Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans

With the NFL’s key offseason deadlines fast approaching—including the start of free agency, the draft, and coaching staff adjustments—the Houston Texans have launched a comprehensive candidate assessment process to shape their roster and staff for the 2025 season. Led by general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans, this assessment spans three critical areas: pending free agents the Texans hope to re-sign, potential external free agent targets, and college prospects being scouted for the upcoming NFL Draft. Each assessment is guided by the team’s long-term vision—sustaining their 2024 playoff push while building a championship-caliber roster—and focuses on factors like fit with the Texans’ scheme, financial flexibility, and long-term developmental potential. For a franchise emerging from a rebuild, these assessments aren’t just checklists; they’re strategic decisions that will define the team’s trajectory for years to come. Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans breaks down the team’s evaluation process, the top candidates in each category, and how these choices align with the Texans’ goals.

Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans begins with the evaluation of the Texans’ own pending free agents, a priority for Caserio’s team as they look to retain core talent. The top candidate in this group is Pro Bowl defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who has been a anchor of the Texans’ defensive line since signing in 2023 (recording 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2024). The assessment of Collins focuses on his on-field impact—his ability to clog running lanes and generate interior pressure—and his off-field leadership, as he’s mentored rookie defensive linemen like Dylan Horton. “Maliek is a rare combination of production and leadership,” Caserio said in a recent interview about the assessment process. “When we evaluate him, we’re not just looking at his stats—we’re looking at how he makes everyone around him better.” The Texans’ assessment also includes a financial component: balancing Collins’ market value (projected to be around \(12-14 million per year) with the team’s salary cap space (estimated at \)45 million in 2025). Other in-house free agents being assessed include backup quarterback Case Keenum (a valuable mentor for C.J. Stroud) and special teams ace Devin Singletary, with the Texans prioritizing re-signings that fill immediate needs without sacrificing future flexibility. The assessment deadline for in-house free agents is critical—waiting too long could let key players test the open market, while moving too quickly might lock the Texans into unfavorable contracts.

A key focus of the Texans’ candidate assessment is the evaluation of external free agent targets, particularly at positions of need like defensive end and cornerback. After losing Pro Bowl defensive end Jonathan Greenard to a season-ending injury in 2024 (and with Greenard set to hit free agency), the Texans have identified several edge rushers as top targets, including the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Josh Allen and the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett (if he becomes available via trade). The assessment of these external candidates involves deep film study—analyzing how their pass-rushing style fits the Texans’ defensive scheme, which relies on versatile edge players who can line up in multiple spots. For example, Allen’s ability to both bull-rush and use speed to beat offensive tackles aligns with defensive coordinator Matt Burke’s preference for flexible pass rushers. “We don’t just evaluate a player’s talent—we evaluate how they fit our system,” Burke explained. “A great player in another scheme might not thrive here, so our assessment process is as much about fit as it is about production.” The Texans’ scouting team also conducts off-field assessments, including interviews with former coaches and teammates to gauge work ethic and character—critical factors for Ryans, who prioritizes locker room culture. The deadline for finalizing external free agent targets is late February, giving the Texans time to prepare contract offers once free agency opens in March.

A critical aspect of Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans is the evaluation of college prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, with the Texans holding the 12th overall pick—and what it means for the current Houston Texans team. The top position being assessed in the draft is cornerback, as the Texans look to upgrade their secondary opposite Derek Stingley Jr. One of the leading prospects in this group is Ohio State’s Denzel Burke, a physical cornerback with experience in both man-to-man and zone coverage. The Texans’ draft assessment process includes multiple layers: attending Burke’s college games, hosting him for a pre-draft visit, and analyzing his performance against top wide receivers (like Michigan’s Roman Wilson). “Our draft assessments are the most detailed—we’re looking at everything from a player’s footwork in press coverage to how they handle adversity in big games,” said Texans director of college scouting James Liipfert. For the Houston Texans, the draft assessment isn’t just about filling a need in 2025; it’s about finding a player who can grow with the team’s young core (including Stroud and Stingley) over the next five years. The Texans are also assessing prospects at defensive end and offensive line, with the final draft board set to be finalized by the end of April—just days before the draft deadline. This assessment will shape how the Texans use their six total draft picks, as they balance selecting impact players with building depth.

Another important candidate assessment for the Texans is the evaluation of potential coaching staff additions, particularly on the defensive side of the ball—and how it supports the Houston Texans’ long-term defensive success. With defensive line coach Aaron Whitehead rumored to be a candidate for coordinator jobs elsewhere, the Texans are assessing internal and external candidates to replace him if he departs. The internal candidate being evaluated is assistant defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, who has worked closely with Whitehead and played a key role in developing Horton and other young linemen. The assessment of Dixon focuses on his ability to teach technique, his understanding of Burke’s defensive scheme, and his communication skills with players. “Marcus has been with us since 2023, and he’s proven he can develop talent,” Ryans said of the assessment. “When we evaluate him, we’re looking at how he would lead the position group on his own.” External candidates being assessed include former NFL defensive end Charles Haley, who has worked as a pass-rush specialist for several teams, and current University of Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis. The deadline for coaching staff assessments is early March, as the Texans aim to have their staff finalized before the start of offseason workouts. For the Houston Texans, this assessment is critical to maintaining the momentum of their defense, which ranked 10th in the NFL in total yards allowed in 2024—up from 28th in 2023.

Wrapping up Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans is the overarching strategy guiding all evaluations: balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability. Every candidate assessment—whether for a free agent, draft prospect, or coach—is measured against two questions: Will this addition help the Texans win now (and compete for a Super Bowl in 2025)? And will they fit into the team’s long-term plan without hindering future flexibility? This balance is evident in the Texans’ assessment of high-priced free agents: while a player like Myles Garrett could immediately upgrade the defense, the Texans are also weighing whether his contract would limit their ability to re-sign young core players (like Stroud, who will be eligible for an extension in 2026). “Our assessments aren’t just about the next year—they’re about the next five years,” Caserio said. “We want to build a team that can compete year in and year out, not just for one season.” For the Houston Texans, the upcoming deadlines add urgency to these assessments, but the team is committed to avoiding hasty decisions. Each candidate is evaluated by multiple members of the organization—from Caserio and Ryans to position coaches and scouting staff—to ensure a holistic view. As the deadlines approach, the Texans’ assessment process will continue to be rooted in their core values: talent, fit, leadership, and sustainability. Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the Houston Texans isn’t just about evaluating players and coaches; it’s about building a franchise that can consistently contend for championships—a goal that is now within reach after their breakout 2024 season.