A debate is building around Nick Caserio in Houston, and one Texans voice is not buying into the idea that the general manager should be locked in for the long haul.
Locked on Texans podcast host John Hickman made that clear in a clip posted to the outlet’s X account on June 30, saying, “That would be a mistake,” after floating the idea that he and the team had “quietly” agreed on an extension.
Hickman’s skepticism isn’t brand new, but the timing stands out. Caserio and the Texans just put together one of the most aggressive offseasons the franchise has had in recent memory, yet Hickman still isn’t convinced the sixth-year executive deserves a longer runway in Houston.
He did acknowledge that Caserio has had what he called his “best overall year” so far. Even so, Hickman argued that the general manager has still been a net negative since arriving in 2021. His case centered on the idea that the Texans have had success despite Caserio in some areas, not because of him.
“Stroud was your saving grace at that quarterback spot when the last franchise quarterback [Deshaun Watson] saw that you [the Texans] brought in Caserio and didn't want any of it, didn't want any parts of it. Stroud came in, you also drafted Will Anderson, you also bring in Tank Dell.
So, you've done some things in that time period. And it's like, that's great.
But, there's a reason why this offensive line has not been good. There's a reason why the tight end room hasn't been good.
There's a reason why the running success rate in Houston has been poor. There's a reason why for all of that, and I think it points directly to Caserio.”
Hickman’s broader point is that even with the Texans’ strong run from 2023 through 2025 - a stretch that included a 32-19 record, three straight double-digit win seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances - the team still hasn’t broken through past the AFC Divisional round. In his view, the shortcomings in the offensive line, tight end room and ground game trace back to Caserio.
There is, though, some room to push back on the idea that Caserio alone explains every issue.
Watson’s trade request came right after Caserio was hired in 2021, but that doesn’t automatically make the general manager the sole reason for it. The situation around the franchise was already unstable, and Watson’s decision looks more like a reaction to the larger mess than to one hire by itself.
The offensive line has been another sore spot. Caserio inherited a unit in 2021 that included several names, and since then the Texans have tried Scott Quessenberry, Kenyon Green, A.J.
Cann, Shaq Mason, George Fant, Michael Deiter and Jarrett Patterson without finding a lasting fix. To his credit, Caserio has shown he’s willing to move on when a solution isn’t working.
Now he’s taking another swing in 2026. Houston has added All-Pro guard Wyatt Teller and former Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith, while also drafting tackle Aireontae Ersery and guard/center Keylan Rutledge. It looks like Caserio’s strongest effort yet to finally build the kind of blocking unit the Texans have needed for years.
The backfield has been just as frustrating. Joe Mixon’s drop-off after a 2024 season in which he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored over 10 touchdowns was impossible to ignore.
Houston also got burned by not making a follow-up move during a 2025 season that featured a struggling rushing attack led by Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks. That bottom-five ground game played a major role in derailing what may have been Houston’s best shot at a first Super Bowl appearance.
Caserio has since tried to address it by trading for former Detroit Lion David Montgomery in 2026.
Caserio has made his share of mistakes. That part is hard to argue.
But the Texans’ 25th anniversary season will be the real test. Hickman and others have their doubts, and Caserio’s future in Houston will come down to what happens next on the field.
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