John Harris takes a deep dive into the defensive players on the Houston Texans 90-man roster as Training Camp presented by Xfinity begins.

Edge

#50 Solomon Byrd

• College - USC/Wyoming
• 7th round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Spent the 2024 season on the Texans practice squadimprovement was notable in OTA/minicamp, but this is such a deep/talented positionByrd will need to be outstanding consistently to line up across from Anderson Jr, Hunter et al. in game action in the futurehe'll compete, that much I knowhas the pass rush acumen for sure and the preseason games will be huge for him to show how much he's progressed.

#51 Will Anderson Jr.

• College - Alabama
• 1st round draft pick in 2023 - #3 overall
• 3rd season in Houston

The Terminatorhis game has taken a monumental leap in the past 12 monthsThe Alpha on the defensive side of the ball amongst a ton of unique alphasdouble digit sacks last year, giving him 18.0 in his career26 career TFL and 41 career QB hitsreceived votes for AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2024his performance in last year's playoffs was on a different levelwhat will year three bring? CAN'T WAIT to find out!

#52 Darrell Taylor

• College - Tennessee
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Loved, LOVED the Taylor signingfought injury situations for the first four years of his careerwhen healthy, he's incredibly talentedlong and athletic off the edge, with a wicked first stepwhen Hunter and Anderson need a rest, Taylor, Autry and/or Barnett come into the game? Wow24.5 career sacks in his first four years and he's only started 13 gamescould be a major surprise for Texans fans when they see #52 step onto the field.

#55 Danielle Hunter

• College - LSU
• FA signing in 2024, signed extension this offseason
• 2nd season in Houston

What a first year in Houston in 2024The Cyborg may not like his nickname, but it suits him perfectlyhe's a spinning, chopping monster off the edge and he took over games last yearAll-World All-Pro Lions OT Penei Sewell had a nightmare of a time with Hunter, in other words, he couldn't block himregistered double digit sacks the past three years, five of the last six seasons and six of the last yearsnext sack will put him over the century mark in sacks.

#92 Dylan Horton

• College - TCU/New Mexico
• 4th round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Had the entire offseason to prepare his body, instead of using his body to fight off cancerthat alone should give Horton a ton of confidence heading into this seasonlong and athletic, relentless and versatileit's a damn log jam at the edge spot, but Horton stared down cancer and won, so competition at his position is nothing he can't handle.

#94 Casey Toohill

• College - Stanford
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Longer than you thinkstronger than you thinkmore athletic than you thinklove that he's here, even if it's going to be an uphill climb to earn playing time/53-man roster spotrelentless and smart, he was a menace when he faced the Texans back in 2022 with the Commandershis presence exemplifies the quality depth and talent at this position.

#95 Derek Barnett

• College - Tennessee
• Claimed on waivers in 2023, re-signed in 2024 & 2025
• 3rd season in Houston

Racked up 5.0 sacks in 2024 as a key complementary piece out on the edgealso produced two of the best/sexiest touchdowns in the 2024 season - one at Dallas and one at Tennessee...feels as if he's been around for 15-20 years in the league, but he just turned 29 in Juneplenty of juice left in his game as an edge setter and third down rusher.

#96 Denico Autry

• College - Mississippi State
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Doesn't have to play 100% of the defensive downs, just need him in pass rush situationswhen the Texans force third downs and Autry lines up in the middle, someone is going to pay in a different colored jersey.

Interior Defensive Linemen

#53 Junior Tafuna (Rookie)

• College - Utah
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Was a fan of Tafuna while studying him at Utahhis power really popped when I saw him in person at the Senior Bowlbuilt like a tankupper body strength for dayswill get a ton of reps this preseason as the Texans manage the reps for the veterans at this positionmight be an uphill climb to the roster, but seen it happen in the last five years and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Tafuna made a ton of noise this training camp.

#58 Kyonte Hamilton (Rookie)

• College - Rutgers
• 7th round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Seeing him in person, I was surprised how much bigger he is than he looked on filmoften played alongside Tafuna in OTA/minicampsformer wrestler and I'm a HUGE fan of former wrestlers playing in the trencheslike Tafuna, he's going to have to be outstanding to rise up through the depth chart, but he's talented, coachable and strong.

#72 Tommy Togiai

• College - Ohio State
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

When Togiai signed in Houston last year, it didn't really make a ripple for most Texans fansthen the ball kicked off and Togiai went to workfits this defense to a Tpenetrator with good play strengthcareer high 1.5 sacks in just eight games in 2024had a sack of Patrick Mahomes in the loss to the Chiefs in the Divisional Roundmay not look the part, but he certainly PLAYS the part.

