A balanced meal is key to success, and that's exactly what former Vikings and Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman believes the Texans did this offseason.
Spielman explained that the Texans went out and ate lavishly during free agency before general manager Nick Caserio filled in the cracks of the roster with "bread or salad" players.
"It's like when you go to a meal and you're to fill in the cracks with either bread or salad," Spielman said on CBS Sports this week. "So this was a bread or salad draft for me. They got some really good football players.
"I thought it was a very solid draft, but it was more filling in the cracks than the meaty part."
@spielman_rick says The Texans gorged themselves in FA & filled in the cracks with bread & salad in the draft pic.twitter.com/X1WrFFSfsk
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) April 30, 2024
Why is this important? Texans fans, accustomed to a bare pantry, might have expected another round of big names after a huge free agency period. But Spielman added that the team, "ate the meat in the main course," so the draft was for the trimmings.
Texans 2024 free agency moves
The Texans spent the sixth-most money in free agency on a bevy of moves, but here were the big ones and how they balanced out the roster inconsistencies.
- Trade for WR Stefon Diggs: A star wide receiver who brings firepower to the passing game.
- Trade RB Joe Mixon: A dynamic running back who adds another dimension to the offense.
- Sign DL Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry: A fearsome pass-rushing duo that bolsters the defense.
- Sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair: A Key addition to solidifying the Texans' defensive core.
Texans offseason signings and trades
| Position | Player | Transaction | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDGE | Danielle Hunter | Signed | 2 years, $49 million |
| TE | Dalton Schultz | Re-signed | 3 years, $36 million |
| LB | Azeez Al-Shaair | Signed | 3 years, $34 million |
| WR | Stefon Diggs | Trade | 1 year, $22.52 million |
| EDGE | Denico Autry | Signed | 3 years, $21.5 million |
| RB | Joe Mixon | Trade | 2 years, $19.75 million |
| K | Ka'imi Fairbairn | Re-signed | 3 years, $15.9 million |
| IDL | Folorunso Fatukasi | Signed | 1 year, $5.125 million |
| CB | Jeff Okudah | Signed | 1 year, $4.75 million |
| CB | Mike Ford | Signed | 2 years, $4.5 million |
| IDL | Tim Settle | Signed | 2 years, $9 million |
| P | Tommy Townsend | Signed | 2 years, $6 million |
| WR | Noah Brown | Re-signed | 1 year, $2.6 million |
| LB | Del'Shawn Phillips | Signed | 1 year, $2.6 million |
| LB | Neville Hewitt | Re-signed | 1 year, $2.3 million |
| RT | Charlie Heck | Re-signed | 1 year, $2.025 million |
| S | Lonnie Johnson Jr. | Signed | 1 year, $2 million |
| EDGE | Derek Barnett | Re-signed | 1 year, $2 million |
| CB | C.J. Henderson | Signed | 1 year, $2 million |
| CB | Kris Boyd | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.9 million |
| CB | Desmond King | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.8 million |
| S | Eric Murray | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.75 million |
| CB | Myles Bryant | Signed | 1 year, $1.75 million |
| IDL | Khalil Davis | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.65 million |
| IDL | Mario Edwards Jr. | Signed | 1 year, $1.65 million |
| WR | Steven Sims | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.325 million |
| LT | David Sharpe | Signed | 1 year, $1.29 million |
| RG | Dieter Eiselen | Re-signed | 1 year, $1.05 million |
| CB | D'Angelo Ross | Re-signed | 1 year, $995,000 |
| WR | Jared Wayne | Signed | 1 year, $877,500 |
MORE TEXANS: 53-man roster predictions, concerns and possible fixes
Texans 2024 NFL Draft filled in the cracks
The Texans added nine players in the 2024 NFL Draft to fill some crucial areas missed in free agency. Houston added pieces to its secondary, pass-catching group and offensive line, as well as depth pieces on the defensive line and in the backfield.
Here are the key draft additions from the Texans' 2024 NFL Draft that filled in the roster cracks:
- Kamari Lassiter (CB): A versatile defensive back who offers depth and playmaking ability.
- Blake Fisher (OT): Insurance for the offensive line to protect quarterback CJ Stroud.
- Calen Bullock (S): A high-ceiling safety with room to grow.
- Cade Stover (TE): Reunites Stroud with his former teammate and adds another offensive weapon.
- Jamal Hill (LB): A special teams ace with linebacker potential.
- Jawhar Jordan (RB): Adds depth and speed to the backfield.
TEXANS 2024 NFL DRAFT: Winners and losers
Texans 2024 NFL Draft class
Here's the full 2024 NFL Draft class for the Texans
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 42 | Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter |
| 2 | 59 | Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher |
| 3 | 78 | USC S Calen Bullock |
| 4 | 123 | Ohio State TE Cade Stover |
| 6 | 188 | Oregon LB Jamal Hill |
| 6 | 205 | Louisville RB Jawhar Jordan |
| 7 | 238 | USC DE Solomon Byrd |
| 7 | 247 | Auburn DT Marcus Harris |
| 7 | 249 | Michigan OL LaDarius Henderson |
So, Texans fans should relax. The feast happened in free agency while the draft just filled the plate. Caserio and company assembled a well-rounded roster, addresed needs in free agency and found complementary pieces in the draft.