The Houston Texans’ active offseason continued Friday with another trade.
Houston sent its first-round pick (No. 23 overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 42 overall), a sixth-round pick (No. 188 overall) and a 2025 second-round pick, according to multiple reports. The Texans will also send a seventh-round pick (No. 232 overall) as part of the deal.
Source: #Texans trade 23rd overall pick and 232nd pick to Vikings for 42nd, 188th overall, and 2025 second-round pick @KPRC2 https://t.co/CH3cIUK8VJ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 15, 2024
General manager Nick Caserio has been fluid in his handling of draft picks. In 2023 season, he made three draft-day moves, including a move up to No. 3 to take edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. That worked out well for him after Anderson won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
On the surface, though, this trade is a head-scratcher. Houston needs a defensive tackle after it lost out on its pursuit of former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who signed with the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, Caserio made one thing clear during his tenure: He won’t sacrifice for value. In free agency, he wouldn’t go above $10 million for linebacker Patrick Queen and stuck to his guns while negotiating with Saquon Barkley. Caserio pivoted in both spots — first to linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and then to a trade for running back Joe Mixon.
This move signals Houston’s front office believes they can acquire a similar player in the early second round at a cheaper price point. Using the Fitzgerald-Spielberger NFL Draft Trade Value Chart, which assigns a value to each draft pick, Houston sent 1,651 points of value to Minnesota and acquired 1,452 value points in this year’s draft.
Including next year’s second-round pick, and the Texans likely come out on top of this trade. Minnesota lost its starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in free agency and is eager to replace him in the draft. Caserio used that eagerness to collect more assets.
While the Texans don’t currently hold a first-round pick, they maintain the flexibility to jump back in if a player they covet begins to fall. The defensive interior tops the list of needs, and the secondary could use additional support from the draft.
Houston is one of the league’s most active teams this offseason, and it is likely not done. How the draft unfolds will determine the real winner of this trade, but Houston…
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