HOU
Texans
AFC SouthOFF: Wide ZoneDEF: Sound Multiple
1st Pick
#28
Scheme ConfidenceTier 2Partial Continuity
The Texans bring back their entire coaching staff with DeMeco Ryans as head coach. Caley's offense is projected as Wide Zone based on his coaching tree connections to Josh McDaniels and Sean McVay, both from the West Coast Pro-Style cluster. The 2025 season data shows Caley's system already in place with 62% shotgun usage and 22% play-action rate. Burke's defense gets high confidence as Sound Multiple because he has his own empirical data from the Zone Front-7 cluster. There's some interesting tension here - Ryans's own defensive background is 4-3 Under Zone, but Burke's empirical fingerprint suggests a more multiple approach that the team adopted successfully in 2025.
Positional Needs
IDLHIGH
6.0
OLHIGH
5.7
TEHIGH
5.2
DBHIGH
5.0
LBMODERATE
4.7
QBMODERATE
4.6
WRMODERATE
4.1
EDGEMODERATE
4.0
RBLOW
3.4
Coaching & Scheme
Head CoachDeMeco Ryans
OC
Nick Caley
DC
Matt Burke
Wide ZoneMedium conf
Outside zone rushing, play-action, bootleg
Source: coordinator tree
Sound MultipleHigh conf
Multiple fronts, assignment-sound, zone coverage
Source: empirical
2026 Draft Capital
Rd 1
#28
Rd 2
#59
Key Roster Moves
ADDED10
OTBraden SmithIND$10.0M
SAFReed BlankenshipPHI$8.3M
RBDavid MontgomeryDET$8.3M
GWyatt TellerCLE$8.0M
DELogan HallTB$6.9M
LOST32
DTTim Settle→ WAS
OLBDamone Clark→ DET
TTytus Howard→ CLE
GJuice Scruggs→ DET
OLBChristian Harris→ ATL
Roster Traits & Gaps
Arm Talent
430.18 gap
Scheme weight: 0.9×
Decision Making
420.23 gap
Scheme weight: 1.1×
Mobility & Playmaking
430.28 gap
Scheme weight: 1.4× (critical)
Pocket Presence
460.13 gap
Scheme weight: 0.8×
Production Volume
550.06 gap
Scheme weight: 0.9×
QB
Roster Overview1
C.J. StroudAGE1YR
80
Key Concerns
▸The offensive line's run blocking score of 22.9 severely limits Caley's outside zone concepts and play-action effectiveness.
▸Interior defensive line trait scores in the 20s and 30s create major run defense vulnerabilities in Burke's multiple front system.
▸Man coverage at 19.9 out of 100 restricts defensive flexibility despite elite zone coverage talent.
▸Multiple key players including Collins, Dell, Hunter, and Schultz have expiring contracts, creating potential roster turnover.
▸Linebacker tackling at 15.4 out of 100 undermines the assignment-sound principles of Burke's defensive scheme.
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