Has it been two weeks of the NFL New Year? Certainly many teams held to their resolutions to try to improve from last season into this season. Lot of money projected to get paid out, and many players will have different colored jerseys this coming season. The Houston Texans are no exception. However, we’ve only hit the first wave. We are but 5 weeks away from the next big marker of the NFL season: The NFL Draft. However, until we get to the point when we boo vociferously the walking live-action figure that is Roger Goodell, here are some other observations about this point in the season:
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 28: Wyatt Teller #77 of the Cleveland Browns is introduced prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on December 28, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texans weren’t quiet this Silly Season: The big part of the NFL New Year is the mass flurry of activity that dominates the “tampering period” and the first 24-72 hours after the official start. So many players jumped ship or got increased numbers for their bank accounts. Many a team was thinking/hoping that their shiny new investments were going to yield dividends. The Houston Texans were no exception. Since the start of the New Year, the Texans have spent $137M on player salaries for new and retained players. This puts them at 12th in the league, with the Titans leading the charge at over $300M in player salaries. A lot of that money went towards retention of players, mainly Schultz, Hunter, Jones, Ingram, etc. They did pick up some new reinforcements with OL Smith, S Blankenship and as of earlier this week OL Teller. It is possible that Houston might be done with future big money moves, although there are potential contract extensions for Anderson, Stroud and Al-Shaair to consider.
Comp Picks? Who Needs Them?: Apparently not Houston. In the annual listing of comp picks, the Texans once again landed…none. Given the wheeling and dealing that Caserio engages during this time of year, the Texans did not qualify for any compensatory picks. While the formula is not officially known, it generally involves free agent actions, primarily if the lost free agents were greater in value than those brought in as replacements. Usually, those picks fall between the 3rd and 7th round. However, as Houston has been in the final 8 of the NFL the past three season, the value of those picks is up for debate. Of note, the Texans might have had an avenue to some comp picks if former QB coach Jerrod Johnson had been hired as an OC…before he got sacked as QB coach. The NFL recently instituted a policy whereby teams that see minority coordinators get hired for jobs seen as a promotion are entitled to comp picks in the draft. Houston did provide plenty of those picks for Baltimore and San Francisco when they hired David Culley and DeMeco Ryans as head coaches, respectively.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 01: Kadyn Proctor of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Getty Images
What is the priority for the draft?: If there was anything that dominated discourse for the offseason for Houston is was: Fix the [KITTEN]ing offensive line!!! While the line did not surrender as many sacks as it did in 2024, they still rated among the worst in blocking metrics. The playoffs, especially against New England, saw their issues come front and center (especially at center and guard). This offseason, the Texans once again engaged in another offensive line makeover. Howard and Scruggs got shipped out. Ingram and Trent Brown returned and the team brought in reinforcements. Arguably, the team did address the O-line and it should, in theory, be better. Is it improved enough that the Oline need not be a priority in the draft? Houston’s current draft position (pick 29) likely means they will miss out on the top tier offensive linemen, be it tackle or interior. They could certainly pick up an Oline prospect in that range that might be a solid player right away. However, the team might think that they’ve have the bulk (so to speak) of the O-line situated.
If that is the case, this frees up the squad to look to enhance other areas. One area that might be open to drafting a 1st round caliber player is along the DL. The DEs are set with Hunter and Anderson. The DT rotation has been solid, but they lack a gamewrecker like the two DEs. If Houston gets such a player for the defensive interior…that defense could be even more formidable. More than a few mock drafts have Houston drafting a DT-type player. If there is an explosive playmaker at RB or TE, you might not rule that out. A younger OL prospect is also on the table, as most of the projected starters are not exactly spring chickens. Even a potential diamond-in-the-rough DE prospect could be a legit target. At this point, Houston can arguably say they are in a position to draft best player available.
The Balance of Power in the AFC: While Houston was no different from most other teams in making major roster moves and reinforcing aspects of the squad, Houston’s position in the AFC may not be all that drastically altered vis-a-vis its conference rivals. Some teams like the Titans and Raiders had nowhere to go but up, thus their massive spending sprees. Indy made a big bet on Daniel Jones getting them back to the top of the AFC South. Jacksonville was relatively quiet in this wave of free agency, but they still have the core of the squad that clinched the division. The rest of the AFC powers made enough moves to keep them in contention, be it the addition of a potentially powerful running game (Kansas City), the addition of some receiving firepower (Denver, Buffalo), or some defensive reinforcements (Baltimore, even without Maxx Crosby). Yet perhaps the biggest shift does not come at the top of the AFC pecking order, but at the bottom. The Dolphins are in major fire sale mode, even though they will carry a massive dead money hit over the next two seasons. With the trade of WR Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins are loading up on draft picks for the future. However, 2026 figures to be a year of pain in South Beach. Maybe the Jets won’t be the least of the (AFC) East for much longer.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 05: Head coach DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans talks with general manager Nick Caserio during mandatory minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center on June 05, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Getty Images
What’s Next? The initial sound and fury of the Silly Season may be over, but it still remains the Silly Season. Teams figure to be wheeling and dealing in the leadup to the draft to get in better position for the three-day announce-fest. Right now, Houston is set with 8 picks, 4 of which are Day 1-Day 2. That does not mean that Houston stand pat, especially with Caserio at the helm. What that will entail? Stay tuned.