Texans Defensive Depth Analysis Pre-Draft

The defense is more locked down than a wide receiver guarded by Derek Stingley Jr.

The Texans approached defensive free agency with a simple strategy, one borrowed from your local trash company: reduce, reuse, recycle. The Texans used the little salary cap they had to re-sign quality veterans on team-friendly contracts while patching together several weaknesses in the front seven and secondary. Houston also restructured several key contracts to build room on the salary cap including Denico Autry’s deal and Danielle Hunter’s extension.

With the draft weeks away, it’s a great time to freshen up on who the Texans added thus far and identify where the gaps are in the defenses.

Note: in bold are the newly added or resigned players.

Defensive Ends:

• Starters: Danille Hunter, Will Anderson Jr.
• Backups: Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Dylan Horton
• Depth: Kingsley Jonathan, Casey Toohill, Solomon Byrd

Analysis: Re-signing Derek Barnett was a fantastic move to open up free agency and bring back our best rotational pass rusher. The addition of Darrell Taylor on a one-year deal attempts to duplicate such success. Look for third-year end Horton to have a big season finally fully recovered from his cancer diagnosis.

Defensive Tackles:

• Starters: Tim Settle Jr., Sheldon Rankins
• Backups: Denico Autry, Mario Edwards Jr.
• Depth: Tommy Togiai, Kurt Hinish, Jayden Peevy

Analysis: Welcome back Sheldon! The Texans have addressed this positional need with several known veterans. As a whole, there is a lot familiar faces in this group but no standouts. Though, that’s DeMeco Ryans’ defensive approach thus far in the interior. While this position is less of a dire need than before, a new, young face is still necessary to rejuvenate the position long-term.

Another name to familiarize yourself with is Tongiai; he quietly played a significant role on the defense in the second half of the season.

Linebackers:

• Starters: Azeel Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o
• Backups: Christian Harris, E.J. Speed
• Depth: Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Nick Neimann

Analysis: The late entry of E.J. Speed changes my entire complexion on this group. The Texans now have four LBs who have recorded 100+ tackles in a season over the past two years. However, the addition signals legitimate concerns over the health of Christian Harris, who only played three games in 2024.

Second-year LB Jamal Hill should develop into a special teams ace and rotational coverage linebacker. Between him and Hansen, the Texans should be set with this core group heading into training camp.

Cornerbacks:

• Starters: Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley Jr.
• Backups: Ronald Darby, M.J. Stewart
• Depth: Tremon Smith, D’Angelo Ross

Analysis: Last year’s biggest need was duly answered by the sensational Kamari Lassiter, who should have been up for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. However as great of a pick as that was, this position lacks depth. The signing of Ronald Darby and Tremon Smith adds special teams’ talent to this group, but there’s a tremendous need for a steady backup. Expect a third or fifth round draft pick expended to quell this issue.

Safeties:

• Starters: Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock, C.J. Gardner-Johnson
• Backups: Jimmie Ward
• Depth: Gregory Junior, Russ Yeast

Analysis: The trade for Garner-Johnson to replace Eric Murray took much of the urgency out of adding talent to this group. According to Aaron Wilson, Pitre should be back after his pectoral injury and subsequent surgery in time for training camp.

Jimmie Ward is in the last year of his contract and at the age of 34 shouldn’t be considered a starting safety for the team. Houston released Brandon Hill due to a failed physical, which steals from some of the upper-echelon potential out of this group. The Texans should be set from a short-term perspective, but another complimentary defensive back should be in the cards soon.

Overall, the Texans defense has a fantastic blend of elite and young talent with savvy veterans to fill in the roles. They could use another rotational defensive tackle and backup corner, but outside of that are ready to rock heading into a critical season in the C.J. Stroud era.