Houston Texans 53-man roster projection for 2024

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans open the 2024 NFL regular season against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium, and their roster features Pro Bowlers at five different position groups along with a few former All-Pros.

Heading into their second year under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans are considered title contenders in a loaded AFC, and they might have one of the best offenses in the league. Training camp will provide a glimpse of how it all comes together while also showing some intriguing battles. There will be some notable veterans battling for roster spots, particularly at receiver.

Here is the projection of the list of 53 players:

QUARTERBACK (3): CJ Stroud, Davis Mills, Keenum case.

It will be the same group as last season. Stroud is the established starter, and the Texans like the veteran leadership Keenum brings to a quarterback room that has two players under 26. But if Stroud misses playing time again (he missed two last season with a concussion), the Texans will be comfortable with Keenum or Mills.

HALF-RUNNING RUNNERS (4): Joe Mixon, Dare Ogunbowale, JJ Taylor, Dameon Pierce

Mixon is the playmaker, but Ryans has been thrilled with Pierce’s offseason and envisions a “1-2 punch.” Ogunbowale adds value on special teams as an emergency kicker and kicker. In 2023, when Ka’imi Fairbairn was injured against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ogunbowale kicked a 29-yard field goal.

REAR (1): André Beck

Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has used a fullback on 20.7 percent of offensive plays, the fourth-highest, in 2023. Expect that number to remain the same as long as Beck is on the roster.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Xavier Hutchinson, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, John Metchie III

The player who was cut from that group is Robert Woods. The Texans signed Woods in March 2023 to a two-year, $15 million deal, and in his first year, he finished with 426 yards and a touchdown. The Texans could save nearly $5 million against the salary cap if they release him. Their main trio consists of Diggs, Collins and Dell. But backup options like Hutchinson and Metchie are on cheap rookie deals, and Brown is set to make less than Woods.

TIGHT WINGS (3): Brevin Jordan, Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover

Last year, the Texans kept just three tight ends on the active roster and expect to do the same in 2024. Schultz signed a three-year, $36 million extension, so he’s a sure thing. The Texans like Jordan’s game and are also eager to see how Stover fits in. General manager Nick Caserio said Stover is as “blue-collar as they come,” and has history with Stroud since both played at Ohio State.

OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYERS (9): Laremy Tunsil, Charlie Heck, Blake Fisher, Tytus Howard, Shaq Mason, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs, Jarrett Patterson, Kendrick Green

The starters are Tunsil, Scruggs, Mason, Howard and Kenyon Green, as each player has a big salary and/or was a first-round pick currently on a rookie contract. With the backups, Kendrick Green and Patterson have experience at center and guard, giving the Texans options to step in if one of the inside starters were to be scratched.

DEFENSIVE LINE PLAYERS (10): Tim Settle, Marcus Harris, Foley Fatukasi, Khalil Davis, Danielle Hunter, Dylan Horton, Derek Barnett, Denico Autry, Will Anderson Jr., Mario Edwards Jr.

The defensive end positions are set. It will be Anderson and Hunter. The interior will be a battle to watch throughout camp. What gives guys like Fatukasi and Davis the edge over their competition is talent and familiarity with the scheme. Ryans also has a lot of confidence in Settle and believes that with his scheme, he will have a productive season.

SECONDARY (5): Henry To’o To’o, Jamal Hill, Neville Hewitt, Christian Harris, Azeez Al-Shaair

The starting duo is Al-Shaair and Harris. The Texans believe this duo can be one of the most physically gifted linebacker duos in the NFL. Al-Shaair finished last season with 163 tackles and Harris had a big performance at the end, capping his sophomore year with a sixth-round interception in the wild-card round against the Cleveland Browns. Hewitt and To’oTo’o should earn a spot because of the value they provide on special teams.

HALF BODY (5): Derek Stingley Jr., Jeff Okudah, Kamari Lassiter, Desmond King II, Myles Bryant

The battle to see who starts opposite Stingley is an intriguing one. It appears Lassiter, who was the Texans’ first pick this year with the 10th overall pick in the second round, has the edge in the race over former third overall pick Okudah after running with the first-team defense during minicamp. If Lassiter continues his strong offseason, he has a chance to win this competition midway through camp.

SECURITY (4): Jimmie Ward, Calen Bullock, Jalen Pitre, Eric Murray

The starters should be Pitre and Ward, but if Bullock has a good camp, he could challenge for a starting role. The third-round pick out of USC has ball-catching skills (nine interceptions in college), and if he can show that ability, Ryans could put him in the starting role and perhaps move Ward to the nickel.

SPECIALISTS (3): Ka’imi Fairbairn, Jon Weeks, Tommy Townsend

Two-thirds of the group remains the same as the Texans’ kicking situation has changed. The Texans replaced Cameron Johnston, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 2022 All-Pro in Townsend.