With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, we are getting closer and close to seeing players back in action again. First, it will be the rookies themselves coming into town for a rookie minicamp in the next couple weeks, after which the veterans will join them for Organized Team Activities. This will all take place before the end of May.

With no padded practices and no hitting, there will still be big questions that won’t get answered until at least minicamp, the biggest of which actually started to come into focus immediately after the draft ended on Saturday. For my money, these are the biggest questions for the Houston Texans heading into the OTA and minicamp portion of the calendar:

4. Are there any more big moves coming?
We are likely beyond the portion of the calendar when a big deal would take place prior to training camp. There are still some veteran free agents floating around out there, but none pop to the top of the list for the Texans, in terms of impact. Trades are always a possibility before the season, but most often those are lower level trades involving  fringe players and Day 3 draft capital. The one notable exception was in 2019, when Bill O’Brien traded away Jadeveon Clowney and traded for Laremy Tunsil in the final week of training camp. I don’t see anything close to that happening, barring a big injury or two. 95 percent if the team’s 53 man roster in Week 1 is likely in the building right now.

3. What happens with Dameon Pierce?
I don’t recall a player in recent history whose positive evaluations publicly from the head coach and general manager least mirror his usage on the field, and furthermore, the perceived trust (or lack thereof) they have in using him, than Dameon Pierce. The rookie sensation from 2022 has been relegated to extreme spot duty as a backup, and now, with the team trading a future third round pick for the right to draft USC running back Woody Marks, the clock may be ticking on Pierce’s time as a Texan. Furthermore, the Texans added at least one rookie, Jaylin Noel, who might usurp some of Pierce’s kickoff return duties. The bottom line is we might see Pierce shopped for a Day 3 pick to a running back needy team, who runs a system more friendly to Pierce’s north-south running style.

2. Who is the happiest assistant coach on the staff, as a result of the draft?
I would say there are two coaches on DeMeco Ryans’ staff who should be happier than most. First, wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels went from ending the season with Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs on injured reserve, with basically Nico Collins and a bunch of other dudes, to adding Christian Kirk, and rookies Jayden Higgins and Noel. That’s a nice infusion of talent. After that, I know for a fact that special teams coordinator Frank Ross was ecstatic about getting Noel and Jaylin Smith on Friday night. Both have a chance to make real contributions on special teams, as do a handful of the guys bought in on Day 3.

1. What is the state of the offensive line?
This is, by far, the biggest question heading into training camp, especially after the draft only yielded one new face, Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery. Unlike last preseason, when it appeared ta the starting five were etched in stone by July 31, this should be a training camp that is tush with competition along the offensive line. The only things I would place bets on right now would be (a) Cam Robinson as the starting left tackle, and (b) Tytus Howard starting SOMEWHERE along the line, ether at right tackle or left guard. After that, it’s whichever guys play the best. The fact that practically all of the players in camp are able to play multiple offensive line positions makes it even more interesting. The post Laremy Tunsil team is here, and I’m excited for it!

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