Tag: Houston Texans news

Texans offensive skill position group lands in top 10 of The Athletic’s latest rankings

After continually adding to C.J. Stroud’s weapons in the offseason, Houston finds itself in the top 10 offensive skill position group.

Since general manager Nick Caserio arrived in Houston, the Texans’ roster has undergone a massive overhaul, completing a worst-to-first/worst-to-first turnaround last season.

The Texans enter 2024 with heightened expectations after an offseason that saw the team acquire star talents like Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs. The latter joins a stacked receiver room that is part of a grander skill position group that ranks amongst the best in the NFL.

The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen recently ranked the best skill position groups, placing the Texans at No. 8. While being in the top 10 is nothing to scoff at, forming a receiving trio of Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Diggs would suggest a higher placement.

Nguyen, however, is cautious about being too high on Texans’ skill players.

“The Texans may be too low on this list but the jury is still out on whether Father Time is catching up with Stefon Diggs or maybe he just needed a fresh start,” Nguyen writes. “Tank Dell was electric as a rookie, but he broke his fibula in Week 13 and was wounded by a gunshot in the offseason.”

Diggs, 30, joins the squad after a successful tenure with the Bills that ended on an underwhelming note. In four years, he caught 445 passes for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns, but he closed out 2023 with 13 consecutive games under 100 yards.

In his brief time with Houston, the four-time Pro Bowler has earned praise for leadership and competitiveness. He shouldered a 26% target per route run last season, but with Collins and Dell in the fold, he may trade in some targets for added efficiency.

“Nico Collins blossomed into a bonafide No. 1 receiver last season,” Nguyen writes. “Only [Tyreek] Hill finished with a higher (Y/RR) than Collins. He’ll take a lot of the load off Diggs, who was the undisputed No. 1 during his time in Buffalo. Allowing Diggs to get more one-on-ones and face inferior corners should be fruitful for the Texans.”

By every metric, Collins was a star receiver last year, totaling a career-high 80 catches for 1,297 yards. Houston rewarded him with a three-year extension, keeping him a part of the offensive game plan through 2026.

This could be the Collins’ start, who became the third Texan to record over 1,200 receiving yards in a season behind Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins.

Dell, a third-round pick out of the University of Houston, was on his way to breaking every rookie receiving record in franchise history before sustaining a season-ending injury. He still finished with 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns.

Keep in mind C.J. Stroud still has two more pieces to the puzzle in tight end Dalton Schultz and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon. Schultz averaged 12.5 yards per catch and scored five touchdowns as Stroud’s security net over the middle of the field.

Mixon, a former Pro Bowl runner in Cincinnati, brings a wealth of experience in the league and scheme fit.

Houston will play most of its starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6 p.m. on Friday. Who stands on the sidelines remains a mystery, but it’ll be the first time fans see the skill players in live action, making for an exciting debut.

Can the new Texans WR trio make history with 3 1,000 yard seasons?

The Houston Texans have one of the league’s top WR trio’s, with has a chance to make history that has not been done since 2008.

In ESPN’s recent NFL roster ranking, analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder factored in age, talent and player production to sort the league’s 32 teams.

The Houston Texans’ collection of youthful talent and veteran offseason acquisitions helped them come in at No. 8. Clay highlighted Houston’s colossal strength as the receiver room, which includes Nico Collins, Tank Dell and former All-Pro Stefon Diggs.

Collins and Dell are products of general manager Nick Caserio’s work through the draft. Both came as part of draft day trades that saw Houston move up in the third round to secure niche talent.

Collins finally reached his potential with a 1,200-plus yard season as C.J. Stroud’s go-to target. Dell was on his way to smashing every Texans rookie receiving record before suffering a season-ending injury in early December.

Then there’s Diggs, the final piece of the trio acquired from Buffalo this offseason for a future second-round pick. On paper, Stroud might be throwing to the league’s best trio of talent at receiver.

The Texans have three receivers capable of a 1,000-yard season. Everyone around the league knows this.

Now, attention turns to a question that’s only happened five times in league history: can all three hit the 1K marker during the same year?

No team has accomplished the feat since Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steven Breaston hit four digits back with the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. Keep in mind that the squad went on to play against Pittsburgh for a Super Bowl later in February.

