The Houston Texans raised more than a few eyebrows when they selected Michigan tight end Marlin Klein with the 59th overall pick in the second round. To the outside world, it seemed like a head-scratcher. But head coach DeMeco Ryans sees it differently—he sees the perfect fit.

Klein isn't expected to step in and immediately take the starting job from veteran Dalton Schultz. Instead, the Texans are playing the long game. Ryans envisions Klein as the prototypical "Y" tight end in offensive coordinator Nick Caley's system—a player whose best football is still ahead of him.

If you're only looking at the stat sheet, you might not understand the excitement. Klein posted a modest 24 catches for 248 yards and one touchdown in his final season with the Wolverines. But for Ryans, the tape tells a much more compelling story.

"He's been through a lot and he's overcome a lot," Ryans said after a recent training camp session. "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."

Patience has been a recurring theme in Klein's journey. He waited three seasons to carve out a starting role at Michigan, learning from future NFL talents like Colston Loveland (a former top-10 pick) and A.J. Barner. That experience, combined with his natural attributes, has the Texans coaching staff excited about what's to come.

In an offense that thrives on tight end production, Ryans believes Klein has the potential to be one of the breakout stars of the 2026 class. "We just want to continue to work with him to develop him," Ryans added. "He's still a young player who's only scratching the surface."

For Texans fans, the message is clear: don't judge this pick by the numbers. Judge it by the potential.