HOUSTON — With the 2023 NFL Draft just over two weeks away, first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff have been working with the Houston Texans front office to evaluate the prospects.
Whether through pro days or the NFL combine, the Texans have reviewed countless hours of game film to ensure the selections of the three-day event will benefit the team.
Yet, the real work started in the offseason when the Texans acquired some key veteran free agents that could help build on the foundation that Houston has established.
“With the free agency process, that was very important to me to add veteran guys to our team,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans to the media on Tuesday. “I feel like we’ve done a really good job adding guys at multiple positions that have NFL experience, so we’re not going into a draft where there is this huge need. We have guys with experience.”
Houston added 14 veteran players to their roster this offseason who will help the Texans at critical positions, but most aren’t seen as long-term solutions to the rebuilding phase.
Of the players the team signed, nine had one-year contracts, and the other five were only given two-year deals.
Ryans does not see the length of the free agent contracts as a problem. He feels that it will help those players, in the long run, secure a longer contract if they have the desire and hunger to prove to the organization that they deserve it.
“The guys that we added, I feel like they bring a style of play that I want them to play with,” Ryans said when asked by the Texans Wire about the short-term signings. “Even though it’s a short-term deal, guys are hungry. That’s the most exciting thing about it. Guys that have short deals, most of the guys are betting on themselves, and I love that about the players.
“A guy is betting on himself to come out and showcase and prove the type of player he is. A lot of guys are looking for the bigger deal, so it says a lot about the mindset of the guys we’re bringing in that they truly believe in themselves. They have that belief. They have that motivation. They have the right mindset to prove it. I’m all about having those players.”
“Even though they are short-term deals, guys are hungry,” said Houston Texans HC DeMeco Ryans when I asked about the short contracts of the free agent signings this off-season. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/Ge97qbvz0n
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) April 12, 2023
With the start of the offseason underway, Ryans has begun implementing his coaching style and expectations for the players in attendance for the two-week voluntary period.
“It starts just with first and foremost one-on-one meetings with our players and coaches just so establish a relationship with our coaches and players,” said Ryans, who spent the last two years as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. “We want our players to understand we’re there for them, and we want the best for them, and we’re here to help them be better.
“That’s where the offseason starts. We’ll continue to be player focused. It’s individualized for each player, how can we help them get better, and that’s where our focus will be this offseason.”
