Houston Texans Schedule Visit With Washington Tackle Roger Rosengarten

The Houston Texans don't need to go in any one direction with their early-round picks, but if they decide to draft a tackle, Roger Rosengarten makes sense.

Jan 30, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National edge Adisa Isaac of Penn State (20) pressures National / Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

As the Houston Texans mull over their options for their three Day 2 selections, they have a smattering of positional needs, none of which are overtly pressing. The offseason has been kind to Houston, and after signing edge rusher Danielle Hunter and trading for running back Joe Mixon and receiver Stefon Diggs, its recently-traded first-round pick won’t be missed.

However, there are still several positions deserving of middle-round reinforcements. Questions still remain on the interior of the Texans’ offensive line, and depending on where tackle Tytus Howard plays, potentially right tackle, too. Linebacker, safety, and corner can all be improved upon, too.

Subsequently, Houston’s offseason festivities have included visits with players it could target on the draft’s second day.

Jan 30, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National edge Adisa Isaac of Penn State (20) pressures National / Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

One such target is Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten. He spoke with The Draft Network about his pre-draft circuit and NFL future.

Rosengarten boasts an elite athletic profile, complete with a 4.92-second 40-yard dash, 4.6-second shuttle, and 9-foot-5 broad jump – all among the best marks in the class. He was an integral part of one of the best offensive lines in the country, sharing the Moore Award with his linemates. Among them is first-round hopeful Troy Fautanu. That athleticism, he feels, is at the core of his game.

“I think athleticism is one of my strengths,” Rosengarten said. “I love that inside zone blocking scheme. We ran zone throughout my high school and college career. We ran the West Coast Offense from the Shanahan coaching tree at Washington. … I fit into that inside zone, outside zone blocking scheme.”

This, of course, meshes well with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who hails from Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers. If Howard is indeed kicked inside, it makes sense to take Rosengarten and let him take over at right tackle from the jump.

Houston will soon get their in-person look at the Washington product, having scheduled a visit with him.

“I have a few in-person visits scheduled right now,” Rosengarten said. “I believe I have a few more of them on the way as well. The Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and Washington Commanders are three teams on my schedule. I’m supposed to take a few more visits as well.”

Rosengarten is a strong pass protector who has the athleticism to compete against the current era of freak-athlete edge rushers looking to chase down quarterbacks. That athleticism elicits upside in the run game, too, even if he doesn’t project as the mauler others in this class should be.

Ultimately, he’s a strong fit for the Texans, whether it be in Round 2 or 3, and makes sense on the basis of talent, scheme, need, and positional value.

"I feel like I'm the best offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft," Rosengarten concluded. "That's my opinion. The decision-makers have all of the information they need. I'm excited to see what happens. Now we just sit back and wait."