The Houston Texans have climbed out of the cellar of the AFC South in recent years and are now back-to-back division champions. A big reason for their ascent is the success they’ve had cultivating young talent.
The Texans started by finding Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre in the 2022 draft and added two more studs with quarterback C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson in 2023. While Kamari Lassiter made an instant impact last year, they didn’t get much more out of their rookie class and will be hoping for more in 2025.
That includes a second-year player with a wide open situation on the depth chart. As minicamp has commenced, he has already grabbed the attention of the coaching staff and could be poised for a breakout sophomore season.
DeMeco Ryans Shouts Out Second-Year Tight End Cade Stover at Minicamp
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans discussed the performance of tight end Cade Stover on Tuesday and had some encouraging words for the Ohio State product. While Stover had just 15 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in his rookie season, Ryans said last year’s fourth-round pick has grown “tremendously” from last season.
“He’s a guy who I think has grown tremendously,” Ryans said of Stover. “One small detail for him is his separation at the top of the routes. So seeing Cade, a second year player, take the steps to get better at the one thing, just his route definition at the top of his route and seeing him make play after play like that…that’s what excites me about the offseason. That’s why I think it’s really important these eight, nine weeks that we have with the players. If you attack it with the right mindset, you can actually get better and enhance your game.”
DeMeco Ryans highlighted Cade Stover & Calen Bullock as players making a jump from year 1 to year 2:
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 11, 2025
Cade is “making play after play” & Calen “is putting himself in really good body position to make tackles” pic.twitter.com/NWUR6hwIrX
Ryans also shouted out second-year safety Calen Bullock, who grabbed five interceptions in his rookie season. But Stover’s emergence could give the Texans another weapon on offense.
The Texans pass-catching unit came under fire last season as Nico Collins missed significant time with a hamstring injury and Tank Dell suffered a dislocated knee cap and multiple torn ligaments last December. With Dell out for a large chunk of next season, the Texans traded for Christian Kirk and drafted Iowa State receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. But the tight end position presents a different opportunity for Stover.
Houston signed Dalton Schultz to a three-year, $36 million contract in free agency last year but after a strong 2023 campaign with the Texans (59 catches, 635 yards, 5 TD), he regressed with 53 catches for 532 yards and two touchdowns last season. If Schultz doesn’t pick it up this season, the Texans can get out of that contract and save $11.5 million against the cap next spring.
If Stover can take advantage with a strong season, that split could become more likely. But Stover needs to build on a strong offseason performance in order to force his way into the Texans’ long-term plans.