Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans’ rapid rise from a rebuilding franchise to an AFC South contender in 2024 didn’t happen by accident—it was fueled in part by strategic trades that addressed critical roster gaps, added young talent, and maximized the team’s salary cap flexibility. General manager Nick Caserio, known for his methodical approach to roster building, used the NFL’s trade market over the past two seasons to fill holes at key positions (like defensive end and cornerback), acquire future draft capital, and balance short-term competitiveness with long-term sustainability. Unlike high-risk, blockbuster trades that often backfire, the Texans’ deals focused on “win-now” additions that fit their scheme and young core (led by quarterback C.J. Stroud). Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans explores the team’s most impactful trades, how they transformed the roster, and the strategy behind Caserio’s approach to the trade market.

Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans begins with the 2023 offseason trade that brought defensive tackle Maliek Collins from the Las Vegas Raiders—a move that laid the foundation for the Texans’ improved defensive line. At the time, the Texans’ defense ranked 28th in the NFL in sacks, and their interior defensive line lacked a consistent playmaker. Caserio targeted Collins, a 6-foot-2, 311-pound veteran with a proven track record of clogging running lanes and generating interior pressure, and struck a deal: the Texans sent a 2024 fifth-round draft pick to the Raiders in exchange for Collins and a 2024 seventh-round pick. The trade was low-cost but high-impact: Collins quickly became the anchor of the Texans’ defensive line, recording 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2023, and followed that with 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2024—earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Beyond his on-field production, Collins also mentored young defensive linemen like Dylan Horton, a 2024 fourth-round pick, helping accelerate their development. “Maliek was exactly what we needed—someone who could produce immediately and lead our young guys,” Caserio said of the trade. “He fit our scheme, our culture, and our budget, which made this deal a no-brainer.” This trade set the tone for the Texans’ future approach to the trade market: targeted, value-driven deals that address specific needs without sacrificing future flexibility.

A key trade that reshaped the Texans’ roster came in the 2024 midseason deal with the Cleveland Browns to acquire defensive end Za’Darius Smith—a move that addressed the season-ending injury to Pro Bowl defensive end Jonathan Greenard. With Greenard sidelined in Week 13, the Texans’ pass rush (which had ranked 10th in the NFL in sacks) was at risk of collapsing, threatening their playoff push. Caserio acted quickly, negotiating a trade with the Browns: the Texans sent a 2025 third-round draft pick to Cleveland in exchange for Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler with 6.5 sacks in 2024. Smith, who had expressed frustration with his role in Cleveland’s defense, jumped at the chance to join a contender and immediately made an impact. In his first four games with the Texans, he recorded 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 8 quarterback pressures, helping the Texans’ defense maintain its top-10 ranking in total yards allowed. What made the trade particularly effective was Smith’s fit with the Texans’ scheme: his ability to line up as both a stand-up edge rusher and a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end complemented defensive coordinator Matt Burke’s flexible game plans. “Za’Darius didn’t just fill a gap—he elevated our entire defense,” Burke said. “He’s a veteran who knows how to win in big moments, and that’s exactly what we needed for our playoff run.” The trade also highlighted Caserio’s willingness to act aggressively when opportunities arise, rather than waiting for the offseason to address critical needs.

A critical aspect of Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans is the 2023 trade with the Arizona Cardinals that swapped wide receiver Brandin Cooks for a 2024 second-round draft pick—a move that freed up cap space and allowed the Texans to invest in their young core—and what it means for the current Houston Texans team. Cooks, a six-time 1,000-yard receiver, had been the Texans’ top pass-catcher since 2020, but his \(18 million annual salary was taking up a significant portion of the team’s cap space, and he no longer fit the Texans’ focus on developing younger wide receivers (like Nico Collins and Tank Dell). Caserio worked out a deal that sent Cooks to Arizona for a second-round pick, which the Texans used to select cornerback Justin Hardee Jr.—a key contributor to their secondary in 2024 (18 tackles, 3 pass deflections, and 12 special teams tackles). The trade also freed up \)18 million in cap space, which the Texans used to re-sign key players like offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and sign free-agent defensive end Jerry Hughes. “Trading Brandin was a difficult decision, but it was the right one for our long-term future,” Caserio said. “It allowed us to get younger, free up cap space, and add a draft pick that turned into a valuable contributor. Sometimes, reshaping the roster means letting go of good players to make room for great fits.” For the Houston Texans, this trade exemplified the balance between short-term success and long-term planning—it temporarily weakened their wide receiver corps but ultimately strengthened the team’s depth and financial flexibility.

Another important trade that reshaped the Texans’ roster was the 2024 offseason deal with the New York Jets that acquired cornerback D.J. Reed in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick—and how it supported the Houston Texans’ efforts to fix their secondary. Entering 2024, the Texans’ secondary ranked 25th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, with a glaring need for a starting cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Reed, a 28-year-old veteran with three seasons of 100+ tackles, was available because the Jets were in a rebuild and looking to accumulate draft picks. The Texans pounced, sending a fourth-round pick to New York for Reed, who quickly became a staple of the Texans’ secondary. In 2024, Reed recorded 86 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions, helping the Texans’ secondary jump to 12th in the NFL in passing yards allowed. He also formed a strong partnership with Stingley, with the pair limiting opposing No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers to a combined 54tch rate. “D.J. was the missing piece in our secondary,” said secondary coach Ron Milus. “He’s a physical cornerback who can cover one-on-one and make plays against the run, which is exactly what we needed. The trade was a steal for us.” For the Houston Texans, this trade addressed a longstanding weakness with a proven veteran, without giving up significant draft capital—a hallmark of Caserio’s trade strategy. It also showed the Texans’ ability to identify players who are undervalued by their current teams and turn them into key contributors.

Wrapping up Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans is the 2024 trade with the Seattle Seahawks that acquired a 2025 first-round draft pick in exchange for backup quarterback Case Keenum—a move that focused on future roster building while maintaining short-term depth. Keenum, a 12-year veteran, had been a valuable mentor to Stroud in 2023-2024, but he was set to become a free agent in 2025, and the Texans had already drafted his potential replacement (rookie quarterback Clayton Tune) in the 2024 fifth round. Caserio saw an opportunity to turn Keenum’s value into future assets, negotiating a deal with Seattle (which needed a backup quarterback for Geno Smith) for a first-round pick. The trade didn’t impact the Texans’ 2024 playoff push—Tune stepped in as Stroud’s backup and performed adequately in limited action—but it gave the Texans a critical first-round pick to use in 2025, when they could target top prospects at positions like offensive line or linebacker. “Case was a great teammate and a great mentor to C.J., but we recognized that we could turn his value into a pick that would help us for years to come,” Caserio said. “That’s the key to reshaping the roster through trades—always looking ahead, even when you’re in a position to win now.” For the Houston Texans, this trade underscored their commitment to sustained success: they’re not just building a team to win in 2024, but to compete for championships for the next decade. Reshaping Roster Through Trades for the Houston Texans isn’t just about individual deals—it’s about a strategic approach to roster building that uses the trade market to turn weaknesses into strengths, while always keeping an eye on the future. In a league where teams often swing for the fences with risky trades, the Texans’ methodical, value-driven approach has proven to be a winning formula.