Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud enters his fourth season with some new faces surrounding him on the offensive line and at the skill positions.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) runs across the field while warming up during a mini camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) runs a drill during a mini camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
This has been one of the most uneventful offseasons in recent years for the Houston Texans.
There haven’t been a lot of injuries. No one is in a contract dispute, and most of the starters have returned.
But when training camp begins five weeks from now, there will be some position battles to discuss.
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Each year, I construct a 53-man roster projection before training camp to better assess where players stand and where needs could be. I’ll have another projection one week ahead of cuts. (Players with an asterisk are candidates for the practice squad.)
Offense
Davis Mills (right) figures to back up C.J. Stroud again, with Graham Mertz (18) the likely long-term answer at reserve QB.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Quarterbacks (2)
Projected starter: C.J. Stroud
Projected depth: Davis Mills
Projected cut: Graham Mertz*
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Analysis: The Texans kept three quarterbacks on the roster in 2025 to protect rookie Graham Mertz, who figures to be their backup quarterback of the future. It’s possible they could do it again, but the Texans might have a good chance of being able to stash him on the practice squad and use the other roster spot for another position.
Running backs (4)
Projected starter: David Montgomery
Projected depth: Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks
Projected cuts: Noah Whittington*, Evan Hull, Joshua Pitsenberg
Analysis: Who makes the team after Marks will depend on which players give the Texans the most value on special teams. Brooks is one of the team’s best special-teams players. Jordan had a game where he rushed for 100 yards and has experience on special teams, giving him an edge, too. It’ll be a difficult decision to cut Whittington, who was a priority undrafted free agent. But there aren’t a ton of spots.
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Rookie Lewis Bond (82) is among many candidates looking to stick as a backup receiver or see time on special teams.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Wide receivers (6)
Projected starters: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins
Projected depth: Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Justin Watson
Projected cuts: Lewis Bond*, Jared Wayne*, Jha’Quan Jackson, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz
Analysis: Do the Texans keep six receivers or seven? Keeping an extra tight end could cause them to keep one less receiver than they have the past two seasons. Or they could keep seven given their history of injuries at the position. Regardless, the tight end question that will ultimately determine how many receivers they keep. For this exercise, we keep six. And because Watson gives Houston more special teams value than Bond, he wins out while the rookie goes to the practice squad.
Dalton Schultz (86) is in line to be the Texans’ No. 1 tight end again while Cade Stover could also see snaps at fullback to take advantage of his blocking skills.
Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle
Tight ends/full backs (5)
Projected starters: Dalton Schultz
Projected depth: Cade Stover, Brevin Jordan, Marlin Klein, Foster Moreau
Projected cuts: Layne Pryor*, Louis Hansen
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Analysis: Offensive coordinator Nick Caley admits he’s biased. Having specialized in coaching tight ends, he has an affinity for the group and sees opportunity to utilize them heavily in his offense in 2026, something he was unable to do last year because of injuries. The Texans could keep five this year and use Stover as a hybrid between tight end and fullback with his experience as a lead blocker. Brevin Jordan is also one to watch. He’s coming back from a second consecutive season-ending knee injury, but his teammates say he looks bigger and better than ever.
Veteran Trent Brown provides valuable experience at either tackle spot.
Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle
Offensive tackles (4)
Projected starters: Aireontae Ersery, Braden Smith
Projected depth: Trent Brown, Blake Fisher
Projected cuts: Jarrett Kingston*, Derrick Graham
Analysis: Smith hasn’t participated in any team drills, but it’s hard to say he won’t be the starter. The Texans signed him to a two-year, $20 million deal because they think he can serve in that role despite his injury history. The good news is the Texans also have Trent Brown, who has a ton of starting experience and is a player they trust. Either one could be the starter at right tackle in the opener.
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Guards (3)
Projected starters: Wyatt Teller, Ed Ingram
Projected depth: Febechi Nwaiwu
Projected cuts: Jarrett Patterson*, Evan Brown, James Neal III
Analysis: The Texans enhanced their guards by signing Teller, re-signing Ingram and drafting Keylan Rutledge and Febechi Nwaiwu. Rutledge’s natural position is guard. But he isn’t in this section because he’s with the centers where he could immediately compete for a starting spot. In the meantime, Teller and Ingram have both guard spots on lock.