Talent is the least of the troubles when surpassing the marker, but there are countless hurdles Houston must pass if it stands a chance.

The first roadblock to avoid is injury. Arizona’s trio played 44 of 48 games, with Boldin being the outlier with four missed matchups.

Dell’s 5-foot-8 and 165-pound frame raises durability concerns, as evident by his Week 13 season-ending leg injury. And before that, he had already missed a game after suffering in Week 5’s loss against Atlanta.

Collins missed 12 games in his first three seasons and at least two since 2021. Diggs has been the healthiest of the bunch, playing in 16 games every season in Buffalo.

Excellent efficiency is the way to overcome missed time. Houston had a prolific passing attack as Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (273.9) and finished in the top three in yards per attempt (8.2) and yards per completion (12.9).

From Week 9-13, Stroud had his best five-game stretch as the Texans won four of their five games. He averaged 348 yards a contest and completed over 65% of his passes. Simultaneously, Dell led the league in TD receptions (five) and third in yards (369) during the four weeks.

According to PFF, Collins and Dell were top-15 in yards per route run. Collins was one of the league’s most efficient, averaging 16.1 yards per reception while emerging as a premiere deep threat. He also reeled in 65.2% of 20+ yards pass attempts, which then was the league’s second-highest conversion rate.

Since Buffalo’s fallout in the divisional round, much has been made of Diggs’ pedestrian second half last season. Still, he posted his fourth consecutive campaign with at least 100 catches and his sixth 1,000-yard season.

Diggs’ work primarily comes in the intermediate portion of the field, where he recorded a 142.3 passer rating when targeted.

Another piece of the equation will be Houston’s willingness to rotate receivers. Robert Woods, John Metchie and Noah Brown each stepped up at times last season, especially Brown with his two games with more than 150 yards.

The final challenge standing in the way of Houston’s record pursuit is offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s reluctance to throw on early downs. Houston ranked 26th in early-down pass rate at 50.2%, according to RBSDM, but it may have been out of protection for his rookie quarterback.

There’s reason to believe Slowik will open the field for Stroud with a revamped group of weapons. From Week 9-13, Houston had the ninth-highest early-down pass rate at 56.8% and had the league’s third-best dropback expected points added (0.320).

The Texans certainly aren’t looking to etch their name in statistical history, but there’s a chance the talented trio of Collins, Dell and Diggs can simultaneously dismantle opposing defenses in Year 2 of the Stroud era.

C.J. Stroud believes Matthew Stafford would have won multiple Super Bowl titles if not for one player

C.J. Stroud made sure to praise Matthew Stafford despite winning only one Super Bowl in his career.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud likely has his favorite passers in league history. Joe Burrow is certainly one after his breakout second season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Who is the most underrated passer? Stroud might not be ready to call Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford an under-the-radar name, but he thinks Stafford should have more than one Super Bowl title.

Too bad Aaron Rodgers ran the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers while Stafford was filling up the stat sheet during his tenure with the Detroit Lions.

“He might be up there with Brady and them,” Stroud said during an interview on the ‘Millon Dollaz Worth of Game’ podcast last week. “No, that’s crazy. That’s crazy. Let me go back. I’m a student of the game. Stafford’s a dog. He’s a dog. You don’t understand. You’re saying that. That’s all I watch. I don’t watch nobody else.

“Stafford, dog. He will beat you with the same thing every time. All that no-look stuff, I got that from (him). That’s one of my biggest – like, I’m a fan of his.”

Drafted No. 1 out of Georgia in 2009, Stafford went on to set records in Detroit while struggling to compete with Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago. He led the Lions to three playoff appearances but zero victories.

Rodgers, who spent 16 seasons as the Packers’ starter, went on to win four MVPs and 10 Pro Bowl appearances. Stroud didn’t criticize Rodgers’ career but did mention if Stafford was given a better supporting cast, perhaps history would be different.

“If you give Matthew Stafford a chance like Aaron Rodgers had, I guarantee you he might have had more rings,” Stroud said. “I’d say he would have like three or four [rings].”

Stroud, who last season led Houston to its first playoff bid in four years, admitted to being and Stafford fan. He’s watched his film for years and taken note of ways to play quarterback.

