The Houston Texans are entering an important two months as they shape their roster for the 2025 season. The NFL Scouting Combine is a place where draft targets are identified and possibly a free agent discussion begins under the table over a shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s.
But no matter who the Texans are talking to, many are hoping the conversations will be with an offensive lineman. Houston’s offensive line finished 29th in Pro Football Focus’s offensive line rankings and allowed nine sacks in a season-ending playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Texans fans know what Houston’s biggest issue is heading into the offseason and it appears DeMeco Ryans agrees based on his comments in Indianapolis.
DeMeco Ryans Admits Texans Offensive Line Needs to be Better in 2025
Ryans discussed the offensive line during a scrum with local media reporters on Tuesday morning. When asked about the need for the groups improvement by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Ryans stated the obvious in that they have to play better in 2025.
'We need to continue to improve on the offensive line. We had some miscues there' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, adding 'it wasn't all bad' and 'reset' will help the group #NFLCombine @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/elDNIRr0bj
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 25, 2025
“We can continue to improve the offensive line,” Ryans said. “As everyone knows, we had some miscues there. I think hitting the reset button will allow us – the guys we have to play some good ball. It wasn’t all bad. Everybody has bad reps here and there. O-Line, D-Line, a lot of guys had bad reps but collectively I think we can do a better job with everybody being on the same page, hearing one voice, how we are communicating to the offensive line, I think that will help the guys right now.”
To Ryans’ credit, the Texans have already begun the process of helping the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was fired after failing to make adjustments during the 2024 season and was replaced by Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley. Houston also fired offensive line coach Chris Strausser and replaced him with assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich to give the offensive line one voice behind the scenes.
But for all of the groundwork being laid to help the offensive line, Texans fans want to see changes. Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard are locked in at the tackle positions but Jarrett Patterson, Juice Scruggs and Shaq Mason could all be on the hot seat entering the year.
To that, Ryans didn’t have a definitive answer when he was asked about adding a player in the trenches, but laid out a reality for every player on the roster.
“Every year, to me, we’re looking to add to every room,” Ryans said. I think you have to continue to add, get younger and improve depth at the position. So to me, every room needs a guy.”
With needs at wide receiver and the interior defensive line, there could be a lot more players heading into Houston in the coming weeks. But fans – and probably C.J. Stroud – would like for one of them to be an offensive lineman.