Texans Combine Notebook: Defense Over Offense In NFL Draft?

The Houston Texans met with several defensive names at the NFL Combine that could be their pick in the draft.

The NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books. Now comes the hard part: deciding between a young up-and-comer and a veteran looking for a payday. 

The Houston Texans are facing a mix of that crossroads. On one hand, Houston has nearly $70 million to play with in salary cap space, meaning it could afford to bring in a high-profile name while drafting for longevity. 

On the other side, Houston has nearly 40 free agents hitting the market. 

As for April's draft, what does Houston do at No. 23? Enter the week, names like Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy, LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell felt like safe options. Now, all feel like pipeline dreams similar to landing Galveston native and free-agent phenom Mike Evans. 

What does the future look like in Houston entering Year 2 of the C.J. Stroud dynasty? Here's everything TexansDaily.com heard during last week in Indianapolis. 

Expect Several Names Back In 2024

The Texans could afford to watch several players walk in free agency after winning the AFC South. Others, however, might be a risk depending on what's available on the market. 

Tight end Dalton Schultz falls into that category as the March 5 franchise tag deadline looms. The tight end market is barren, with Seattle's Noah Fant and New England's Hunter Henry garnering the most interest. As for the draft, the feeling leaving in there's talent, but a significant drop-off behind Georgia's Brock Bowers and Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders. 

"This is a year where teams in need of a starting-caliber tight end should be thankful they've already paid for the position or have someone on a rookie deal," an AFC South scout told Texans Daily. 

Schultz wants to return to Houston after becoming Stroud's security blanket and No. 3 option. After Tank Dell suffered a season-ending fibula injury, the former Cowboys' star served as the de facto No. 2 target behind breakout star Nico Collins. 

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Sources believe Schultz will be back in Houston one way or another. If the Texans can't come to terms on a multi-year deal in the 27-year-old's ballpark, there's a decent chance he would be franchise-tagged to secure him for next season. 

Schultz isn't alone. The feeling around Indy was that running back Devin Singletary would also return for a second season. He and Schultz signed near the end of free agency but were arguably two of the biggest x-factors in helping Stroud win Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Singletary rushed for a career-high 896 yards and four touchdowns once taking over for Dameon Pierce as the lead back. He mentioned during exit interviews that he'd love to return to a "rising franchise with a great atmosphere," but it'd have to be for the right price. 

“Devin is a great guy. We’ll see what happens in free agency, but we’d love to have Devin back just because of what he brought to our team," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said during pressers. "He was definitely a bright spot for us in that running back room.”

Among other potential returnees, linebacker Blake Cashman, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and cornerback Steven Nelson all have mutual interest, but no deal is imminent. 

It is unclear if defensive end Jonathan Greenard would return for less than the going rate for edge rushers, but KPRC2 reported there's interest from both sides. 

Defense > Offense At No. 23 

After a week of conversations, the sense leaving Indy is that Houston will target a defensive prospect should it stay at No. 23. Several scouts told Texans Daily not to be surprised if edge rusher or cornerback were the target positions. 

Two names consistently brought up in coversations were Penn State's Chop Robinson and Missouri's Darius Robinson. Neither edge rusher is a finished product, but they won't have to be early on in their careers opposite Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. 

Chop Robinson's on-paper production wouldn't warrant a first-round grade, but his athletic traits are too good to pass up. Despite recording 11.5 sacks during his two seasons with the Nittany Lions, his blend of speed and footwork allowed him to add pressure, thus helping other defensive linemen end the play. 

Chop Robinson posted the second-fastest 40-time among edge rushers at 4.48. He also excelled with a 10-8" broad jump, the second-longest behind Houston Christian Jalyx Hunt. 

Darius Robinson first caught Houston's eye with a breakout performance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. He followed that up with a less-than-ideal 4.95 40-time and 35-inch vertical. 

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One scout said Darius Robinson wins with power. He's not a finesse guy and will never win with swat-and-swim moves, but his low center of gravity will overpower offensive tackles, allowing him to force his way into the backfield for a potential takedown. 

"He's got position flexibility to where he could shift inside on third-down passing-rushing sets," an NFC Scout said to Texans Daily. "He played defensive tackle in 2022 before shifting to the edge last offseason." 