Stafford ended up winning his first Super Bowl trophy over Burrow after the Rams traded him in 2021. Since then, the Lions have transformed into a perennial contender in the NFC under Jared Goff. The franchise has been adamant of learning from its mistakes, building around Goff with players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sam LaPorta and a sturdy offensive line.

Perhaps Stroud one day will take on Stafford in a Super Bowl to personally thank him. He intends to connect with the longtime signal-caller next time he heads home to California.

“If I go to L.A., I’ll be trying to find bro. Like, we got the same trainers, I’ll be trying to go where they’re working out and just watch,” Stoud said. “He’s elite.”

Where does PFF have Texans’ roster ranked entering 2024?

The Houston Texans aggressively upgraded in the offseason to maximize C.J. Stroud’s rookie contract, with the roster seventh in PFF’s list

The Houston Texans’ voluntary OTAs continued Thursday morning with a few new faces debuting on the team’s practice field. 

Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs dawned the No. 1 jersey in what was the most anticipated arrival of the offseason. Fellow Pro Bowler and Houston native Danielle Hunter joined him on the practice field while working reps at defensive end. 

Pro Football Focus is riding the Houston hype, ranking its roster the seventh-best among all 32 teams entering June.  

San Francisco took the top spot followed by reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City at No. 2 The Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions rounded out the list ahead of Houston.

Six teams ranked in the top 10 will take on the reigning AFC South champs, thus pushing Houston’s seventh-ranked strength of schedule. Still, PFF believes with that much talent, the Texans should hit the over at 9.5 wins. 

This is an offense fueled with ample firepower, headlined by Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. Last season, en route to leading Houston back to the postseason for the first time since 2019, Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns against five interceptions while completing over 65% of his passes. 

Diggs joins a receiving room of newly extended Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie III and Ben Skowronek. There’s no shortage of receiving talent, even without mentioning tight ends such as Dalton Schultz and fourth-round selection Cade Stover.

Houston also upgraded its rushing attack by trading for former Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. Last season, Houston ranked 28th in rushing while averaging less than 98 yards per game between Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary. 

“It takes all limits off for whatever you feel you need to do to win a game,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said.

Houston must get better play from its offensive line if it hopes to win a Super Bowl. Both Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard were absent from Thursday’s practice, though it was expected given their rehabilitation. 

Tunsil had an offseason knee scope. Howard, who enters the first season of his three-year extension, required season-ending surgery in November. 

Howard mostly played at guard last season out of necessity as former 15th pick Kenyon Green missed the entire season with an injury. Improved health could elevate Houston’s offense further. 

Hunter’s the headliner on defense but there’s more than just him coming over in 2024. Denico Autry, Jeff Okudah and Azeez Al-Shaair were three of the Texans’ more significant signings during free agency.

Hunter and Autry should pair with Will Anderson Jr. to form a tantalizing pass-rush trio. Houston also brought back No. 3 pass-rusher Derek Barnett on a one-year deal and drafted former USC standout Solomon Byrd. 

Al-Shaair replaces linebacker Blake Cashman and reunites with head coach and defensive play-caller DeMeco Ryans, whom he played under in San Francisco. 

Questions about the defense occur in the back end with no clear answer at the cornerback spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The former No. 3 pick will handle a heavy load, taking the best receiver weekly, something he’s been preparing for since the end of last season. 

“I’ve seen Sting in the building every day since February, so I think he’s really locked in and committed to take it to the next level,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. 

Injuries at the safety position, specifically Jimmie Ward, led to inconsistent play. Jalen Pitre struggled in his sophomore campaign after a successful rookie season. Burke acknowledged a growing comfort zone and knowledge of scheme in Pitre, which should help him play faster and more instinctively.

Houston addressed the position groups last month in the draft with the selections of Georgia corner Kamari Lassiter and USC safety Calen Bullock. Entering June, their permanent roles remain unknown, but both are versatile pieces. 

Lassiter was a physical coverage man during his three seasons in Athens and is capable of playing inside or outside. He allowed 14 receptions and 119 yards last year, but a poor forty-time dropped his draft stock. Lassiter’s a willing tackler, so his future may lie in the slot.

Nobody denied Bullock’s talent level, but inconsistencies kept teams away during the draft. Houston rolled the dice on the former All-Pac-12 product in the third round.

