The Houston Texans are nearly the NFL cut-down, which is Tuesday, August 29th. Beginning way back in the Spring with OTAs, rookie mini-camp, training camp, and now preseason, has all led up to cut-down day. With a team like the Texans, it may not be that difficult to predict the final 53-man roster, but there will still be some surprises.
I've written in the past about some players I think are locks to make the roster and some that will be cut. I'll probably be more wrong than right but that's part of the fun in covering the team. It could be especially interesting, considering this is the first offseason for a new coaching staff. So, while the former staff believed in building a roster one way, we can't use that past to help determine possible outcomes with the new staff.
Some positions are pretty much set as far as the guys at the top of the depth chart. It's not hard to predict who the top quarterback will be or the top two running backs but after that is where roster predictions can get tricky. Do the Texans keep Case Keenum on the roster as the primary backup or do they roll with former starter Davis Mills?
What about the wide receiver room with lots of unproven talent? Do both rookie receivers, Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson make the 53? I'm pretty sure Dell is safe to make it but not so sure about Hutchinson.
On the defensive side of the ball, there is also talent but not a lot of depth, so again, while the top guys are easy to predict, the same cannot be said for the backup guys or players like Jerry Hughes, the second oldest member of this team. I've called him out as a roster cut; however, I may need to rethink that stance given the lack of depth at the position.
Offensive players making the Houston Texans' 53-man roster (24)
Quarterback (2)
C.J. Stroud, Case Keenum
Sorry to all the Davis Mills fans, as I don't have him making the 53-man roster. I simply view Keenum as a better backup option at this point in their careers. I believe long-term Mills could be the backup but it benefits Stroud and this team this season to have Keenum on the sidelines.
Keenum can act as a coach for Stroud and help him throughout the games. You just have to ask yourself, would you rather have Keenum or Mills in Stroud's ear giving guidance and advice on game days? For me, that's an easy one to answer. That said, I see Mills hitting the practice squad for the 2023 season.
Running back (4)
Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary, Mike Boone, Andrew Beck
Pierce and Singletary are easy calls and Boone as well but after that, there is a significant drop off in talent. I think Ogunbowale is a solid depth piece, especially if you're looking for a decent receiving back; however, I don't see the team keeping four RBs, plus a fullback.
This is a solid group of backs and has a ton of potential to be very good this season. The question marks do not stand with the backs, but can the Texans' offensive line perform well enough and allow the running game to roll this season?
Wide Receiver (6)
Robert Woods, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson
I really like this group of receivers and think they are being underrated by the national media. I understand the narrative though. Lots of talent but outside of Woods, none of them have really done much to get excited about.
Brown is a good depth piece and crazy to think that of this group, he had the most receiving yards last season with the Dallas Cowboys totaling 555 yards. All six of these receivers combined for 1,563 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. A lot of potential here, but for now, that's all we have to go on, is potential.
Tight End (3)
Dalton Schultz, Mason Schreck, Brevin Jordan
Outside of Schultz, this group was difficult to discern. Schrek is currently listed as the backup on the Houston Texans' unofficial depth chart but the team has eight tight ends listed. Only a few of them have any receptions and none have more than two.
Jordan Brevin is probably the most recognizable name on the list but with so many tight ends, is it possible the team carries three?
Offensive line (9)
Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard, Kenyon Green, Shaq Mason, Juice Scruggs, Michael Deiter, Josh Jones, George Fant, Jimmy Morrissey
At least four of five starters are set. With Tunsil and Howard manning the tackle spots and Mason at one guard spot, while Scruggs locked in at center. However, I'm unsure of Green, as he's struggled so far this preseason with his run blocking. The team just traded for tackle Josh Jones but he has a lot of experience at guard as well, so it's possible he could step in there.
Michael Deiter is another one who has experience at guard, so I don't believe Green is a lock to start in 2023. He'll be on the 53-man roster though because he could be a decent backup. The Texans have a lot of flexibility and versatility with Deiter, Jones, and Morrissey. All three have played multiple positions throughout their careers. I just wrote an article about Jones coming over and he's played both tackle positions, as well as guard.
Defensive players making the Houston Texans' 53-man roster (26)
Defensive end (5)
Will Anderson Jr., Jonathan Greenard, Jerry Hughes, Derek Rivers, Adedayo Odeleye
Ok, I was wrong initially. I had Hughes off this roster and not making the 53 but the more I look at this, the more I think he makes the final roster. Primarily because the Texans simply don't have other options with much of a track record in the NFL.
Hughes at least brings a ton of leadership and can be a great mentor for Anderson and second-year man, Greenard. Dylan Horton and Ali Gaye are both rookies and will likely find themselves on the team's practice squad. That leaves Jacob Martin and Chase Winovich on the outs.
Defensive Tackle (5)
Sheldon Rankins, Maliek Collins, Hassan Ridgeway, Roy Lopez, Thomas Booker IV
The top three of Rankins, Collins, and Ridgeway all have eight years of NFL experience behind them, which will serve them and the Texans well, especially considering the bookends starters of Anderson Jr. and Greenard have one season between them.
After the top three though, none of them have more than four years and that's only one of them, Byron Cowart. Trying to determine who the other two were that made this team is hard. None of them stand out from the others and they all have about the same level of experience. In the end, I went with Lopez and Booker IV.
Linebackers (5)
Christian Harris, Denzel Perryman, Blake Cashman, Cory Littleton, Henry To'oTo'o
I struggled with the team carrying four or five linebackers but went with five because I think the team wants to keep To'oTo'o on the 53-man roster and continue developing him to take Perryman's spot as the starting middle linebacker. If they kept only four, that means someone like Littleton or either Cashman or Harris could be out. In the end, the Texans go five strong at the position.
I like this group as well and Perryman's leadership in the middle of the defense will pay huge dividends for the Houston Texans and their defense. He knows Coach Ryans' defense and will be a big asset there.
Cornerback (7)
Derek Stingley Jr., Steven Nelson, Shaquill Griffin, Cameron Dantzler, Ka'dar Holman, D'Angelo Ross
This position was another difficult one to determine, primarily because we don't know how Coach Ryans and this staff want to build the roster. Teams typically keep anywhere from five to seven corners on their 53-man roster, and it comes down largely to how the staff wants to run the defense from a scheme perspective.
I decided to go somewhere in the middle and have them keep six. I also think the team signed Dantzler because of a lack of confidence in their depth. Dantzler brings experience and he has all the tools to be a solid corner in the NFL but for whatever reason has not been able to put it all together yet. Can the Texans staff bring that out of him?
Safety (4)
Jalen Pitre, Jimmie Ward, M.J. Stewart, Eric Murray
The tandem of Pitre and Ward will be one of the best safety duos in the league. The Texans certainly hope so and hope they can stay healthy. Pitre is one of the best young safeties in the game and Ward is an excellent piece to the puzzle and brings that leadership to the secondary that will be important to the defense.
The backups of Steward and Murray bring a combined 14 years of NFL experience, so they may not be starting-caliber safeties, but they have a ton of experience and know what they are doing in the defensive backfield. There is a lot of knowledge that Pitre can learn from this safety group.
Specialist (3)
Ka'imi Fairbairn, Cameron Johnston, Jon Weeks
This group is pretty obvious, but the team did just sign punter Ty Zentner due to an injury that Johnston is nursing. This is only a temporary fix until Johnston is 100% and can assume his punter duties.