Cade Stover

Texans traded up with the Eagles to select Ohio State TE Cade Stover with the No. 123 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Initially recruited as a linebacker, Stover (6'4/247) switched to defensive end before his freshman season in 2019. He flipped to back linebacker while also working as a tight end in 2020 but saw nearly all of his reps on special teams. Stover finally became a full-time tight end in 2021, only to be forced into a starting role at linebacker for the Rose Bowl because of various absences on the defensive side of the ball. This time it counted in 2022 as Stover, a tight end once again, racked up 406 yards and five scores on 36 catches. He amassed an impressive 22 percent of the Buckeyes’ receiving output in 2023 with 576 yards on 41 grabs in his final season. Given that he was playing alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, that’s an outlandish feat. For a late convert to the position, Stover’s routes are more polished than one would expect and he has no issues striking at the ball with his hands instead of letting it reach his body. If Stover can develop a mean streak as a blocker, he could become an all-purpose tight end.