Houston Texans Add Elite Cornerback to Prolific Defensive Backfield for 2024

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Henderson has agreed to join the Texans after Thursday’s visit to Houston. Henderson’s one-year deal has a maximum value of $3.25 million.

Houston Texans First-Round Cornerback Room

C.J. Henderson and Jeff Okudah, both former first-round draft picks, would welcome additions to any team. For the Texans, it increases their already prolific cornerback room. Former first-round draft pick Derek Stingley resides in Houston and will welcome these two with open arms.

The Jaguars selected Henderson at No. 9 overall in 2020 but traded him to the Panthers in September 2021. Okudah was the third overall pick in 2020, and the Texans’ top cornerback, Derek Stingley Jr., was the third overall pick in 2022.

Not many defenses have three former top-10 picks, all within the same position group.

Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley Jr., former LSU Tiger, was the third pick in the 2022 draft. After playing under Lovie Smith for a year, the team hired DeMeco Ryans as its head coach. Stingley flourished under Ryans.

Stingley has a Pro Football Focus rating of 81.8 and a coverage grade of 84.9. He is the highest-rated corner on the Houston Texans roster.

In only 11 games in 2023, he had five interceptions and 13 passes defended. Stingley typically stays to one side within the Texan’s defensive system, but that could change with the two additions.

Jeff Okudah

The former Ohio State Buckeye was drafted by the Lions back in 2020. He was injured early in his career, and once Dan Campbell came in as the head coach, it never seemed Okudah fit his overall plan.

Okudah was traded to the Falcons for a fifth-round pick before the 2023 season.

Okudah started nine games in 2023 for the Falcons. He had 44 total tackles and three passes defended.

C.J. Henderson

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Henderson, former Florida Gator in 2020. The early part of his career went above expectations. Henderson made his NFL debut in the season opener on September 13, 2020, against the Indianapolis Colts, starting and recording five tackles and his first career interception.

Unfortunately, he went on injured reserve later that year and was traded in late September of the 2021 season.

In 49 total games with 32 starts, Henderson has totaled 16 passes defended with three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He started eight games as a rookie before being sidelined by a groin injury.

Too many cornerbacks?

One might wonder what role each of these players will step into. Stingley will likely remain the top corner on that defense, especially with the experience within head coach DeMeco Ryans defensive system.

The rollercoaster careers of Henderson and Okudah lend themselves to finding a role rather than being given one. We will see how Ryans decides to implore these cornerbacks.