Center (2)
Projected starter: Keylan Rutledge
Projected depth: Jake Andrews
Projected cuts: Eli Cox*, Sam Hagen
Analysis: The Texans will give Keylan Rutledge every opportunity to win the starting spot at center. At worst, he’ll backup both guard and center and be the first person in if there is an injury. At best, he could be starting the opener with Andrews, who started 16 games in 2025, as his backup.
Defense
Ali Gaye (95) and Dylan Horton could see greater opportunities in the defensive line rotation after some veteran departures in the offseason.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Edge rushers (5)
Projected starters: Will Anderson Jr., Daniel Hunter
Projected depth: Dylan Horton, Dominique Robinson, Logan Hall
Projected cuts: Ali Gaye, Solomon Byrd*, Sebastian Harsh
Analysis: The Texans lost a lot of experience after Derek Barnett and Denico Autry departed in free agency. But the fact that the Texans haven’t added anything at this position all offseason indicates they have faith that Horton, Hall and either Robinson, Byrd or Gaye can fill those gaps.
Defensive tackles (4)
Projected starters: Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai
Projected depth: Kayden McDonald, Naquan Jones
Projected cuts: Dominic Bailey, Junior Tafuna*, Kyonte Hamilton*
Analysis: Rankins and Togiai return as the players who started games last season. But McDonald and Jones give Houston much needed depth. McDonald, a second-round pick, was considered the best run-stopper in the 2026 draft and gives Houston something it was missing last season.
Rookie Wade Woodaz (30) joins a Texans linebacker corps that is led by veteran Azeez Al-Shaair, with veterans like Jamal Hill competing for backup spots.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Linebackers (6)
Projected starters: Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o
Projected depth: Marte Mapu, Jamal Hill, Jake Hansen, Wade Woodaz
Projected cuts: Aiden Fisher*, Jake Hummel, K.C. Ossai*
Physically unable to perform list: E.J. Speed
Analysis: Speed’s quad injury was untimely, but the Texans do have significant depth at linebacker after trading for Mapu and drafting Woodaz and Fisher. In the past, the Texans have kept six linebackers and could do so again. After Mapu and Woodaz, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will make the roster. Hansen has been on the roster since 2022, and Hill became a good special teams player last season. Fisher can likely be stashed on the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (4)
Projected starters: Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter
Projected depth: Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith
Projected cuts: Alijah Huzzie*, Brandon Codrington, Ja’Marcus Ingram*, Collin Wright, Stephen Hall
Analysis: The Texans struggled to find depth at cornerback behind Stingley and Lassiter after Jaylin Smith’s injury last season. But Jaylin Smith is finally healthy along with Tremon Smith, who also has experience.
Reed Blankenship (6), a Super Bowl winner with the Eagles, brings a veteran presence to what already is one of the NFL’s best secondaries.
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Safeties (4)
Projected starters: Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship
Projected depth: Jaylen Reed, Kamari Ramsey
Projected cuts: Kaevon Merriweather*
Physically unable to perform list: M.J. Stewart
Analysis: The Texans added Blankenship in free agency because they wanted more experience on the back end. His coaches have lauded him for his communication skills, which should help an already elite secondary that saw three players make the Pro Bowl last season.
Nickel (1)
Projected starter: Jalen Pitre
Projected depth: N/A
Projected cut: N/A
Analysis: The Texans have typically only gone with one nickel on the roster. But Smith and Lassiter could play the position if needed.
Specialists (3)
Projected starters: Ka’imi Fairbairn (kicker), Jack Stonehouse (punter), Austin Brinkman (long snapper)
Projected depth: N/A.
Projected cut: Kai Kroeger
Analysis: One of the biggest position battles to watch is at punter between Stonehouse and Kroeger. At this point, the race is anyone’s to win. But Kroeger struggled last year for the Saints, which is why they traded him. And Stonehouse has a chance to prove he’ll be a legitimate starting punter in this league.