The Houston Texans’ tight end room was a bit sparse going into today’s draft. You have Dalton Schultz as the undisputed TE1 and then a logjam of potential at TE2 with Brevin Jordan, Teagan Quitoriano, and Dalton Keene.

The logjam is now getting bigger with the Houston Texans taking C.J. Stroud’s former college tight end Cade Stover out of Ohio State with their first fourth round pick.

#Texans draft Ohio State tight end Cade Stover

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 27, 2024

Here’s what Lance Zierlein had to say about Stover.

Overview

Catch first, block second tight end whose jump in play as a receiving threat is going to be hard to ignore. Stover is a tight end conversion from the defensive side of the ball. He’s a little clunky getting off the line but really picks up the pace as the route unfolds. He starred as a high school hooper and that same athleticism can be found in his route running, high-point timing and run after catch. Stover possesses the tools to move in a positive direction as a run blocker but needs to upgrade his grit at the point of attack and effort as a move blocker. He’s an upside prospect with the potential to play in-line or flexed out and should become a productive starter within a couple of years.

Strengths

Capable of snapping off route breaks at very crisp angles.

Sticky hands and late separation bolstered win percentage when contested.

Athleticism shows up with footwork and catch adjustments.

“Elude” and “bludgeon” are both on his post-catch menu as a runner.

Initial quickness to hit lateral landmarks as zone blocker.

Centers up and widens out as base blocker.

Weaknesses

Needs to upgrade nastiness as an in-line blocker.

Blocks with average strain and below-average sustain.

Needs to maintain top speed in seam when searching for the throw.

But what you really need to know is that Stover knows how to knead the leather (to strengthen his hands).

Why was Ohio State TE Cade Stover massaging a cow?

Charles Davis: He says he's doing it to strengthen his hands. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "I'm massaging the leather."

Rich Eisen: Now that's the name of my fantasy team next year. And I have my avatar. pic.twitter.com/Iq5o3uwEeL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 2, 2024

Stover’s selection means the end of at least one of either Jordan, Quitoriano, or Keene as a Houston Texan, because if he pans out, he’ll be the TE1 of the future.

The Texans had to give up a fourth round pick this year and a fifth round pick next year to the Philadelphia Eagles. But for a player of this caliber, that’s a pretty good deal.

But enough from me, what do y’all think of the pick?