Like Lassiter, Bullock’s a pest in man coverage. He’s best suited for a role as a rangy ball-hawking safety.

Ultimately, there’s more known than unknown about the talented Texans roster, and it’s why fans and media are placing lofty expectations on the reigning AFC South champs.

Former Texans RB David Johnson retires

On Sunday former All-Pro running back David Johnson announced his retirement. He played eight seasons with three teams, including the Texans

Former Houston Texans running back David Johnson is calling it a career.

Johnson, who spent two seasons with the Texans, announced his retirement on Sunday after eight seasons. He last appeared in 2022 as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

“I’m looking forward to my next career path in life,” Johnson wrote in his post to Instagram. “I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did!”

A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa in 2015, Johnson amassed 6,876 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns. He’s best known for his time with the Arizona Cardinals, whom he earned All-Pro status in 2016. 

It took two games for Johnson to prove he belonged as an FCS talent, becoming the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, and kickoff return touchdown in the first two games of a career.

As the full-time starter in 2016, Johnson led the league in total scrimmage yards (2,118) and touchdowns (20). He rushed for 1,239 yards and averaged 4.2 yards per play. Johnson was a first-team All-Pro selection and finished third in voting for AP Offensive Player of the Year.

“I am blessed and very appreciative of the Cardinals drafting me in the 3rd round and I started my NFL career hitting the ground running (literally)! 2 games in, getting my uniform and cleats put in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton,” he wrote in his post.

Johnson tore his ACL in the first game of 2017, starting a series of nagging injuries that limited him to playing in 30 of 48 games in the final three years with Arizona. 

In 2020, the running back became the centerpiece of what many consider to be the worst trade in recent NFL history. The Texans added Johnson, along with a second and fourth-rounder in exchange for All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick. 

In 2020, Johnson served as the primary starter for the Texans’ rushing attack appearing in 12 games and totaling a team-leading 691 rushing yards. He averaged 4.7 yards per play.

In Johnson’s second year, he was more of a complementary backing, starting just four games. His Houston tenure resulted in 1,458 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns.

 

“When it’s all said and done, I really hope I impacted at least 1 person on and off the field in a positive way,” Johnson wrote. “I hope I was able to pay it forward, from the countless people who guided and taught me the right way to go about business, and giving back with integrity and a humble demeanor!”

The average length of a career in the NFL is 3.3 years, according to Statista. Running backs have the shortest shelf life, averaging a career of 2.5 years. Johnson lasted eight and made nearly $40 million as a former third-round pick. 

Texans sign rookie LB Jamal Hill

The Houston Texans agreed to terms with rookie linebacker Jamal Hill, who was selected with the 188th pick in last month’s NFL Draft

The Houston Texans have stayed busy before minicamp kicks off on Friday, ironing out rookie deals with the 2024 draft class, including one of their two sixth-round draft picks.

The Texans and former Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill reached an agreement on his rookie deal, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. Hill’s contract is around $4.21 million for four years, with a $ 189,392 signing bonus. 

Hill, the 188th pick, is expected to make significant contributions on special teams while honing his skills as a linebacker. It’s worth noting that he transitioned from safety to linebacker ahead of his senior season, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. 

 

“I’ll do whatever they want me to do on special teams,” Hill said after being drafted. “I think that will be my path my first few years in the NFL. I’m just happy. I’m overwhelmed. I’m happy to be a Texan. The best part of my game is running and attacking.”

Hill, 23, started seven games for the Ducks last season, recording 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two sacks. For his career, he totaled 145 tackles, 15 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Hill ran a 4.41 40-time at his pro day, which would have been the fastest among linebackers at the NFL combine. He missed only 6.9% of tackles last season, suggesting he’ll be a reliable special teams option for coordinator Frank Ross.

While Hill has experience as a safety, the Texans believe his future is at the linebacker position. 

“They sold me on the vision of playing linebacker and how I can help my team and NFL teams in the future,” Hill said. 

Should Texans Trade For Saints Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore?

In a recent article Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay mocked the Texans acquiring Marshon Lattimore, but is it a move they should consider?

The Houston Texans have been one of the league’s more active teams this offseason as they prepare to build off last year’s surprise playoff run. 

