents and bring in one of those mentioned with the plan to start opposite Derek Stingley Jr.VeteransXavien HowardStephon GilmoreSteven NelsonAdoree JacksonRookiesEnnis Rakestraw Jr., Mi souriMax Melton, RutgersMike Sainristil, MichiganT.J. Tampa, Iowa StateKamari La siter, GeorgiaKris Abrams-Draine, Mi souriDecamerion Richardson, Mi si sippi StateD.J. James, AuburnKhyree Jackson, OregonAndru Phillips, KentuckyDwight McGlothern, ArkansasNehemiah Pritchett, AuburnJosh Newton, TCUCaelen Carson, Wake ForestCam Hart, Notre DameRenardo Green, GeorgiaJarvis Brownlee Jr., LouisvilleElijah Jones, Boston CollegeChau Smith-Wade, Washington StateDeAntre Prince, Ole Mi sSafetiesSimilar to the cornerback position, the safety position allows the Texans to have some fallback options after the draft.There are some safeties to be had between the second and fourth rounds of the upcoming cla s. The Texans shouldnt force the i sue as they have veterans that they know can do the job available on the market. While there are solid prospects at the position in the fourth round and even into the fifth round, the Texans would need to add a prospect at the position from this draft cla s with one of their first three picks. If they fail to do so, then theyll need to have Simmons on speed dial by the end of the third round.VeteransJustin SimmonsQuandre DiggsMarcus MayeTashaun GipsonRookiesTyler Nubin, MinnesotaJavon Bullard, GeorgiaTykee Smith, GeorgiaKamren Kinchens, MiamiDadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas TechCole Bishop, UtahCalen Bullock, USCJaylin Simpson, AuburnMalik Mustapha, Wake ForestJaden Hicks, Washington StateMyles Harden, South DakotaBeau Brade, MarylandKitan Oladapo, Oregon StateSione Vaki, UtahTexans 2024 NFL draft targets: The
Sergio Rodriguez Jersey draft and the Texans' needs align perfectly with where Houston selects and how similarly the best value at key positions falls around the teams pick at No. 42 in the second round and pick at No. 127 in the fourth round. Expect the Texans to focus on that area of the draft even more so than they have already. Houstons sixth- and seventh-round picks should be used mostly as ammunition to a sist in value to trade up or to acquire future picks.If a first-round prospect doesnt fall to them at pick No. 42 then they should look to trade back in hopes of adding another top-100 pick. Ideally, the Texans would finish the draft by making six total selections with all of them focused between picks No. 50 and No. 120. If Houston came out of this draft with one second-rounder, four third-rounders and one fourth-rounder, they would be best set up to find long-term succe s from their 2024 cla s as a whole, compared to the 31 other teams draft cla ses.
