How Texans approach draft one year after picking C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson: ‘Movement is contingent, player-driven’

HOUSTON – One year ago, the Texans dominated the NFL draft as they struck gold by landing star quarterback C.J. Stroud and elite defensive end Will Anderson Jr. as general manager Nick Caserio wheeled and dealed to select the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the second and third overall picks.

Now, the Texans are heading into a different altogether draft after trading their first-round draft pick and a seventh-rounder to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a pair of second-round selections and a sixth-round pick. The Texans have manufactured a bountiful offseason that included trading for Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and signing Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter in free agency to a two-year, $51 million deal.

The Texans don’t have a first-round draft pick for the first time since 2021.

Although the extreme splash from a year ago isn’t surrounding the Texans as they currently hold nine draft picks, including the No. 42 and No. 57 overall picks of the second round as well as a third-round selection on the second day of the draft, that doesn’t preclude Caserio from trading up back into the first round or maneuvering otherwise to obtain the players he wants. The Texans have needs at cornerback, defensive tackle, linebacker, safety and tight end.

A year ago, Caserio executed a franchise-record eight trades. He’s as aggressive and active as any general manager in the league.

“We’ve always been open-minded and flexible and adaptable,” Caserio said. “Movement is contingent, really player driven. It’s supply and demand. What are the resources available? If you bypass a player at a certain level, what’s the opportunity you could get an equivalent player at a different point. Do you have to maybe move in order to secure the services of that player, and at what cost? So, there’s cost-benefit analysis that goes on.”

On the heels of winning the AFC South division championship and one playoff game to finish 11-8 overall under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans’ roster is in extremely good shape.

“I think whoever we draft, hopefully they’ll come in here and create a role and niche for themselves,” Caserio said. “It’s probably going to be hard to make this team or make a significant impact. And, hopefully, that’s a good thing.”

As Caserio emphasized, the nine total picks, the reality is that’s subject to change.

“As it pertains to the draft, certainly excited about the opportunity we have in front of us next week,” Caserio said. “We have nine picks, as of Thursday night. We’ll see if that changes or stays static. Given our history, it will probably change at some point.”

Last year, the Texans hit in the third round with University of Houston standout wide receiver Tank Dell after obtaining center Juice Scruggs in the second round. They have a history of finding players in the second and third days of the draft, including wide receiver Nico Collins in the third round in 2021, safety Jalen Pitre in the second round and linebacker Christian Harris in the third round in 2022.

“We’re aggregating a lot of information, and there’s a lot of dialogue,” Caserio said. “DeMeco is probably sick of me walking into his office every day, but, literally, we talk about players, we talk about the team on a day-to-day basis. It’s all about communication. You can’t over-communicate in situations like this where you’re making big decisions on behalf of the organization.”

Collins was acquired following a trade, so was Dell and Harris and, of course, Anderson.

The Texans are looking for something highly specific in the draft and free agency.

“Texans isn’t for everyone, man,” Anderson said. “It’s a different type of DNA you have to have to play here, man. A different type of character you have to have, and you just have to love football man. I think the front office and coach do a really good job of choosing the guys they want to be here that can help change the culture, help keep uplifting the culture and being a positive impact not only in the building but in the locker room as well.”

The Texans hosted multiple players on 30 visits.

“There are probably some players we brought in for visits that we wouldn’t draft, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be interested in them,” Caserio said. “We’re just trying to gather as much information along the way as possible.

And the emphasis has remained the same: zero complacency.

“We’re always hunting,” Ryans said. “That doesn’t change for us. Expectations on the outside, whatever they may be, it really doesn’t change who we are. The expectations on the outside don’t permeate inside our building. We don’t care about expectations. Talk doesn’t win games. We have to go out and play good football when that time comes.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.