Texans see untapped potential in rookie TE Marlin Klein

While the outside world might have been perplexed by the Houston Texans' selection of Michigan tight end Marlin Klein in the second round, head coach DeMeco Ryans views it as the ideal pick.

Klein, who shocked the NFL world after Houston used the No. 59 pick to select him, plans to be the long-term option for the offense as the prototypical "Y" tight end in Nick Caley's offensive approach. He likely won't start right away over Dalton Schultz, but Ryans views his arrival a player who is only scratching the surface of his potential.

While stats might say one thing about Klein's potential in Year 1, his tape tells the stronger story.

"He's been through a lot and he's overcome a lot," Ryans said Friday following training camp. "To see this kid grow into the football player that he's become at the University of Michigan. He’s strong at the edge of the line of scrimmage, does a good job of blocking, sustaining blocks, running on his feet. It didn't show up a ton, but when you see it, I feel like he can be a dynamic player in the passing game."

In college, Klein waited three seasons to finally carve out a starting role, learning from multiple future NFL tight ends, including former top 10 pick Colston Loveland and A.J. Barner. Last season with the Wolverines, Klein was limited in the offensive play-calling, totaling a career-high 24 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown.

But again, the Texans are looking at the player's attributes and upside. In an offense that caters to the play of tight ends, Ryans sees a player who, in time, could grow to be one of the breakout starts of the 2026 class.

"We just want to continue to work with him to develop him," Ryans said. "He's still a young player and our coaches have done a great job already."

Klein will likely compete for the tight end No. 3 role behind Schultz and recently signed . Given his contract and unknown potential, he could have the inside track to start over and , who have dealt with injuries during the past two seasons in Houston.