The Houston Texans Have Lift Off
Photo Credit: Houston Texans
(Houston, TX) - The Houston Texans have lift-off. The Texans’ turnaround under head coach DeMeco Ryans is historically significant. The Texans continue to win and haven’t even snapped the ball this spring. Houston has added a ton of great pieces to an already impressive young core that made it to the Divisional Round of the Postseason last season. A year ago, this team was deciding what to do with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. It was that selection that changed that changed the Houston Texans franchise.
The selection of CJ Stroud from Ohio State by the Houston Texans was a solid pick. Many draft analysts had Stroud as the second-best quarterback in the class, essentially tied for the best with then-Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. When the Texans selected Stroud, nobody really knew how his first season in the 713 would pan out.
Stroud was electric in his rookie year, and that doesn’t even do it justice. Stroud was so good at one point that he was not only in the Rookie of the Year conversation, but also the MVP conversation. Stroud made a very good argument for it as well. Stroud passed for over 4,000 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions all year. This was probably one of the biggest factors in the entire Texans’ turnaround from a team that hadn’t won more than four games in the last three years. Houston went on to win the AFC South for the first time since 2019 and made the postseason for the 7th time in franchise history.
Now, CJ Stroud was not the only reason for the Texans’ turnaround. Plenty of credit goes to the front office duo of GM Nick Caserio and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans came over from the San Francisco 49ers, where he was the defensive coordinator for two seasons. In 2022, the 49ers had the best defense in the NFL, and DeMeco Ryans was sought out as one of the top young head coaches during the offseason.
Ryans ultimately joined the Texans, where he had spent 5 seasons as a linebacker. Ryans’ arrival back in Houston not only set a new standard and marked a new era for the Texans, but also brought a new aura surrounding the team. Ryans bolstered a defense that had plenty of young pieces just ready to burst onto the scene, such as linebacker Blake Cashman, edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, and the secondary duo of cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Jalen Pitre. Ryans also added proven veterans such as former 49er safety Jimmie Ward, linebacker Denzel Perryman, DL Sheldon Rankins, and many others.
The biggest part of the defense, though, was rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. After picking Stroud at number two, they then traded back into the first round with the Arizona Cardinals in the 2022 Draft, who held the 3rd overall pick. The Texans traded a ton of future picks for that 3rd overall pick, selecting Anderson out of Alabama.
This was a gamble, but not because of Anderson’s talents. Will was seen as the best edge rusher in the class, but the gamble came as it’s never certain how edge rushers will pan out. Instant impact for edge rushers is rare, and Anderson was one of those rare rushers making a big impact on the defensive line despite battling a lingering injury throughout the year. Anderson was graded 21st among edge rushers according to Pro Football Focus.
An additional piece that the Texans hit on was the hiring of former 49ers quarterbacks coach, Bobby Slowik. Coming off the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, Slowik helped this offense not only run smoothly through Stroud, but also allowed for players like Nico Collins and rookie wideout Tank Dell to shine. He even opened up a great running game, allowing veteran running back Devin Singletary to be successful down the stretch.
The Texans are not only reloading for next season, but they are also improving. The Texans have made three massive moves that will have a huge impact come next year. First, during the early offseason, Houston traded with the Cincinnati Bengals for veteran running back Joe Mixon. Despite Mixon being 27, he was still a solid workhorse back for the Bengals. He can instantly improve this Texans running game, which was successful towards the end of the year with Devin Singletary but practically non-existent during the beginning of the year. Mixon’s arrival is an immediate upgrade and creates a tough one-two punch between himself and third-year running back Dameon Pierce.
One of the biggest splashes in free agency was Houston signing veteran pass rusher Danielle Hunter. He had spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings and, in 2023, had the highest number of sacks in his career with 16.5 sacks. Houston snagged Hunter in free agency on a two-year deal worth up to $51 million, with $48 million fully guaranteed. Hunter not only adds a proven pass rusher on the edge but also takes a massive amount of attention away from Will Anderson Jr. Hunter is also an upgrade after losing Jonathan Greenard in free agency. After coming off his best season, Danielle is set to flourish in a DeMeco Ryans defense that is built on getting to the quarterback
The biggest move this offseason, though, would be the Texans’ trade for veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs has been one of the top 10 wide receivers in the NFL, especially in his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The Texans sent over a 2025 second-round pick for Diggs’ services. This now gives CJ Stroud not only a proven weapon who, at one point, was a top 5 receiver in the NFL, but also adds to a wide receiver room that may be the deepest and the best in the entire league. Houston restructured Diggs’ current contract, turning it into a one-year deal. This move could ensure they get the best out of Stefon Diggs this upcoming season.
Even some of the smaller moves that H-Town has made have still helped them in terms of depth and retaining players. Houston re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Noah Brown, who were huge parts of the offense last season for Stroud. They also added depth and upgraded starting spots with the likes of former 49ers and Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, former 2020 third overall pick cornerback Jeff Okudah, and veteran edge Denico Autry.
For years, many Texans fans have heard “Houston, we have a problem” when it comes to their franchise, whether that was due to the on-field production or front office moves. For the 2024/25 season, the Texans are currently in the top 10 in odds to make the Super Bowl at +700, according to FanDuel. Whether the Texans make it to the Super Bowl this season or not, there are surely no problems in the Space City.