For a variety of reasons, this week will help shape the future of the franchise.
One of those reasons: the Senior Bowl.
The college all-stars are arriving in Mobile, Alabama and they'll get their first practice in on Tuesday. The talent evaluators from every NFL team, including the Texans, are there as well. They get a chance to see the players up close in practice. More importantly, teams get a chance to meet with and interview some of the top prospects, too.
Two years ago, in 2018, the Texans selected one player who suited up in the Senior Bowl. That was Central Florida tight end Jordan Akins, who's been an impact contributor in each of his first two seasons.
But last year, the Texans went heavy on Senior Bowl participants in the NFL Draft. Their first three selections all played in Mobile. Right tackle Tytus Howard was a first round pick and left guard Max Scharping was a second-rounder. Both were starters on the offense line in 2019, and look to be cornerstones up front for the Texans. Cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. also played in the Senior Bowl, and the Texans took him in the second round. He started some, and saw significant action in 2019.
Defensive end Charles Omenihu also played in the game last January, and was taken in the fifth round. Running back Karan Higdon was on the practice squad for Houston in 2019, and could figure into the mix at that position next season.
John Harris of HoustonTexans.com will file reports from south Alabama this week, and will have much more on the prospects playing in this year's game.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 1/14/2019)
S, Mike Adams, 27
LB, Tyrell Adams, 50
S, Jahleel Addae, 37
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
OLB, Davin Bellamy, 48
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
OL, Chris Clark, 77
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
WR, Will Fuller, V, 15
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines, 29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
S, Tashaun Gipson, 39
WR, Chad Hansen, 85
CB, Vernon Hargreaves, 28
RB, Karan Higdon, 31
WR, DeAndre Hopkins, 10
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, Carlos Hyde, 23
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
OL, Roderick Johnson, 63
RB, Taiwan Jones, 34
CB, Johnathan Joseph, 24
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
OLB, Chris Landrum, 42
OL, Rick Leonard, 72
S, Shalom Luani, 42
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron, 2
QB, Alex McGough, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
An image from the Dec. 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-3.
LB, Barkevious Mingo, 52
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
OL, Elijah Nkansah, 75
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
NT/DE, D.J. Reader, 98
S, Justin Reid, 20
CB, Bradley Roby, 21
DE, Ira Savage-Lewis, 96
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
OL, David Steinmetz, 79
WR, Kenny Stills, 12
TE, Jordan Thomas, 83
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
NT, Eddie Vanderdoes, 95
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
QB/WR, Joe Webb, III, 5
LS, Jon Weeks, 46
WR, Isaac Whitney, 19