#90 Sheldon Rankins

• College - Louisville
• FA signing in 2023, re-signed in 2025
• 2nd season in Houston

Rank is BACKafter having a solid 2023 season in Houston, Rankins signed in Cincinnati where the only thing that held him back was an injury after just seven gamesthe Texans gladly welcomed Rankins back to the fold in Houstonwatching him against Cleveland before his injury, it was clear that Rankins was just as active and productive as he had been in Houstonthen the injury struckhonestly, that injury might've been the best news for this Texans defense.

#91 Folorunso "Foley" Fatukasi

• College - UConn
• FA signing in 2024, re-signed in 2025
• 2nd season in Houston

Throughout the offseason, I wasn't sure Foley would return to Houstonthen he re-signed and all was right with the worldlove, LOVE his impact in the middle of this defensefootball nerds didn't give him quite the credit he deserved for how he slowed down the run in 2024like Rankinslike Edwards Jrlike Autry, he just has to be healthywhen he is, he's incredibly difficult to move off the spot and agile like a cat in the middle.

#93 Kurt Hinish

• College - Notre Dame
• UDFA in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

Hinish signed an extension to come back to Houston for 2025an injury late in the preseason slowed him in the 2024 season, but he appears to be healthy for 2025grinder with power and a relentless spiritfits this defense well but he needs a strong training camp to make his presence known in a deep interior group.

#97 Mario Edwards Jr.

• College - Florida State
• FA signing in 2024, re-signed in 2025
• 2nd season in Houston

In training camp last year, Edwards Jr was outstandingthe Texans interior had all kinds of issues trying to keep him out of the backfieldthe Texans missed him tremendously when he was out for suspension, but when he was on the field, he was disruptive and fit this defense perfectlyferocious third down interior rushersack against the Chargers in the playoff game was just that - ferocious - in the fourth quarter of that winplayed with Rankins in New Orleans

#98 Tim Settle

• College - Virginia Tech
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Tied a career high in sacks in 2024 with fivehowever, he doubled up his highest season total in TFL with tenalso had ten QB hitsplays with a ton of energy and stout quickness in the middletalkative and confident, but he played up to that level last year no questiontold us that he's working on using his hands betterif he does that, oh boy, look out.

Linebackers

#0 Azeez Al-Shaair

• College - FAU
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

There was a difference in the defense when Azeez was on the field in 2024 and when he wasn'tgets everyone lined upknows this defense like the back of his handTexans were 2-4 in the six games that he missed in 2024delivers forceful strikes in the run gamewasn't fully healthy in the playoffs and that impacted the entire defensethe definition of SWARMthat said, the defense needs better pass coverage from all the linebackers in 2025.

#32 Nick Niemann

• College - Iowa
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Niemann was used in mostly a reserve capacity at linebacker while with the Chargershowever, he was a special teams demon for Los Angeles in his four yearsthought he was impressive on the hoof seeing him moving around during OTA/minicamplinebackers not named Al-Shaair, Harris or To'o To'o have stepped in at key times in the past two years, so Niemann will need to be prepped and ready for that opportunity.

#35 Jake Hansen

• College - Illinois
• UDFA in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

Hansen isn't quite at the Dare Ogunbowale level, but he's approaching iton special teams, he'll do anything and has been one Frank Ross' top guys as a core four special teameras mentioned above, though, Hansen stepped into the starting lineup against Green Bay at linebacker and he played an excellent gamethe perfect SWARM-y competitor that this defense needs.

#39 Henry To'oTo'o

• College - Alabama/Tennessee
• 5th round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Said this throughout the season, I don't know where this defense would've been without Henry in 2024was one of the three or four most consistent players throughout the 2024 seasonwhen he was asked to wear the green dot helmet and communicate the defense against the Dolphins with Azeez out, To'oTo'o mastered itCoach DeMeco Ryans said the defense didn't have one communication issueanother year-to-year leap and To'oTo'o will be an entrenched force on this unit105 tackles, seven TFL, three passes defensed one FF and one INT in 2024.

#45 E.J. Speed

• College - Tarleton State
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

The word is shockedsitting in studio during the offseason, the news came down that Speed was signing with the TexansI'm still shocked, in a bit of disbelief that one of the Texans' villains would become one of its key pieces in the 2025 seasoncareer high 142 tackles as a Colt in 2024love Speed's speed and explosivenesscould still be a major factor on special teams as he was earlier in his career in Indy.

