Houston Texans rookie Cade Stover is already displaying a trait most rookies don't during OTAs

The Houston Texans, in a strategic move, re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz this offseason. However, they also recognized the need to bolster their roster through the 2024 NFL Draft. This led them to select Cade Stover, a former teammate of C.J. Stroud at Ohio State, in the fourth round with the 23rd pick. Stover's selection was a testament to the Texans' meticulous draft process, and their glowing remarks about him hint at their belief that they've found a hidden gem.

"This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality, because of his mindset," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said after the draft.

The Texans' decision to draft Cade Stover was driven by their need for versatile players, not just those who can block but also those who can be utilized as offensive weapons. The Texans are keen on maximizing their offensive potential with a promising young quarterback like C.J. Stroud. This strategy aligns with their goal of building a strong team before the end of the rookie contract window.

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The Texans had a very good draft , and a large part of that is because of Stover, whom they got tremendous value for in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have a guy who is a playmaker and a tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar worker willing to do all the dirty work. And he already has a great connection with the quarterback, so he has that working in his favor.

"It's just such an honor to play with C.J. again," Stover said. "They've got something really special going down there in Houston, so I'm just really, really excited to be a part of it. There's a lot of emotion right now, and it's hard to put into words."

We also see some traits in Stover that you don't usually see from rookies this early on. The Texans started OTAs earlier this week, and as we usually do as media and fans, everyone overreacts to every video put out during every practice session. So, let's do that a bit with Stover, shall we?

There is one specific clip making the rounds that has compiled highlights of the rookies, and Stover has a highlight of him making a pretty great play against the Texans' defense. In this play, Stover caught a contested catch between two defenders, which saw both defenders make great defensive plays to try and grab the ball. He was able to pull it out and run with the ball down the field.

Stover is tough, and he has great hands, as seen in this clip. Most rookies would have dropped the ball in that scenario. Stover, instead, made an incredible play.

Now, this is OTAs against almost non-existent defense. So, let's not overreact. But, it's hard not to, for sure.

Related: Houston Texans signed the best undrafted free agent pass rusher that the rest of the NFL forgot to draft