Slowik: "CJ, we've gone over this 20 times." Stroud: " Coach, I told you I don't do multiplication. I'm a football player!"
Here are five things to follow as the Texans enter the summer: How quickly is Stroud advancing? … Will the wide receiver corps be an improvement? … How much are the 2022 rookies developing? It’s concerning that five of the rookies from Caserio’s first fully stocked draft spent significant portions of the season on the injured reserve or nonfootball injury list. Derek Stingley Jr. (hamstring), Kenyon Green (concussion), Metchie (leukemia), Christian Harris (hamstring) and Dameon Pierce (high-ankle sprain) should all seize starting roles in 2023, and it’s crucial they each undergo the development their health issues deprived from them as rookies. … Who wins the position battles on the defensive front? … Will Caserio be active this summer? The Texans have $15.4 million in available cap space, according to Over the Cap. That number will shrink quickly once the franchise officially signs Stroud and Anderson to rookie contracts that should both near $8 million per year. Any move to free up extra cap space will likely be done in training camp. Beyond Kirksey, it will be notable to watch the development of Austin Deculus. If he shows promise as a swing tackle, the Texans could save another $2.74 million by releasing Charlie Heck. Steven Nelson ($3.9 million) and Quessenberry ($2.45 million) are other veterans to keep an eye on. Caserio often says the Texans are always searching for ways to improve the roster. He still wields eight picks in the 2024 draft, including Cleveland’s first-rounder, and those will be his main assets if he decides to pursue an addition at a high-profile position like wide receiver. It will also be notable to see how many of the surplus players at key position battles (linebacker, wide receiver, defensive end) the Texans will attempt to trade before possibly cutting them in training camp. Caserio’s personnel department is privy to stocking up on late-round picks, and the quality of picks yielded in any potential trades could indicate any collective increase in talent on the roster. Forty-one players are also entering the final years of their contracts. Will Caserio seek to extend key starters like right tackle Tytus Howard, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and punter Cameron Johnston before the season begins? During? After? The high number of expiring contracts reflects again a flexibility Caserio’s personnel department prefers from season to season.
