For the first time in a long time, the Houston Texans seem to have a plan in place to get the franchise back on track. They have set a bad precedent with how the last two head coaches, David Culley and Lovie Smith, have been treated. But, they are hoping that DeMeco Ryans will help set a new culture with general manager Nick Caserio.
Resetting a culture is something that will take some time. The Texans are in the early stages of their roster rebuild and it will take more than one offseason for the team to truly get back on track. However, this offseason was a good first step in the right direction.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, Houston came away with foundational building blocks on both sides of the ball. With the No. 2 overall pick, they selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. In a shocking move, they then acquired the No. 3 overall pick from the Arizona Cardinals and selected pass rusher Will Anderson Jr.
The franchise is hopeful that those two will be around for a long time, developing into leaders on both sides of the ball. But, they will need some time to grow into those roles. Who could the Texans lean on to fill that void right now?
One player who could fit the bill is cornerback Steven Nelson. Nelson, a respected veteran in the locker room, is someone that the Texans should be looking to keep around. That is why he was selected by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report as the one player Houston needs to work out an extension with before the season starts.
The Texans’ defense was not good in 2022, ranking 30th in the NFL. But, Nelson was a bright spot among all the negativity, starting 15 games and playing 94 percent of the snaps in those games.
When on the field, he played at a very high level. Quarterbacks recorded a passer rating of 80.5 when targeting Nelson, finishing the season with 52 total tackles, one sack, one interception and seven passes defended.
Nelson’s role with the Texans could change with the defensive scheme changing under Ryans. But, he is someone that should still be able to find success as he is no stranger to playing in different schemes under new coaches. Houston is the fourth stop for Nelson in his career.
Given where the franchise is in its rebuild, there aren’t many players that can be categorized as keepers currently. But, Nelson would certainly qualify and it would behoove the Texans to give him the same treatment that they gave defensive tackle Maliek Collins.
Earlier this offseason, Collins agreed to a two-year, $23 million extension, being rewarded for his level of play and bringing some continuity to the defensive front. Nelson could have a similar impact on the secondary as a veteran building block on the road back to respectability.
