Battle Red Blog
Which Houston Texans ETF are you buying this offseason?
Voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs) have kicked off, and it is the first time the rookies and veterans all are in the same building... or a gigantic bubble for the Texans.
A whirlwind of moves and countermoves have occurred this offseason in Houston, most of which has left the offense starkly different than the one that ended 2024. These decisions have impacted the stock and positioning of those previously on the roster. Like the S&P 500 in recent weeks, the Texans have had a tumultuous offseason of ups and downs on their potential outlook.
As for the players themselves, this article identifies those already on the roster before free agency and the draft who saw their stock change the most due to offseason moves.
Scruggs watched as almost every other starter from the 2024 offensive line was shipped off in some fashion. Scruggs’ versatility affords him the opportunity to start at multiple positions across the offensive line - including both recently vacated guard spots. Houston added several uninspiring veterans to bridge the gap at guard, and they failed to add any interior lineman through the draft.
Houston spent the offseason adding uninspiring veterans before ignoring the interior line in the draft altogether, which has cleared a path for start in 2025. While his own play has received its own scorn, the former 2023 second rounder will have another shot to develop into a formidable starter on the offensive line.
No player was more adversely affected by free agency and the draft than John Metchie III. The arrivals of Christian Kirk and rookie Jaylin Noel have pushed him further down the depth chart. Of the three, Metchie is the most expendable and can be released without financial consequence. Entering a contract year, he’s lost nearly all leverage in the battle for a role in the offense, let alone a roster spot. His best hope is that Kirk’s recovery takes longer than expected and that Noel requires additional time to develop.
Tim Settle was arguably the most underappreciated Texan last season. By year’s end, he finessed his way into a starting role and logged 160 more snaps than any other defensive tackle on the roster. While Pro Football Focus ranked him 99th out of 219 defensive linemen, Settle quietly finished 24th in the league in total pressures—highlighting his impact beyond the grading system.
It’s apparent Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans do not prioritize defensive tackles. They have neglected to invest serious capital in the position for the second straight year. While the public pushed for Houston to add a top-end pick in the draft, they settled with seventh rounder Kyonte Hamilton. The position is crowded with more options than available roster spots, but one of those should be firmly in Settle’s hands.
