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DeMeco Ryans stepped to the podium in front of the Houston media on Monday to reflect on 2023 and discuss the future of the franchise at the start of the first phase of the Texans’ voluntary offseason workout program.
The Texans will look a lot differently in 2024 than they did this past season despite the same head coach, quarterback and offensive line. Houston is gearing up for a Super Bowl run after key additions like wideout Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon and defensive end Danielle Hunter.
And now, with 10 days before the 2024 NFL draft, Ryans and the Texans are ready to solidify their team as both head into a pivotal year.
DeMeco Ryans’ pre-2024 NFL draft press conference takeaways
Focus on the trenches
There was a lot of discussion centered around the trenches.
“I feel like the front for us, offensively and defensively, are the two most important pieces to how we operate as a team,” Ryans said. “We want to be dominant up front, on the offensive line and the defensive line, and we’ve added guys to that defensive line, I feel like, that can help us continue to be a dominant force and help our team and help our defense play great football.”
The Texans added Hunter, as well as Denico Autry and a few other backup defensive tackles following the departures of last year’s starters Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins. The Texans, who have spoken about continuity, went a completely different direction at defensive tackle: Of the nine external free agents they added to their defense (not including special teamers), almost half of them (four) were at the tackle position.
Ryans spoke about what he’s looking for in their defensive tackles when he said, “We want guys who can attack. We want guys who can do that no matter the size. When you talk about, ‘Is there a certain size you look for?’ I’ve seen guys do it at 280, 290 [pounds], and I’ve seen guys do it at 315. So, there’s a different range for different types of players. It’s all about our guys just being explosive up front and being able to do what we’re asking them to do.”
The Texans added defensive tackles for their predominant nickel defense, this offseason in Autry, Foley Fatukasi, Tim Settle and Mario Edwards, who uncoincidentally have listed weights between 273 to 318 pounds.
Continuity for C.J. Stroud
While the continuity may be lacking at defensive tackle, Ryans did speak to its value on offense, particularly for second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud.
“I think it’s also a plus for him having coach [Bobby] Slowik and quarterbacks coach Jerrod [Johnson], having them back,” Ryans said.”
He went on to speak of the leap in play that he’s expecting from all of this past year’s rookies, including Stroud, from Year 1 to Year 2 but mentioned that they will need to continue to work hard as teams’ now have tape on their tendencies and what they each do well.
Expectations for former 2022 first-round picks
It’s not only the second-year guys that Ryans is expecting a bigger return on in 2024 as he spoke about his expectations for both of the Texans 2022 first-rounders, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and offensive guard, Kenyon Green.
On Stingley Jr. Ryans raved about his play in return to action this past season by saying, “You talk about attacking the ball, really shutting down one side of the field — it was impressive to see him grow as a player. Coming back off the injury and just seeing the way he worked and the way he got after it. He was a guy that teams started going away from.”
Ryans was asked about tackle Tytus Howard and Green returning to the offensive line this season and said tha, “Those are two guys we feel really good about up front for us.”
He added that it’s really Green’s first time being truly healthy and was excited to see him come into camp and compete to see what he can do.
Texans’ 2024 playmakers
Other than updates and expectations on the younger and injured guys’ return and development for 2024, Ryans was asked about the additions of all the “playmakers.” Guys like Diggs, Hunter, Mixon, Autry and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
“You can never have too many playmakers,” Ryans said with a smirk. “We’re trying to add as many playmakers as we can.”
Ryans specified that the Texans weren’t looking for playmakers. Rather, “We added a lot of guys who really love football.”
Two of those guys that fit these descriptive words were Diggs and Al-Shaair, who Ryans spoke more in detail about.
When Ryans was questioned about Diggs’ lack of production down the stretch in 2023, Ryans said, “We always go back to the tape and look at a player in totality. We don’t look at this amount of weeks or those weeks.” He doubled down on those comments and the playmaker comments when responding about the acquisition of Diggs by saying, “When you look at him and you watch the tape and you put it on — no one doubts the playmaker that he is.”
Lastly, Ryans spoke highly of Al-Shaair, who he was familiar with from their time together in San Francisco when Al-Shaair played a backup role for the 49ers. In his comments on Al-Shaair he said, “We’re getting a tenacious player. A guy who plays with relentless passion, energy, physical.”
There was speculation that Ryans would sign Al-Shaair in 2023. Instead, the linebacker signed with the Titans where he finally had his opportunity to be a starter. It made an impression on Ryans as he reflected on what Al-Shaair showed in 2023 by saying he “ran the show” and was “durable”. Two key areas that hadn’t been previously answered due to Al-Shaair being a backup prior.
Texans 2024 draft plan
Ryans was excited to start the offseason program and loved the moves that the team has made. But, he was sure to point out that while he loves what they’ve done to this point, they’re still building the roster for the upcoming season.
“When you look at the draft and how we approach it, we approach it the same,” he said. “We go through, evaluate all the positions and try to have a good feel for the guys that we would like to add to our team. Just because we’ve added guys at a lot of different positions, that doesn’t stop us from evaluating every position and looking at every avenue to continue to upgrade our team and continue to get our team better. So, for the draft process, our process will be exactly the same. Who can we add to our team that adds value to our locker room and adds value to us on the field?”
In 10 days, we’ll see what else he and general manager Nick Caserio have in store.
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