The Houston Texans were one of the best stories in the NFL last season. They turned a disastrous 3-13-1 team from 2022 into a division champion and a playoff win in just one season. Houston did so thanks to a robust 2023 draft class. CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. won Rookie of the Year for both offense and defense, but the Texans didn't get significant contributions from only those two. Players like Tank Dell, Juice Scruggs, and Jarrett Patterson, among others, all played a big role for Houston last year too.
The Texans hope to replicate that draft success this year. It was harder this time around without a first-round pick at their disposal as opposed to 2023 when they had two. But, they still made a number of solid moves that will help their team now and in the future. Three, in particular, stand out the most.
Drafting Kamari Lassiter
Arguably the biggest need on Houston's roster was finding help at cornerback. Derek Stingley Jr. has already stamped himself as one of the best young corners in the league, but he needed a running mate. The Texans ranked 20th in the NFL in EPA allowed per dropback last season. Among playoff teams, only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles were worse in that department.
That should change with Kamari Lassiter now in tow. Lassiter played over 400 snaps last season and didn't allow a single touchdown when thrown in his direction.
Houston was in the midst of a big cornerback run in the middle of the second round. The Texans saw teams move up ahead of them to select Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry with the two picks preceding them. But Lassiter is a quality prospect in his own right who helps fill a big need for Houston. He was a big get for them.
Drafting Blake Fisher
Lost in how remarkable the Texans were last season was how beat up they were on the offensive line. Both starting tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard as well as starting left guard Kenyon Green all missed time due to injury. That didn't hinder Stroud and crew somehow, but it did make offensive line depth a premium spot to address. The Texans did so by drafting Notre Dame offensive lineman Blake Fisher.
Fisher primarily manned the right tackle spot with the Irish while Joe Alt handled the left side. Tunsil isn't going anywhere any time soon and Howard can slide to the left tackle spot in a pinch, so it makes some sense to bolster their depth on the right side. Fisher is a good player to address that position with.
The Texans ranked tenth in the league in pass block win rate, but just 25th in run block win rate a year ago according to ESPN.com. Fisher can help with their run game immediately whenever he gets his reps. It's never a bad idea to bolster offensive line depth. Houston was smart to do so in the second round with Fisher.
Acquiring Stefon Diggs and an extra 2025 draft pick
Long before the NFL Draft commenced last Thursday, the Texans had the long term in mind. Houston originally had Cleveland's first-round pick (23rd overall) as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade from a couple of years ago. They traded it to the Minnesota Vikings for the 42nd pick in the second round (which Houston used on Lassiter) and swapped a seventh-round pick for a sixth-rounder. In addition to that, they got a 2025 second-round pick.
That was an important draft pick to get because Houston immediately flipped that Minnesota second to the Buffalo Bills for Stefon Diggs. Houston also received a 2024 sixth-rounder and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Going from 23 to 42 is a steep drop, but it was worth it for Houston. They still got one of the better corners in the draft in Lassiter and got the extra draft capital to go out and trade for Diggs. Houston also has an extra pick in the fifth round for their trouble too. That's good work by general manager Nick Caserio.
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