Convenience Big Store: What to expect at NFL's league meetings

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Houston Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair visits after the organization announced the development of a new, 83-acre headquarters and practice facility space named the 'Toro District' in the Bridgeland master-planned community in Northwest Harris County in Cypress, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. The project will included a 22-acre headquarters and training complex with plans to open the facility in 2029.

What I'm interested in learning at the NFL's league meetings

PHOENIX — We're less than a month away from the NFL draft and as I'm writing this, I'm currently sitting at the swanky Arizona Biltmore Hotel where the NFL is holding its annual league meetings. There are fancy chandeliers, furniture, restaurants, pools, a golf course and anything else you can think of.

Disclaimer: I am not staying here. I'm staying at a Marriott about 15 minutes away.

But this is one of the NFL's biggest events of the offseason because here, new rules are discussed and voted on by the league.

We'll also talk with coach DeMeco Ryans on Tuesday morning. Ryans didn't speak at the combine, so this is the first time we are speaking with him since the 2025 season ended in January. Since then, so much has happened.

Among the things I'm interested in learning is how they'll approach the draft, why they constructed the offensive line the way they did this offseason, how it changes what they may do in the draft, Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud's impending contract extensions and more.

After free agency, I compiled a depth chart to show the positions the Texans could address in the draft. A few positions stand out in particular.

Read it here.

Jonathan M. Alexander, Texans beat reporter

jonathan.alexander@houstonchronicle.com

Image of two arrows, one pointing up, the other pointing down. Text reads: 'Who's up, who's down.'

Photo by: Susan Barber

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Texans' defense: Houston added Reed Blankenship in free agency, and re-signed Sheldon Rankins. So the Texans will be returning nearly an identical defense with the addition of Blankenship, who joins one of the best secondaries in the league. The Texans will likely further address defensive tackle in the draft.

Offensive line: The Texans signed two veterans in free agency in Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, which should make them a better group. They also re-signed Ed Ingram and Trent Brown, so they have depth, too. But they'll still need to address guard in the draft.

Tank Dell: He's looking a lot healthier this offseason after missing the entire 2025 season with a knee injury. He's expected to participate in the team's offseason program.

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Blake Fisher: The fact that the Texans made those moves on the offensive line indicates that they aren't sure he'll develop into a starter, which is unfortunate considering they used a second-round pick on him in 2024. Now is the time he should be a starter.