The Texans are prepping for a franchise-altering season in 2024.
Houston already made waves in free agency with major signings and trades, and their return on rookie investments paid huge dividends for general manager Nick Caserio and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans after one year. The Texans matched the deepest they’ve ever gone in the playoffs in 2023 with a trip to the AFC divisional round. Behind their rookies, quarterback C.J. Stroud on offense and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. on defense, the Texans made a huge leap as a team.
The Texans have made the additions in free agency and via the trade market to upgrade their roster for their championship chase. Houston added defensive end Danielle Hunter, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and defensive lineman Denico Autry.
The Texans traded out of the first round earlier this offseason in a move with the Vikings. Caserio and Ryans recently called the second trough fourth rounds the “sweet spot” of this year’s draft, which is where Houston has the bulk of their draft picks. The Texans will look to add guys that can compete to start and/or provide needed depth for their expected 20-game season, if they were to reach the Super Bowl.
The Sporting News is tracking the Texans’ 2024 NFL Draft selections, from rounds one to seven. Follow along with the picks below.
NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 200 players in 2024 draft class
Texans draft picks 2024: When does Houston pick?
Round 2, Pick No. 42Round 2, Pick No. 59Round 3, Pick No. 86Round 4, Pick No. 123Round 4, Pick No. 127Round 6, Pick No. 188Round 6, Pick No. 189 Round 7, Pick No. 238 Round 7, Pick No. 247
Texans NFL Draft order 2024
Round Pick Player 2 42 2 59 3 86 4 123 4 127 6 188 6 189 7 238 7 247
Texans NFL Draft needs
Cornerback: Houston added two top-10 picks from the 2020 draft at the cornerback position this offseason with Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson. The Texans also brought back Desmond King II and signed Myles Bryant, both of whom can play on the interior at cornerback while also providing special teams value. Steven Nelson is still unsigned and could be brought back after the draft if the Texans don’t select a cornerback early enough that could provide immediate competition opposite of Derek Stingley Jr.Safety: Jimmie Ward has struggled to stay healthy and Jalen Pitre hasn’t lived up to his draft potential, to this point. The Texans have a need for starting talent and depth and the position and could look to select one as early as their first pick but could wait until as late as their two fourth-round selections to add a contributor. If Houston waits too long on the position, they could target the veteran safety market that still includes the likes of Justin Simmons.Linebacker: Houston ran a 4-2-5 on over 78% of their plays in 2023. The Texans are thin at the linebacker position with only three contributors and three backups who are predominantly special teamers. Whether Houston wants to run more 4-3-4 defensive looks or not, they will need to add at the position. While there are some prospects to consider late in the draft, the third round is the “sweet spot” for linebackers. The Texans could get a difference-maker at the position in the second round or wait an extra round or two to see who falls to them to start Day 3 of the draft.Defensive Tackle: Autry, Tim Settle, Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards all joined the defensive tackle position in Houston with Autry also having the flexibility to play outside. The departure of Sheldon Rankins and the trade of Maliek Collins at defensive tackle led to the Texans adding four external fee agents at the position to go with Khalil Davis, Kurt Hinish and McTelvin Agim. Despite the body count, Houston could look to add youth and upgrade the overall talent at the position by targeting it early in the draft. Byron Murphy II should get selected at the position within the first 15 picks, after that, the next defensive tackle prospect may not come off the board until around the Texans’ first pick at No. 42. Between their first pick at No. 42 and their scheduled fifth pick at No. 127, in the fourth round, Houston should select a contributor at the position. Running back: The trade for Mixon upgraded the starting position, but the Texans lack talent behind Mixon unless Dameon Pierce bounces back after a poor sophomore season. There may not be a running back selected in the first two rounds of this class but there should be 15-20 who go off the board between the third and fifth rounds. Houston could consider adding a running back with their third pick at No. 86 but they could just as easily wait until their fourth-round selections at No. 123 and No. 127. The Texans don’t have a fifth-round pick but could opt to move up or back from one of their two slots in each of the fourth and sixth rounds.
Texans 2024 NFL draft targets: WR | RB | TE | OT | DB | DT | LB | EDGE
Texans mock draft 2024
Here is how the Texans’ draft could unfold in 2024, according to TSN’s Vinnie Iyer’s seven-round mock draft:
Round Pick Player Position College 2 42 T.J. Tampa CB Iowa State 2 59 Javon Baker WR UCF 3 86 Leonard Taylor III DT Miami 4 123 Will Shipley RB Clemson 4 127 Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M 6 188 J.D. Bertrand LB Notre Dame 6 189 James Williams S Miami 7 238 Isaac Rex TE BYU 7 247 Davon Ferguson CB Bowling Green
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