#46 Jackson Woodard (Rookie)

• College - UNLV/Arkansas
• Claimed on waivers in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Was a huge Woodard fan when he was at UNLVsmart and tough and freakin' productiveregistered 135 tackles, nearly 40 more than the next closest UNLV defenderstarted his career in Seattle, but when they waived him, the Texans jumped on making a waiver claim immediatelycan seriously run, but he'll have to make his name on special teams as Speed did in Indy early in his career.

#47 K.C. Ossai

• College - Louisiana
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Similar to Woodard, Ossai can really runled the Ragin' Cajuns in tackles in 2024 (115) and 2023 (95)...built like a sturdy Ford Broncocan't wait to see him put on the padsappeared to pick up on the mechanics of the defense well in his first practices as a Texanspecial teams will be his ticket, just as it will be for Woodard.

#48 Christian Harris

• College - Alabama
• 3rd round draft pick in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

Harris' third year in the NFL was one that he would probably like to forgetbrilliant second half of the 2023 seasoninjured just before 2024 TC startedcame back to practice after the Texans returned from the preseason game at Pittsburgh, left due to injury in the first 30 minutes of the practicedidn't make it back to the field until December 2024when healthy, he's as dynamic a player as any on this rosterthose 2023 playoff games showed the level he can take his game to at any momentsay it with me "JUST GET HEALTHY, PLEASE?!?!?"

#56 Jamal Hill

• College - Oregon
• 6th round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

As a rookie in 2024, it was clear that Hill's head was swimming learning all that he needed to learn as a first year linebackerincredibly talented and speedy, but couldn't really establish himself as a consistent fixture on the gameday rosteractive for eight games as a rookiewhen we talked to him during media days, he appeared that much more comfortable than he'd been as a rookiehoping that translates in his second year.

Cornerbacks

#4 Kamari Lassiter

• College - Georgia
• 2nd round pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

The Texans couldn't have hit a bigger home run in the second round (or the first round for that matter) selecting Lassiterhis teammates think he plays a little crazy but they'll also tell you that this defense needs that from himallowed just 45% completions as a rookie opposite Derek Stingley Jrheck of a force run player on the outside as wellsky is the limit for one of the foundation pieces in this defense.

#11 Tremon Smith

• College - Central Arkansas
• FA signing in 2021, re-signed in 2025
• 3rd season in Houston

Incredibly happy that Tremon returned to Houstonone of, if not, the fastest players on the teamplayed for CB coach Dino Vasso when he was in Houston, so the Texans know the depth that he providesreliable, fast and productive when he's on the fieldtold us how much he appreciated being back in Houston and the feeling is mutual.

#24 Derek Stingley Jr.

• College - LSU
• 1st round pick in 2022 - #3 overall, signed extension this offseason
• 4th season in Houston

THE BEST CB IN THE NFLI put that in all caps for the people in the back that needed to be reminded11 interceptions in 37 career games36 passes defensed in those 37 games as wellhad already made his impression on me, but for the NFL at large, his two INT performance against Miami stud WR Tyreek Hill had EVERYONE'S attentionoff the charts ball skillsfootball IQ as high as anyone on this rosterthe complete packagesigned a three year, $90M extension early in the offseason and no one deserved it more.

#30 Jaylin Smith (Rookie)

• College - USC
• 3rd round pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Watching Smith during OTA/minicamp practices, it was clear that he has true cover abilitylove his feet and ability to match routes, especially on the inside of the formationthink he's going to be a factor, at a minimum, as a special teams contributorhowever, his cover skills, quickness and smarts should get him some meaningful snaps during this training camp and beyond40 tackles, 4.0 TFL and two INT in his final season at USC

#37 D'Angelo Ross

• College - New Mexico
• FA signing in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

Wrote "4th season in Houston" and it hit me that Ross is one of the most tenured members of the organizationhas stepped in when the Texans have needed a CB the mostspecial teams demon, great gunnercould play some inside in 2025 as wellversatile and toughwill be in competition for one of the corner spots, but his play on special teams could set him apart.

#38 Keydrain Calligan

• College - SE Louisiana
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

I actually called one of Calligan's first games at SELA when he was a rangy freshman against Sam Houstonearned a contract a week or so after the Draftathleticism pops when watching himcurious to see how he competes in training camp and the opportunities that he garners as a result of his play.

