The ten biggest questions facing the Houston Texans before free agency

All was quiet on the Texans front heading into the NFL Combine until General Manager Nick Caserio took the stage. He spoke for 20 minutes on the team, contracts, draft prospects, and the future of the team.

[embedded content]

Even after the interview, there are still unanswered questions and storylines that will need to play out over the coming months of the NFL offseason. Below are the top 10 questions that the Texans need to answer

1. Is Joe Mixon healthy and if so, when can he play?

Mixon’s health and ability to play in 2026 must be sorted out before the start of the season… ideally before the 2026NFL Draft. Nick Caserio was extremely non-committal and vague on his communication with Mixon and the timeline of a potential return. He did hint at a foot surgery this offseason, which could significantly set back his timeline. If he can’t go, Houston needs to cut their losses, save the capital, and find themselves another starting-caliber running bak to pair with Woody Marks.

2. Can Blake Fisher start at either right guard or right tackle?

This past season, the Texans kept the proverbial training wheels on Fisher and used him exclusively as the eligible sixth offensive lineman. Now, entering his third season, Fisher desperately needs to assume one of the two open starting roles on the offensive line. Otherwise, Houston will have to expend multiple high draft picks to fill the positions.

3. What is the health status of the tight ends?

Both Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover left the Divisional Round with lower leg injuries. Nick Caserio said in a press conference recently that both avoided serious injuries, but will they be ready this training camp. Don’t forget, Brevin Jordan is attempting to return from his second ACL injury.

Houston can’t enter the offseason with all three rostered tight ends recovering from injury. They need to acquire a fail-safe via the draft or free agency to avoid catastrophe to start the season.

4. Who is starting at safety next to Callen Bullock?

One of the least talked about positions of need for the Texans is starting safety. Houston has four of the five secondary players locked down for a quite a long time, but needs a long-term solution to play deep safety. Even a veteran bridge safety will suffice.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson was supposed to be that last season, but he was cut after the third week. Jimmie Ward is a free agent and also 35. Right now, sixth round pick Jaylen Reed is slated to be the starter, but he was picked on mightily by Drake Maye in the Divisional Round.

5. Who to re-sign between the seven defensive lineman free agents?

There’s a myriad of veteran DL who are hitting free agency. The list includes:

DE Derek Barnett
DT Kurt Hinish
DE Denico Autry
DT Sheldon Rankins
DT Tim Settle
DT Na’Quan Jones
DT Foley Fatukasi

Houston only possesses two DTs on the roster and is losing much of its depth at DE. Houston needs to replenish the defensive line position with talent to take the pressure off the two starting star defensive ends in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

6. Should Houston extend Will Anderson Jr. now or wait it out?

Will Anderson Jr. was an All Pro and placed third in the AP Defensive Player of the Year voting. Those accolades don’t come cheap. Anderson will want to be paid among the highest in the league and deserves so. Nick Caserio has tended to reward players early with major contracts to reset the market two years earlier than needed. This dissuades holdouts, higher guaranteed contracts, and larger salary cap hits down the line. Whether it makes more sense now or to hold off until his contract is up, Houston will need to make room in an ever-pressing salary cap situation.

7. Can Houston rely on Tank Dell to be Tank Dell again?

C.J. Stroud has not looked the same without Dell in the lineup. After two severe leg injuries, Dell is a commodity Houston cannot trust long term, even if he returns to form. That was evident in Houston selecting two WRs in the first three rounds of last year’s draft. Neither played in the same stratosphere as Dell, but its the path to moving on. What version of Dell exists next year will be a key part of Houston’s offense next season.

8. Whose contracts need to be restructured to make room in the salary cap?

Currently, Houston are $9M over the cap for the 2026 season.

That restricts their ability to make moves this offseason. They’ll need to restructure multiple contracts to make room for free agent signings, rookie contracts, and possible extensions.

The top four contracts on the roster are Danielle Hunter, Tytus Howard, and Nico Collins and Derek Stingley Jr. Together they comprise 37.6% of the team’s cap. The first two deserve extensions that would relieve salary cap spending in 2026. Restructuring Collins’ contract could free up over $10M. Plus, Derek Stingley Jr.‘s

I suspect adding veterans on the offense will be the primary goal in free agency. Houston has missed too often on the offensive line through the draft. To do so, our most talented veterans will need to restructure their contracts.

9. Is Nick Caley the right guy to run the Texans offense?

Considering how poorly the offense looked at times, another change at offensive coordinator was warranted. From the goal line miscues to the errant and bewildering plays by the QB, the offense wasn’t up to snuff in 2025.

It’s confounding why the team chooses to pick offensive coordinators with no play calling experience. The NFL shouldn’t be their first ‘go’ at calling plays. Caley grew into the role as the season went on, but whatever system and voices are around C.J. Stroud aren’t working.

10. Can the Texans replace the veterans on the right side of the offensive line?

Trent Brown and Ed Ingram are free agents. Both will command significantly more cap capital than the $6M COMBINED salary they made last season. Expect Ingram to be one of the higher paid veterans guards by the end of this offseason, whether he’s a Texan or not.

There’s plenty of high-profile players available such as Wyatt Teller (CLE), Isaac Seumalo (PIT), Braden Smith (IND), or Rasheed Walker (GB) available with experience. The question is can the Texans get the right starter at the right price? As we saw earlier, Houston need to Shiatsu massage the salary cap, and even then still can be outbid by more desperate teams. Nick Caserio hit on two bargains this past season but may need to buck the approach to the offensive line to see a true improvement in the offense’s performances.