As most NFL clubs try to do during the initial wave of free agency, the Houston Texans have set themselves up perfectly to draft the best player available when their first pick, No. 42, comes around.
Houston grabbed defensive end Danielle Hunter, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, and defensive lineman Denico Autry in a flurry of moves that might have long-term implications for the organisation.
To amass cash in later rounds, which head coach DeMeco Ryans referred to as “the sweet spot,” the Texans gave up their first-round pick (No. 23). Houston traded No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings on March 15 in exchange for second (No. 42) and sixth-round picks (No. 188), as well as a 2025 second-rounder.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has some suggestions for the Texans brass on how to best approach those picks on April 26th. “Don’t be dumb.”
“Whoever’s up there, man, be intelligent. Don’t be dumb. “Don’t think too hard,” Stroud stated during an April 15 press conference.
The Texans didn’t have to think too hard about Stroud at the previous draft. The Carolina Panthers made things easy for them.
Texans’ initial free agency moves give them a modest boost in power rankings.
Following their first round of free agency moves, the Houston Texans moved up from ninth to eighth place in the 2024 power rankings.
“The roster around breakout QB C.J. Stroud appeared marginally improved (if far more expensive) following free agency, the major arrivals being veteran DE Danielle Hunter and RB Joe Mixon,” Nate Davis, an analyst for USA Today, said on April 4. “Then WR Stefon Diggs was acquired Wednesday, likely further bolstering Houston’s chances to reach the AFC championship game for the first time.”
While bringing in Diggs does not stop Houston from acquiring another pass-catching weapon for Stroud, it certainly reduces the urgency. The 2024 draft has a deep wide receiver class, but the Texans will almost certainly pass on one of them.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans quarterback, praises Marvin Harrison Jr., a projected top NFL draft wide receiver.
When the two were on the pitch together, they were unstoppable. According to Sports Reference, the duo combined for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns in 16 games.
For Stroud, it’s clear why his former Buckeye buddy should be the first receiver drafted this week.
“Put on the tape. “He’s done it from his true freshman year to now,” Stroud explained. “When you talk about – I believe I heard somewhere that he’s NFL ready, but other players have more potential. This makes no sense. Like, what? If you’re ‘NFL ready,’ how is that not potential? You want longevity, and you want someone who has done it before. That’s how he sleeps, eats, and breathes. He’s a talented individual, but it’s his work ethic and the way he commands attention in that room. I challenged him that last year, when Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] went down, he had to take over as leader, which he did. He’s not really talkative, but he became vocal, and you can see his personality emerging as he began to play more. I guess I’d like to play with him again. I doubt I’ll get that opportunity for a long time, but I’m quite proud of him.
The QB phenom is correct. Fans won’t hear Stroud-to-Harrison in the same phrase for years, if ever. Without a first-round pick, it’s practically impossible to select the projected top receiver.