Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans have their franchise quarterback, so it’s time to continue building around him. One place they’ll do that is the NFL Draft in April and they just may select someone that C.J. Stroud is very familiar with.

Cade Stover is a tight end in this class out of Columbus who very well could be a fit for the Texans. It helps that he would love to play with his former Buckeye teammate.

“I couldn’t tell you how much respect and how close I really was with that guy,” Stover said at the NFL Combine. “Just for his pure act of wanting to win and my pure act of wanting to win, I’d love nothing more than to go reunite with him.”

Stover was Stroud’s top tight-end target in 2022 in Columbus. As a junior, Stover reeled in 406 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Not only were Stroud and Stover close in the field, but they’re very good friends off of the field too.

As a senior, Stover stepped his game up to 41 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns. With Dalton Schultz’s future questionable with the Texans, they very well could be adding at tight end in the draft to add depth alongside Brevin Jordan.

Stover is still a raw talent, as he’s been playing tight end only a couple of years. He played linebacker and safety out of high school. The Lexington, Ohio product has a basketball background and could have likely played Division I hoops if that’s the path he wanted to take. An athlete at the tight end position who will have his best ball off ahead of him.

The throwback tough-nosed style that Stover brings would fit right in with the Texans and he’d likely enjoy the state of Texas. Viewed as a third to fourth-round pick, the Texans should have interest in him after the first few rounds, a team that he has already met with. 

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