The Houston Texans are on a path that looks drastically different from what anyone might have expected just a couple of seasons ago. Under general manager Nick Caserio’s leadership, the first few years were pretty quiet when it came to midseason moves. For a team that spent much of that time with one of the worst records in the NFL, it wasn’t surprising that they were more likely to be sellers or stay put at the trade deadline.
For example, during the 2021 season, one of the few moves the Texans made was trading running back Mark Ingram to the New Orleans Saints. The team had no reason to go all-in when wins were hard to come by. But this season, the narrative has flipped. The Texans are now sitting at 5-2, squarely in the conversation as contenders in the AFC. With that kind of success comes a different mindset—one that demands the Texans be buyers at the trade deadline if they want to compete with the AFC’s best.
The top-tier teams in the AFC, like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs, are not standing still. They've either ramped up their performance on the field or made bold moves that could push them even further ahead. For instance, the Ravens, who shook off an 0-2 start, are now one of the hottest teams offensively, with Lamar Jackson looking like a potential MVP, while Derrick Henry could very well be in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, the Bills recently traded for former Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, giving their offense another potent weapon. Not to be outdone, the Chiefs, who have roared to a 6-0 start, bolstered their receiving corps by trading for former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Texans, however, are holding their cards close to the chest. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was quick to shut down speculation about possible trades when he said, “Not thinking about any moves. I’m thinking about beating the Colts right now.” Of course, you get it—no distractions, no noise. He’s locked in on the present, which is respectable. But let’s be real for a moment: this current version of the Houston Texans isn’t quite ready to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. They’re good, no doubt, but are they great? Probably not yet, and one of their biggest gaps is in the secondary.
The secondary has been a patchwork unit, and while they’ve had their bright spots, it’s clearly a group that could use some help if the Texans want to make a deep playoff run. Starting with the safety position, Jimmie Ward’s lingering groin injury has kept him sidelined, and he hasn’t played a full season since 2021. Eric Murray, while a solid rotational player who can make plays, has been inconsistent. Rookie safety Calen Bullock is a promising young talent with a team-leading three interceptions, but he’s still raw and learning the ropes, which makes him prone to mistakes.
It doesn’t stop there. The cornerback position is equally shaky. Derek Stingley Jr. has been healthy this season, which is great news considering his injury troubles in the past. But beyond Stingley, there’s not much depth. Kamari Lassiter missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, leaving the Texans scrambling for options. D’Angelo Ross was given the start in Lassiter’s place last week against the Green Bay Packers, and it was a rough outing. Ross was targeted seven times, and every single one of those passes was completed, resulting in 95 yards and a touchdown. Ross, a practice squad player, doesn’t have much experience, and it showed. It was only the third start of his career.
The numbers tell part of the story. Sure, the Texans’ defense leads the league with the lowest quarterback completion percentage (56.3%), but they’ve also allowed more passing touchdowns than almost any other team in the league—15 so far this season. That puts them just one behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, who sit at 2-5. Last season, Houston gave up just 17 passing touchdowns all year, a league-low. We’re not even halfway through this season, and they’re already approaching that mark.
Historically, the teams that give up the fewest passing touchdowns are the ones still playing in January. Last year, the Texans, Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens all made the playoffs, in part because they kept opposing quarterbacks out of the end zone. On the flip side, teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears, who were near the bottom in this stat, mostly missed the postseason. The one exception was Philadelphia, and even they were bounced in the first round.
So, how can Houston fix this? They’ve got some trade capital they can use. The Texans are sitting on six picks in the 2025 draft, including their own in the first, second, third, and fourth rounds, along with extra picks from the Bills and Vikings. That’s plenty of ammunition to make a deal for a defensive back who could help shore up their secondary and help them keep pace with the AFC’s elite.
Some potential trade targets include Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods, who’s been a tackling machine this year with 51 tackles, one interception, and two pass deflections. Jacksonville’s Andre Cisco is another option, with 36 tackles, four pass deflections, and one pick on the year. The Cardinals’ Budda Baker has also been productive, racking up 67 tackles and a pass deflection. There’s also Ravens safety Eddie Jackson, who’s posted 20 tackles so far. Any of these players would represent an upgrade to Houston’s secondary and give them more flexibility.
But here's the thing: the Texans need to make a move soon, or they risk falling behind. The AFC is stacked, and as teams like the Ravens, Bills, and Chiefs continue to make aggressive moves, Houston can’t afford to sit on their hands. In the next two weeks, the Texans have games against the Colts and Jets—teams that are good but flawed. These are games they can win. But looking further ahead, it gets tough. They face the Detroit Lions, arguably the top team in the NFC, followed by a brutal December stretch against the Dolphins, Ravens, and Chiefs.
Making room for a trade might not be easy. The Texans have just $6.2 million left in cap space, according to Over the Cap. With linebacker Devin White's signing on the horizon, they’ll need to get creative. Restructuring a few contracts could free up the necessary space, and the player they bring in doesn’t have to be a superstar—just someone who can provide reliable, consistent play in the secondary.
In short, Houston’s path to contending in the AFC goes through a revamped secondary. Without a trade, the Texans risk watching their Super Bowl window close before it even really opens.
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