Nick

Caserio

The Texans are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, but there’s been some speculation they could pass on a signal-caller with the second overall pick. While that seems like a less-than-ideal approach for first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans also hold the 12th overall pick and could take their chances on a quarterback falling to them a bit later in the draft. It doesn’t sound like the Texans are actively shopping their top pick but are staying open-minded to the possibility of a deal. Caserio said he also has no plans on leaving after the draft, despite rumors that “organizational changes” could be on the way in the coming weeks.

Lombardi worked with the Patriots at one point and has a direct line to the Belichick tree. Caserio was linked back to New England by a rumor that John McClain heard at the combine -- one that McClain doesn’t personally endorse or believe in. Michael Silver notes that 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters could be a target to replace Caserio. While Caserio helped lead the search for Ryans, the two of them had never spoken per Caserio’s own admission before the process, which makes it easy to believe that he wasn’t necessarily on Caserio’s personal short list. Caserio’s initial post-season presser also had him questioning aloud multiple times that a new head coach might not want Caserio to be general manager. It’s hard to suss out exactly what will unfold here ahead of a dramatic No. 2 overall pick, but smoke has been billowing out of Caserio leaving since the end of the 2022 season.

To put this in a more blunt way, Nick Caserio said multiple times in his Monday presser that a new coach might not desire his services and that he would have to live with that. The Texans are currently casting a wide net on young coaches in their search for their fourth head coach in four years. It’s not completely off the table that the Texans hire a new head coach who wants to move on from Caserio, and Texans owner Cal McNair told reporters yesterday that he would take a more active role in this coaching search. Caserio’s Texans have won seven games in his first two seasons as general manager.

We’ve heard plenty of smoke about Lovie Smith being on the hot seat this weekend, but this is the first real report we’ve had noting that Nick Caserio’s job could be on the line. After two years as Houston’s general manager, Houston remains one of the oldest rosters in the NFL. It’s perhaps a little unfair to expect the Texans to have made the playoffs or anything like that at this point given where they started with Caserio and David Culley, but it’s not hard to argue they should look a little more functional than they have to date.

The Texans hold the No. 3 and No. 13 picks but are looking to make two selections in the top 10, “if the right player is there.” It’s possible that the Texans are eyeing a wide receiver, given that as many as three wide receivers could be off the board before Houston is up at 13. Given their depleted roster, one might expect the Texans to move back and acquire additional assets, but that does not appear to be the plan.

All of the picks involved are from the 2022 NFL Draft. Bill Belichick is the league’s most active trader and this time he’s making a deal with a former employee, Nick Caserio, who is currently the Texans’ general manager. Caserio was with the Patriots for 20 years before landing the Houston gig. Per Pro Football Focus’s Doug Kyed, the Pats have only used six fifth-round picks since 2012. They had two fifth-round selections before this deal, so at least one had to go.

It’s the second time Caserio has hinted the team might part ways with their first rounder. The team has plenty of draft capital with which to work -- nine picks in total. They have their first rounder, along with second and third round selections, as well as a third-rounder from the Saints. “From an asset allocation, from a salary cap structure, from resources,” Caserio said at a press conference last week. “Players in the building to externally, opportunities that might be available for us in free agency. To, right now we have the third overall pick, or whatever that is. Whether or not we stay at three, that’s a whole separate discussion. But we’ll talk about the draft a little bit later.” Whether the Texans deal the third overall pick will be a major storyline in the lead up to the 2022 draft.

Rapoport said the team wanted Culley to commit to major changes on the offensive side of the ball. Culley balked, and the team fired him after one season at the helm. The Texans also fired offensive coordinator Tim Kelly. There were other areas of concern for the Texans, including Culley’s in-game decision making and team disciplinary issues, according to Rapoport. The Texans could take a close look at Jerod Mayo, the former New England linebacker and current Patriots defensive assistant with close ties to Houston GM Nick Caserio.

It’s not exactly the most jarring non-comment considering the sad state of the franchise and the uncertain future of everyone in the Texans organization. Culley, 65, a long-time assistant coach who stunningly got the job last January, has next to no chance of returning for a second year as head coach. Houston is dead last in yards per game and points per game, while giving up the third most points per game. It’s hardly Culley’s fault: Houston is the least talented team in the NFL, with some starters who would be practice squad players with most teams. With little hope for a quick turnaround, the franchise will likely be mired in a years-long rebuild that will not include Culley.

MMQB’s Albert Breer said the Panthers are interested in “cap side guys” to fill their GM spot. Matteo worked for the league office before joining the Ravens’ front office two years ago. Carolina interviewed former Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio for the open GM position before Caserio took the Texans’ general manager job.