The Texans have had an eventful offseason, to say the least. After pulling off several trades during the 2023 NFL Draft and making some shrewd free agency moves, things are looking up in Houston.

The Houston Texans have many new faces on the roster. When talent gets added, it means several former starters could have their jobs on the line. 

Today I wanted to take a look at a few players who could surprisingly be on the chopping block this summer.

Scott Quessenberry, C

Quessenberry is beloved in the Texans’ organization, but that can only get you so far. The veteran center had a pitiful 36.6 PFF rating in 2022, one of the worst marks among all offensive linemen. 

Quessenberry started 16 games at center in 2022, but the team added competition at the position this offseason. Juice Scruggs was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and is currently listed as the starter. Jimmy Morrissey and rookie Jarrett Patterson are also on the roster as depth. 

Patterson has the upside to be a versatile swing tackle and Morrissey has started four games in his career. If Scruggs wins the starting job, Either Morrissey or Patterson could slide in as his backup with Quessenberry being deemed expendable. 

Jerry Hughes, DE

This one will surprise some people. Hughes has been a solid pass rusher for more than a decade now and provides a stable veteran presence in the locker room. 

However, Hughes will turn 35 before the 2023 season begins, making him an outlier on a very young Texan team. The team has several young edge rushers who will be vying for snaps. Would the team want to give a 35-year-old some of those snaps? Rookies Will Anderson Jr. and Dylan Horton, Jonathan Greenard, Chase Winovich, and veteran Jacob Martin are just some of the edge rushers on the roster. 

With all of the talent that has been added, Hughes may now be expendable. 

Roy Lopez, DT

Lopez has been a mainstay on Houston’s defensive line for the past two seasons. Lopez started 14 games for the team in 2022, and the results were not all that impressive. 

Lopez had just one sack and 36 tackles while finishing with a below-average 52.7 PFF rating. The Texans had the worst run defense in the league in 2022. While unfair to blame entirely on Lopez, it's clear there need to be changes made. Sheldon Rankins was brought in to start alongside Maliek Collins on the interior. Behind that duo, Kurt Hinish, Byron Cowart, Thomas Booker IV, and Hassan Ridgeway are vying for spots. 

Ridgeway is likely a lock after being signed this offseason. That could mean the fourth and final spot could be a battle between Lopez, Cowart, Booker, and Hinish. 

Featured image via © Maria Lysaker | 2022 Nov 3