The dust has finally settled on the Houston Texans’ roster building season, with free agency slowed to a trickle and the NFL Draft behind us. On Wednesday afternoon, the Texans that have chosen to take part in voluntary workouts jogged onto a practice field for the first time this spring, as Phase 2 of spring workouts kicked off.
Now that we’ve got practically the whole depth chart filled out, and 95 percent of what’s on the roster right now will probably still be here when training camp begins in late July, we can start to see some of the positional battles begin to take place.
Now, to be clear, there are relatively few starting position battles going on with this team. That’s how strong a roster Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans have built. Still, though, there are some battles worth watching as the summer months unfold. Here are four of my favorites:
**Interior OL**
This position group was the biggest question mark all last season, mostly due to poor play. Now, interior offensive line is the biggest question mark because of the sheer numbers of players. Ed Ingram was brought back on a $37 million deal to presumably play right guard, and Wyatt Teller was signed in free agency, presumably to play left guard. The two biggest variables are intertwined — who plays center, and what will rookie Keylan Rutledge’s role be? It may, in fact, involve Rutledge playing center, if that’s what gets him on the field. Aside from those three players, still hanging around are Jake Andrews (last season’s starting center) and Jarrett Patterson, along with rookie Febechi Nwaiwu and veteran signing Evan Brown.
**Linebacker**
We know Azeez Al-Shaair, fresh off signing a $54 million contract extension, will start at inside linebacker and will call the formations. He is the captain of the team and one of the team’s more indispensable players. After that, Henry To’o To’o would seem to have the inside track at one of the other linebacker spots, with veteran E.J. Speed back with the team on a two year deal. The wild card is rookie fourth round pick Wade Woodaz, who was brought in to contribute on special teams, but with a strong camp, he might contend for some snaps on defense.
**Tight end**
Like Al-Shaair at linebacker, Dalton Schultz is the clear starter at tight end, especially after inking a one year extension, coming off a record setting season for Texans tight ends. Schultz set the new record for catches in a season by a tight end. After that, it’s a free for all. The team brought in Foster Moreau, a blocking specialist, as a free agent. They drafted Marlin Klein out of Michigan in the second round. Klein is making the team, and the signing of Moreau feels very purposeful. Third year tight end Cade Stover is the one on the hot seat. He might need the team to take four tight ends into the regular season to make the squad.
**Punter**
After several years of various established punters, including Tommy Townsend the last two seasons, we finally have a good, old fashioned punter battle! The Texans traded a late round pick swap for Saints punter Kai Kroeger, who was among the worst statistical punters in the league last season. They also signed Syracuse punter Jake Stonehouse as an undrafted free agent. I’d make Stonehouse the favorite, but let’s just sit back and enjoy this one!