#41 Damon Arnette

• College - Ohio State
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Could be THE comeback story of all comeback storiesformer first rounder for the Raiders, before hitting some rough spots in his careerfought back and earned a spot with the UFL's Roughnecksafter a strong season, he earned a contract after a tryout with the Texans in June 2025seems to be truly focused on putting the past behind him and getting competitive in training camphonestly, I'm intrigued as all get out as to what he looks like in this camp.

Safeties

#2 Calen Bullock

• College - USC
• 3rd round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

When ESPN execs did their annual poll for the best at each position in the league, Bullock was an honorable mention candidate for the entire leaguehas crazy potential and as he learns more and more what teams are trying to do to him, he'll improve even moreunreal range in the middle of the fieldHawk should've had double digit interceptions, if he had just held on the passes he got his hands onlimitless opportunities, especially in this defense.

#20 Jimmie Ward

• College - Northern Illinois
• FA signing in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Has been such a focal point in the leadership of the defense the past two years when healthy, but not sure how injury situation will impact his presence on this defense.

#23 C.J. Gardner-Johnson

• College - Florida
• Trade to Houston in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Oh boy, the intensity is now ratcheted up another three notches, now that C.J G-J is hereemotional and emotive Super Bowl championkey in the Eagles' defensive efforts to stop Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in said Super Bowlfeisty, physical and all-in, he's one heck of a competitorfor the second time in his Philly career, he had six interceptions in a seasonsix more in Houston, combined with what Sting, Bullock, Kamari et al. do and the Texans should lead the league in picks by a mile..

#25 Russ Yeast

• College - Kansas State/Louisville
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Arrived late in the 2024 season after stints with the Rams and the Panthersstarted ten games at safety for the Rams in his first two years in the leaguehad 61 tackles and five passes defensed in his second year in the NFL, but, in 2024, he was supplanted in Los Angeles and then was on the move for most of the 2024 seasonlong and athleticdad is the SEC's all-time leader in receptions (Craig Yeast, Kentucky 208 receptions - I'm old, I remember his Pops as one of the best college receivers of his time)

#29 M.J. Stewart

• College - North Carolina
• FA signing in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

As reliable a veteran as the Texans have on the rosterleads the special teams and relied upon heavily by ST coordinator Frank Rossthe perfect personal protector on punt teamhas filled in at safety the past three years when called uponthe type of veteran presence that is required for championship teams.

#34 Jaylen Reed

• College - Penn State
• 6th round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Didn't expect him to last until the sixth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, but thankful that teams allowed Caserio to call his name that late on that Saturdayput together like a tankstrong as hellwill deliver physically and receivers/ball carriers feel his presencewouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he finds a way to impact this roster on special teams, to start, and eventually the defenseled the Nittany Lions in tackles in 2024 (98 in 16 games)can runplays more like an old school strong safety.

Star/Nickel

#5 Jalen Pitre

• College - Baylor
• 2nd round draft pick in 2022, signed extension in spring
• 4th season in Houston

The Texans truly missed Pitre A TON in the game against Kansas City, in particular (injured his pec in the loss v. Tennessee in week 12)...was back healthy this spring and participated fully in OTA/minicampTexans have found the right fit/role for himmade a ton of impact plays throughout the season - tipped pass for an INT v. Detroit, INT v. Indianapolis just before the first half, forced fumble for scoop-n-score at Dallassigned an extension this offseason to remain in Houstonone of the most important people in this organization and so glad he'll remain a Texan.

#27 Myles Bryant

• College - Washington
• FA signing in 2024, re-signed in 2025
• 2nd season in Houston

When I'm asked what position Bryant plays, I just say "football player"...special teams, nickel, cornerback, safetyhe does a little bit of everythinga ball magnetmade a number of key plays in the two playoff games, filling in for Pitre at the nickellove his football IQ and his toughness.

#36 Alijah Huzzie (Rookie)

• College - North Carolina
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Sat out the OTA/minicamp practices rehabbing an injurysigned with the Texans after the Draftcompact build, but strongin his final season at North Carolina, he had a pick and 40 tackles for the Tar Heelsalso averaged 13 yards per punt return with one punt return TDlooks the part, but it's going to be tough in this secondary to breakthrough to the 53-man roster.

*Arthur Maulet

• College - Memphis
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Two days before training camp commenced, Maulet signed with the Texansthought that he was one of the better nickel/inside slot cover guys in 2023, but injuries held him to just three games in Baltimore in 2024appears to be healthy, so i'm curious to see what he's got left in the tank as the Texans start camp.