It’s NFL Combine Week — What Texans Fans Should Actually Be Watching

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The NFL Scouting Combine has arrived, and for football fans starved for action during the offseason, it’s one of the first major checkpoints on the road to the draft.

From February 22 through March 2 in Indianapolis, prospects will go through medical evaluations, interviews, measurements, meetings, and — the portion most fans care about — on-field testing and drills.

The Events Fans Tune In For

The workouts are what drive the headlines, social media clips, and draft stock debates.

Fans will be watching closely for:

• 40-yard dash

• Vertical jump

• Broad jump

• Bench press

• 3-cone drill

• Short shuttle

• Position-specific drills

  
  

These metrics provide a snapshot of athletic traits — speed, explosiveness, strength, and change of direction. The gauntlet drill for wide receivers, mirror drills for defensive backs, and pass-set work for offensive linemen often produce viral moments.

But while these numbers can move public perception dramatically, they do not always carry the same weight inside NFL buildings.

For the Texans, The Combine Is About SWARM Traits

Under head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio, the Houston Texans have consistently emphasized character, competitiveness, football intelligence, and toughness — what the organization calls “SWARM” traits.

The Combine gives the Texans something far more valuable than a stopwatch:

Face-to-face time with prospects.

This is a chance to evaluate:

• Personality and leadership

• Football IQ and recall

• Competitive mindset

• Coachability

• Fit within the culture

• How players handle pressure

  
  

It’s another major checkpoint in the Texans’ evaluation pipeline, alongside:

• The Senior Bowl

• 30 visits

• Pro days

• Private workouts

  
  

While the public focuses on the drills and testing, teams like Houston are gathering information that never shows up on television.

Tape First, Traits Second

Caserio has repeatedly stated that game film drives the evaluation process. Athletic testing provides context, not the foundation.

If anything, Houston has shown a willingness to bet on players whose Combine performance does not match the narrative.

In fact, Caserio has acknowledged that poor testing numbers can sometimes create value opportunities.

Kamari Lassiter: A Perfect Example

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter entered the Combine viewed as a potential early selection, but his 4.6-second 40-yard dash raised concerns about his speed and caused him to slide down draft boards.

Houston trusted the tape.

Lassiter’s play speed, instincts, physicality, and competitiveness were evident on film — traits that translate far better to NFL success than a single timed sprint.

His first two years in the league has already validated that approach. The supposed lack of elite speed did not prevent him from becoming a top corner in football, reinforcing the idea that football speed and testing speed are not always the same.

Because of that philosophy, Texans fans may want to keep an eye on prospects whose stock drops after Indianapolis. If Houston truly likes a player, a disappointing Combine performance could actually increase the odds that player lands in H-Town.

Measurements Matter — But Even Those Can Vary

Height, weight, arm length, wingspan, and hand size are important checkpoints, especially for positions like offensive line, defensive line, and cornerback.

However, measurements can differ between:

• College all-star games

• The Combine

• Pro days

  
  

Small discrepancies are common, which can complicate comparisons.

Positions That Are Easier — And Harder — To Evaluate

Not every position translates equally well to the Combine environment.

Easier to evaluate:

• Wide receivers — route running, hands, body control, fluidity

• Defensive backs — movement skills, transitions, recovery ability

  
  

These players perform drills that closely resemble actual football movements.

More difficult to evaluate:

• Offensive line

• Interior defensive line

  
  

Without pads and real contact, trench play is hard to simulate. Technique, leverage, and play strength often show up better on film than in Indianapolis.

Somewhere in between:

• Running backs

• Tight ends

  
  

These players can demonstrate athleticism and receiving ability, but the full picture of vision, contact balance, blocking, and instincts still comes from tape.

What Texans Fans Should Watch This Year

Houston enters the offseason with relatively few glaring holes. The organization has shown a preference for addressing immediate needs in free agency and then drafting the best player available.

That makes projecting specific targets more challenging.

Positions worth monitoring include:

• Running back

• Tight end

• Offensive line depth

• Interior Defensive line depth

• Developmental players at premium positions

  
  

Even if a position is not an urgent need, Houston has demonstrated a willingness to add talent that strengthens the roster long-term.

The Combine Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle

For fans, the Combine is an exciting spectacle filled with leaderboards and viral highlights.

For the Texans, it is something far more nuanced:

A character evaluation checkpoint.

A medical review opportunity.

A chance to confirm culture fit.

A way to identify value when the public overreacts.

In other words, the stopwatch matters — but not nearly as much as the man holding the football.