JUST NOW: Houston Texans 2024 Predictions for the Draft and Free Agency

Some offseason acquisition estimates for the Houston Texans following the NFL Combine.

Look around you; the season is changing, no matter where you are. The sun is getting closer to Houston now. The weather is stormy and dark along the coast. However, among the inner workings of NFL front offices, the NFL Draft and free agency represent the most significance in the offseason.

Houston has eight draft selections and a salary cap of $70 million going into the NFL Draft. Without Laremy Tunsil, Houston has let go of its gluttonous contracts and is now able to compete aggressively in the free agency market. Furthermore, Houston comes into the game with a full complement of draft picks, despite their lavish trade of draft picks to acquire Christian Harris, John Metchie, Will Anderson Jr., and other priority rookies.

This dual free agency and mock draft article’s approach will be similar to what the front office of the Houston Texans will encounter. First, teams will be snatching up the top players at premium fees as free agency begins on March 13. Houston will sign some of its own top free agents while attending to its most pressing needs. We’ll conclude with a few This is how it will appear, and at the bottom of the piece is a brand-new depth chart.

Unrestricted Agency
Resign Jonathan Greenard, DE, for a period of four years and fifty million dollars.

Resign Dalton Schultz as a tight end for $30 million over three years.

Blake Cashman, LB, should be resigned for three years at $15 million.

Adoree Jackson, CB (NYG) – $2 years/$5 million

Mekhi Becton, RT (NYJ): $7.5M for one year

D’Andre Swift, RB (PHI) – 18 million dollars over three years

Jerick McKinnon, right-back (KC) – $1 million for one year

Post-draft signings:

Cam Fleming, LT (DEN) – 1 year/$4M

Sean Murphy Bunting, CB (TEN) – 2 years/$4M

Devin White, LB (TB) – 1 year/$4M

Total 2024 Cap hit: $61.5M

Analysis: Houston takes the approach of re-signing some of their favorite free agents. Blake Cashman, Dalton Schultz, and Jonathan Greenard all want to come back and will on lucrative deals. Then, the front office turns its focus on during up the offensive tackle room with two quality backups. Houston pays to ensure if either Laremy Tunsil or Tytus Howard go down, a steady backup will take their place.

Then, and perhaps most importantly—and to some underwhelming acquisitions—the running backs. Spending a lot of money on an injured Saquon Barkley is impractical for Houston when they can add D’Andre Swift and Antonio Gibson and moneyball their strategy. At running back, they create a monster with three heads.

Houston partners veteran Devin White with linebacker Blake Cashman on defense. Christian Harris is able to continue being a hunter-seeker rather than a play caller because of this. A.J. Epenesa, a dynamic rotational defensive end, is another addition they make. Adoree’ Jackson and Sean Murphy-Bunting join Houston in the secondary, where they play in a defense that complements their preferred schemes and lets Stingley play to his best.

The most important positions after free agency are guard, safety, and defensive tackle. To strengthen the front seven, Houston and its defensive-minded coaching staff will go for elite players. The goal of the draft’s latter stages will be to increase depth at all important positions.

MOCK DRAFT

Round 1 Chop Robinson, DE – Penn State

Round 2 Calen Bullock, S – USC

Round 3 Brandon Dorlus, DT – Oregon

Round 4 Javon Foster, OT – Missouri

Round 4 Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, WR – Georgia

Round 5 Cedric Gray, LB – UNC

Round 7 Evan Anderson, DT – Florida Atlantic

Round 7 Jarius Monroe, CB – Tulane

Analysis: Chop Robinson had a fantastic NFL Combine and is surging up draft boards. He was a dynamic but rotational piece at Penn State. Even though I project Houston resigns Jonathan Greenard, Robinson will be the long-term solution and third-down playmaker for the Texans.

Calen Bullock fills a crucial need as at 6’2”, he’s a hard-hitting safety who also played a bit of wide receiver. The ball-hawking safety has started for three years and can rotate with Jimmy Ward immediately.

Houston turns around and adds Brandon Dorlus a versatile defensive tackle who can play across the entire defensive front. Houston continues to triple-up on the defensive line with a heavy-handed and promising DT Evan Anderson at the end of the draft.

By the end of the free agency and draft, Houston has a top tier defensive line with depth and versatility. They’ve rebuilt the secondary with value-based free agents and promising draft picks. And they’ve reloaded on solidifying the offensive line with veteran backups plus a developmental piece in Javon Foster.

Here’s a screenshot of the new Houston Texans depth chart: