The Texans have hired Nick Caley as their new offensive coordinator, per source.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) February 3, 2025

The #Texans are hiring #Rams TEs coach and pass game coordinator Nick Caley as their new OC, as CJ Stroud and the Houston offense get a new play-caller, per me and @TomPelissero.

Caley drew interest from the #Jets and #Patriots. He was selective and lands in Houston. pic.twitter.com/Ol2stMfgDT

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2025

I'm good with that hire

Is he going to keep Jerrod? Does Jerrod even want to stay?

Out of the people we interviewed he was my top choice, I think he gives us a chance for a very high ceiling with the offense next year.

Where does he go that's not a lateral move?

I need someone smarter than me to explain the Diggs dead cap for 25. Do we absorb it into the current year contract if we resign him? Or is it a sunk cost entirely?

Texan_Aggie said:

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I need someone smarter than me to explain the Diggs dead cap for 25. Do we absorb it into the current year contract if we resign him? Or is it a sunk cost entirely?

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I think we pay it no matter what so it makes sense to just sign him as it would be part of his salary. That's why I have assumed he will be back. Also why I don't see us getting involved for Kupp.

Mr.Bond said:

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IrishAg said:

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Houston Texans plan to release WR Tank Dell (cap savings of $3 million over next 2 years) after he collects his $50,000 off-season workout bonus. Dell could resign in 2026, if healthy/needed.#Texans are hopeful to resign free agent WR Stefon Diggs and have him ready week 1. pic.twitter.com/rIdMvQmubz

— Eric Bryan Reinholtz (@ericjerseyvill) February 4, 2025

Damn, that seems a little cold blooded if true

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Incredibly smart though

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Yeah, great salary cap positioning. Just gonna be horrible on optics

Tank has a very useful skill set but his small frame just won't cut it in the NFL.

He's had 2 devastating injuries in just the 2 years he's played. Not like being nicked/banged up or soft tissue injuries but legit carted off the field type injuries.

Speaking of someone better put CJ on suicide watch once they cut Tank. That's obviously a joke but also seriously someone is gonna have to let CJ down easy when Tank gets cut.

IrishAg said:

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Houston Texans plan to release WR Tank Dell (cap savings of $3 million over next 2 years) after he collects his $50,000 off-season workout bonus. Dell could resign in 2026, if healthy/needed.#Texans are hopeful to resign free agent WR Stefon Diggs and have him ready week 1. pic.twitter.com/rIdMvQmubz

— Eric Bryan Reinholtz (@ericjerseyvill) February 4, 2025

Damn, that seems a little cold blooded if true

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Cold but is there any realistic way he's going to play next year? It was a pretty devastating knee injury.

I figured we would be able to keep him around next year on IR. Isn't that what IR is designed for?

2025 will be Diggs' 11th season in the league

not exactly a young WR2

W said:

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2025 will be Diggs' 11th season in the league

not exactly a young WR2

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Was this a different discussion I missed or are you getting Dell and Diggs mixed up on this?

We should ask the question again, is this a legit source or a super fan?

The guy is an experienced NFL reporter and It references his article from Channel 2 so would guess it's reliable.

If I'm Caserio I would've already had a deal in place for Kupp.

Just send Cal's big jet to get Caley and they can fly here together.

Not Aaron Wilson, I'm talking about Eric Bryan Reinholtz who's bio is Star Wars quotes

got it. it looked like you were asking about the report right before your post

Texan_Aggie said:

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Not Aaron Wilson, I'm talking about Eric Bryan Reinholtz who's bio is Star Wars quotes

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No clue, but it's on odd thing to just randomly throw out there as a fan.

Next question is O-line coach, if we're going young again then I'm really hoping for Zak Kromer (current assistant O-line coach with the Rams), son of top o-line coach Aaron Kromer. Zak just interviewed with the Jaguars, but he's been with the Rams for 8 years and knows the system.

And finalized

The #Texans have promoted Cole Popovich to offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Per @rapsheet

A highly regarded candidate stays in Houston. pic.twitter.com/DordzmVNKE

— Dylan Delgatto (@DDelgattoNFL) February 4, 2025

The #Texans have promoted Cole Popovich to offensive line coach and run game coordinator, sources say. He'll work closely with new OC Nick Caley.

Previously, Popovich was the assistant OL coach, but Houston always held him in high regard.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 4, 2025

Now that the coaching staff is set for 2025 it's time to look forward to free agency and the draft.

March 10 - teams and players can begin negotiating at 12:00 pm
March 12 - free agents can sign with new teams at 4:00 pm
April 24-26 - NFL Draft in Green Bay, WI

Free agents:
Unrestricted Free Agents

• Case Keenum, QB
• Dare Ogunbowale, RB
• Stefon Diggs, WR
• Robert Woods, WR
• Irv Smith, Jr., TE
• Kendrick Green, G
• Jerry Hughes, DE
• Derek Barnett, DE
• Mario Edwards, DT
• Foley Fatukasi, DT
• Del'Shawn Phillips, LB
• Devin White, LB
• Neville Hewitt, LB
• Jeff Okudah, CB
• Kris Boyd, CB
• Myles Bryant, CB
• Ka'dar Hollman, CB
• M.J. Stewart, S
• Eric Murray, S
• Jon Weeks, LS

Restricted Free Agents

• Dalton Keene, TE
• Teagan Quitoriano, TE
• Zach Thomas, G
• Kurt Hinish, DT
• Jake Hansen, LB

Max Power said:

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Now that the coaching staff is set for 2025 it's time to look forward to free agency and the draft.

March 10 - teams and players can begin negotiating at 12:00 pm
March 12 - free agents can sign with new teams at 4:00 pm
April 24-26 - NFL Draft in Green Bay, WI

Free agents:
Unrestricted Free Agents

• Case Keenum, QB
• Dare Ogunbowale, RB
• Stefon Diggs, WR
• Robert Woods, WR
• Irv Smith, Jr., TE
• Kendrick Green, G
• Jerry Hughes, DE
• Derek Barnett, DE
• Mario Edwards, DT
• Foley Fatukasi, DT
• Del'Shawn Phillips, LB
• Devin White, LB
• Neville Hewitt, LB
• Jeff Okudah, CB
• Kris Boyd, CB
• Myles Bryant, CB
• Ka'dar Hollman, CB
• M.J. Stewart, S
• Eric Murray, S
• Jon Weeks, LS

Restricted Free Agents

• Dalton Keene, TE
• Teagan Quitoriano, TE
• Zach Thomas, G
• Kurt Hinish, DT
• Jake Hansen, LB

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The good news is that there are no key free agents this year, all of them could potentially be replaced by just as talented people. On that list, my highest prioroity would probably be

DT - Foley Fatukasi
DT - Mario Edwards
DE - Derek Barnett
S - MJ Stewart
S - Eric Murray

But we don't have to overpay for any of those guys.

Top priorities going into the offseason have to be:
IOL - we need drastically better guard play
WR depth - I think we've proven we don't need name guys next to Nico, we just need good players that can be trusted to stay on the field
BPA offensive playmaker - and right after i said we don't need name guys, we still should be looking at any playmakers on offense that fit this scheme and could be had for the right price (FA or draft)
DT depth - need some run stuffers
RB depth - included this since this draft is crazy deep in RB
TE depth - same as RB


For the draft, I think this is going to be one of those as the draft goes we adjust, since there isn't a lot of top tier guys and some of the "low value" positions (RB and TE) have the deepest depth this year. I would say we target IOL at the beginning, but if someone drops in our lap we don't worry about taking him.