One name at cornerback to monitor is Alabma's Kool-Aid McKinstry. Despite dropping a bit in the rankings, that says on the progression of Mitchell and Alabama teammate Terrion Arnold rather than regression from McKinstry. 

The Texans already have Alabama ties on the roster, including Ryans On top of that, all four of Houston's first-round picks have come from major institutions, largely due to an easier translation period. 

And imagine the marketing for a second? Derek Stingley Jr. on one side and McKinstry cruising on the other? Doesn't 'Kool-Aid And Sting' sound like a buddy-cop show from the mid-2000s on TNT? 

McKinstry, a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, had to pull out of the workouts early due to a Jones fracture in his right foot but is expected to work out at Alabama's Pro Day. He broke up 23 passes and recorded two interceptions at Alabama. 

All three players said during press conferences that they had formal meetings with the Texans last week. McKinstry said his interview was "very positive" as they talked more so about his background and decision to play for Nick Saban. 

Other potential first-round defensive candidates include Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newtown, Washington edge rusher Braelen Trice, Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, and Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean. 

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Wow Wow Wideouts

So, you want the Texans to draft a wide receiver in the first round? You shouldn't since the talent in Rounds 2-4 could be just as productive at a lesser price. 

The consensus around Lucas Oil Stadium was that this year's receiver class could be special. Yeah yeah, fans hear it every year, but as many as eight receivers could land within the first 32 picks. 

How many could go top-50? One scout said there are at least a dozen after Saturday's workouts, including a handful of options that were considered fringe Day 2 talents. 

Florida State's Keon Coleman and Oregon's Troy Franklin could potentially be trade-up candidates at No. 59 after their combine performances. Both met with Houston formally last week and seemed to have positive feedback about the team. 

Georgia's Ladd McConkey might be on a shortlist of names catching Houston's eye. He was incredibly productive during his three seasons in Athens and blew scouts away with his 4.39 40 and 36-inch vertical. 

Should the Texans wait until the third round, Florida's Ricky Persall and Michigan's Roman Wilson are options. Pearsall posted a 4.41 time, but his 10-9 broad jump and 6.64 three-cone drill made a stellar impression. 

Wilson, whose game-tying catch helped Michigan win its first national title, is a fluid slot option that works the middle of the field thanks to his slip-and-slide moves. Last season, Houston struggled to find consistency in the slot. 

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QUICK HITS

- One free agent to keep monitor on is Tennessee Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. He was a favorite to reunite with Ryans in Houston from San Francisco last offseason, but a source told Texans Daily that he eventually inked a deal with the Nashville franchise to play under Mike Vrabel. With Vrabel out and Cashman potentially leaving, this could be the plug-and-play replacement. 

- If you like Texas' Xavier Worthy as a first-round pick, you might enjoy Arizona's Jacob Cowing as a cheaper option on Day 3. While he didn't set a 40-time record, Cowing's 4.38 ranked top-five among receivers. After beginning his career at UTEP, the 5-8 slot receiver spent two seasons with the Wildcats, totaling nearly 1,900 yards for 20 TDs. 

- Be all in on Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil as the only suitable replacement for Tavierre Thomas and Desmond King in the nickel. Some players are jacks of trades but masters of none. The senior defensive back has untapped potential at nearly everything he does and is one of the most intimidating tacklers in space. One scout told Texans Daily, minus the 5-9 frame, he's an ideal defensive back for today's game that will give coordinators position flexibility. 

- Just because the Texans will add a running back in free agency doesn't mean they should ignore draft options. One prospect with intrigue is Troy's Kimani Vidal, who finished second in rushing behind Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon. The 5-8 tailback posted the fifth-fastest 40-time at 4.46, along with a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump. Vidal offers stellar value as a receiving threat. Last season en route to winning a Sun Belt title, he averaged 11.8 yards per catch. 

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- If Houston were to be looking for safety help, Utah's Cole Bishop should be on the list. It feels like he is since the two sides met at both the Senior Bowl and combine. A reliable tackler, Bishop proved he's got that closing speed with a 4.45 40 and a 1.57 10-yard split. He's a Day 2 option and an elite one.