Nick Caserio
Houston Texans
Key acquisitions/signings: Caserio nabbed a ton of free agents last offseason who have paid off in big ways this fall, including offensive playmakers Devin Singletary, Dalton Schultz, Noah Brown, Robert Woods and even fullback Andrew Beck. His biggest priority was shoring up the offensive line for a soon-to-be drafted rookie quarterback, and he did so by extending Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, trading for Shaq Mason and signing George Fant. Additional signings Sheldon Rankins, Jimmie Ward, Denzel Perryman and Shaquill Griffin have also keyed a big improvement on the defensive side from a year ago.
Draft outlook: The impact of this year’s Texans rookie class can’t be overstated. Caserio and the personnel department hit this haul out of the park. C.J. Stroud has exceeded expectations, becoming the clear front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year by elevating the play of Houston’s attack in every way. Trading a bundle for Will Anderson Jr. looks like it was a savvy move, given the rookie’s five sacks and the ability to consistently disrupt opposing offenses. While both have dealt with injuries in Year 1, second-rounder Juice Scruggs and sixth-rounder Jarrett Patterson have each played center for Houston. Tank Dell was absolutely sensational prior to breaking his leg earlier this month, racking up a team-best seven TD receptions in 11 games. Houston is also getting role production out of Dylan Horton, Henry To’oTo’o and Xavier Hutchinson.
Overview: The success Houston is enjoying in 2023 is chiefly the product of two straight strong draft classes. However, Caserio’s best offseason acquisition of all might be DeMeco Ryans, who has been exceptional in his first year as head coach. It’s extremely rare that a general manager gets to hire three head coaches in a three-year span. The only other instance of this during the Super Bowl era? Vikings GM Mike Lynn, who hired a new head coach each season from 1984 to ’86 (Les Steckel, Bud Grant, Jerry Burns). This season, we are seeing Caserio’s decisions over the last three years come together in alignment, putting the Texans in the playoff hunt for the first time since 2019.