Life changes quickly in the NFL. Just ask Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio.
Not even a full year ago the Texans were amid their third consecutive season and at the bottom of the standings. Their 3-13-1 campaign and hiring of Lovie Smith had failed to build any momentum from previous coach David Culley’s 4-13 campaign the year prior. Any positive developments from young players were marred by a quarterback with Davis Mills that had failed spectacularly.
Once Smith was fired before the team could even return to Houston from their Week 18 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the calls for Caserio’s job were ample as well. How could a general manager not position his team to secure the first overall pick after that kind of season? How could that same executive be allowed to hire his third head coach in as many seasons?
The pressure on Caserio didn’t go away, even leading up to April’s 2023 NFL draft. There was speculation he may depart the organization after the draft or even be reduced to a different role with the team. It was hard to find any believer in Houston’s chief decision maker beyond his execution of a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns in 2022.
Fast forward to November 2023, halfway through the NFL season, and the story has changed.
Caserio not only has stopped hearing conversations about his job security, the third year general manager has had virtually every 2023 offseason decision vindicated. For as disastrous and pointless as the 2021 and 2022 Texans were, the 2023 team is every bit as fun and confidence-inspiring.
It’s the type of turnaround that garners national media attention and, potentially, even awards from the NFL national media. At the season’s midpoint, Caserio has a compelling argument for Executive of the Year for four primary reasons.
Courageous coaching changes
This is a forgotten point in November 2023, but the decision to move on from Lovie Smith was controversial to say the least. Many analysts pointed to the teams record, a porous three wins, as a strong showing for a team that was anticipated to be one of the worst in the NFL. Regardless, Houston wasted no time moving forward and into a talented coaching class.
Caserio’s first big fish was his most important. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans agreed to come home to the franchise where he was once Defensive Rookie of the Year. Ryans not only brought one of the sharpest defensive minds in football but also immediate creditability to a franchise that sorely needed it.
Houston’s next step is one that their general manager had somewhat struggled with his first two seasons: Caserio got out of the way.
Ryans was entitled to bring in an entire staff of his choosing and he did an excellent job. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik had said previously he would only leave San Francisco with Ryans and his arrival has been pivotal in the development of rookie C.J. Stroud. Matt Burke brought a needed veteran presence as defensive coordinator and his impact on the ferocity of the defensive line is notable.
The coaching hire, and Ryan’s immediate success, may not be something that is thought of with Caserio but having the conviction to quickly pivot after seeing the failures of both David Culley and Smith allowed Houston to land in this scenario.
NFL free agency masterclass
The Texans had real money to spend in free agency. After 10 weeks, it seems fair to say they crushed the annual spending period last March. It’s worth looking at the highlights.
Wide receiver Robert Woods was brought in before free agency started and served as a key safety blanket for Stroud during the early weeks of the season. Wide receiver Noah Brown was brought in as almost an afterthought but has since exploded in the absence of Woods due to injury. Brown has had 150 yards receiving in both of Houston’s last two games and has been big play weapon for Slowik’s offense.
Guard Shaq Mason was traded for from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he was immediately extended. Mason has played well and started every single game at right guard for Houston during a season with multiple injuries across the line. Running back Devin Singletary was signed from Buffalo on a one-year $3.75 million deal to backup Dameon Pierce and, instead, has looked like Houston’s most effective back and was their first 100-yard rusher under Slowik during their upset of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz was targeted as someone who could provide a dynamic receiving threat for Stroud while serving as a capable blocker in Slowik’s offense. The results have been phenomenal thus far, with Schultz improving every week and looking like a reliable target for Stroud with 37 receptions for 421 yards and four touchdowns.
On the defensive side, linebacker Denzel Perryman and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins were brought in on one year deals with the hope that they’d help one of the league’s worst defenses in 2022. Rankins was extremely disruptive in the interior with three sacks and seven quarterback pressures on Sunday against the Bengals. Perryman ranks third on the team with 41 tackles and is yet to allow a touchdown in coverage.
As if it wasn’t enough, later in the summer Caserio signed cornerback Shaq Griffin after he was cut from the Jacksonville Jaguars and tackle George Fant from the New York Jets. Fant has started every game for Houston at right tackle and played a huge role in protecting Stroud while Griffin has filled in admirably while Derek Stingley has dealt with injuries, including an interception of Joe Burrow on Sunday.
Those are nine impact players who have dramatically effected the outlook of the Texans. This is before players like Tavierre Thomas, Michael Deiter, Case Keenum and others are mentioned. None are on long-term contracts but all have been home run hits for the combined vision of Caserio and Ryans. Houston is not a playoff contender without their contributions.
Star studded 2023 NFL draft class
This is where Caserio’s year went nuclear.
Houston drafted C.J. Stroud at second overall and traded the 12th overall, 33rd overall, and 2024 first- and third-round picks to move up to select Will Anderson at third overall. A massive initial investment in Ryans that has paid immediate dividends.
Stroud has thrown for 2,626 yards, 15 touchdowns, and two interceptions while pacing to potentially lead the NFL in passing yards. His play has been so inspired that many national commentators have inserted him into not just the Offensive Rookie of the Year race but the overall league MVP discussion. Anderson hasn’t had the same statistical results but has had a massive impact and leads Houston in quarterback pressures with 35 along with two sacks. They are both some of the best, if not the best, players on their respective units as rookies.
Meanwhile, additional value was found on Day 2 and 3. Wide receiver Tank Dell was selected in the third round and has been nothing short of phenomenal. Dell leads the Texans with 5 touchdown receptions and has accrued 510 receiving yards on 34 catches this season, second only to Nico Collins. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o leads Houston with 52 tackles despite his selection in the 5th round. Prior to an injury in Carolina, center Jarrett Patterson had started every game for the Texans after he was picked in the sixth round.
Up and down the draft board, Houston aggressively targeted players they believed would make an impact and overwhelmingly, they hit. It doesn’t hurt they were allowed to pick the greatest rookie quarterback in NFL history at second overall.
Instantly competitive
This point may largely belong to Ryans and Stroud, however it’s a necessary caveat in Caserio’s case. The Texans are firmly playoff relevant and could win the AFC South at 5-4.
A team that entered the season with an anticipated Vegas win total of 5.5 and what many believed to be the second worst roster in the league behind Arizona is instead an impact team entering Thanksgiving. They have wins over playoff bound teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.
It’s impossible to discount just how much the perception and the competitiveness of the Texans have changed. Maybe Caserio, finally, deserves some credit for that.