Even after landing Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with its first selection in last month’s draft, cornerback remains a position of need. And with the Texans following the “all-in” persona, perhaps they’re willing to part with another mid-round pick for a high-profile prospect.

In the latest article Bleacher Report, Alex Kay positioned a trade that would send four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to Houston in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Lattimore, 27, could come with a lower trade value since the Saints are up against the salary cap. New Orleans will be a league-high $72.8 million over the cap in 2025 due to its refusal to rebuild since the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterbak Drew Brees. 

The Saints have been in a comparable spot for years but always got under the salary threshold by trading some of their highest earners and Lattimore fits the description. He’s slated to make $14.6 million in 2024 before the per-year price jumps to $31.4 million in 2025 and $28.6 million in the final year of the deal. 

Moving on from Lattimore seems more reasonable after the New Oreleans selection of Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2. The Alabama product has the tools to be a day-one starter, making Lattimore flexible to ship elsewhere. 

Houston continues to be in the market for veteran talent as it tries to put together a deep playoff run while franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud remains on his rookie contract. 

Below is why the Texans should and should not trade for Lattimore. 

Why The Texans Should Make A Trade

Since being selected with the 11th pick in the 2017 draft, Lattimore has been one of the league’s best defensive backs. In seven seasons, he’s had 15 interceptions along with 86  defelcted passes and two defensive touchdowns.

Houston has spent the offseason throwing several darts at the position, hoping one sticks opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. During free agency, the

Texans took chances on one-year deals with former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. In the draft, they took Lassiter, who has experience both in the slot and on the boundary. 

Lattimore would immedietly start opposite the third-year Stingley while Lassiter settled into the NFL. Lassiter likely would compete with veteran Desmond King for first-team reps at the nickel.  

Houston’s already made multiple win-now moves throughout the offseason as it prepares for a first-place schedule after winning the AFC South. Next season, the Texans face seven teams ranked in the top 10 for passing yards from a year ago.

And keep in mind that the Bears just added No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Jets welcome back Aaron Rodgers in their hunt for a postseason berth. 

While the Texans had an above-average defensive unit a year ago, their pass coverage numbers were underwhelming. Opponents averaged the sixth-highest (6.5) net yards gained per pass attempt against Houston’s secondary last season. Houston’s upgraded its pass rush, but adding Lattimore would take the defense from the middle of the pack to the upper echelon. 

Lattimore might be a veteran, but he’s still in his prime entering Year 8. His addition would bring a veteran presence to a young but prosperous defensive back room. 

Why The Texans Should Not Make A Trade

Despite still having $23 million in 2024 cap space and a projected $46 million next offseason, Houston needs to plan beyond this fall when discussing extensions to players who prospered a season ago. 

Nico Collins is in the last year of his deals and will command a significant pay raise. So will Stefon Diggs, whom Houston traded a 2025 second-round pick for to Buffalo earlier this offseason. Even after voiding the final three years of his contract, the four-time Pro Bowl target remains in talks toward a new deal. 

Christian Harris, Denico Autry and Jalen Pitre will be free agents entering 2026. So could Stingely and fellow former first-round pick Kenyon Green if GM Nick Caserio elects to pass on picking up their fifth-year options. 

In 2026, four of Houston’s anticipated offensive line starters, including All-Pro Laremy Tunsil, will hit the market.

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and Stroud’s second contracts will likely be near the top of their position group if they continue their trajectory toward stardom. 

More to the point, acquiring Lattimore is an immediate splash move, but it also impairs Houston’s spending limits in the future.

Injuries have also limited Lattimore to playing in half of the Saints’ games the past two seasons, making him a risky option with a significant hit against his team’s salary cap. 

 

The same injuries have hurt Lattimore’s versatility in coverage. When Lattimore has been in coverage the past two seasons, the opposing receiver’s average yards per reception is 11.3, the lowest mark of his career. 

New Orleans is no longer asking Lattimore to carry receivers downfield. Instead, it’s transitioned him to playing more underneath coverage. It’s hard to imagine the Texans wanting to bring in an oft-injured, expensive, scheme-dependent cornerback rather than find a cheap stop plug.

Caserio has also done well in this area in recent years, gaining quality play from veteran options such as King and Steven Nelson, who could return on another short-term deal. 

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud goes global during 2024 Asia Tour with Cowboys star Micah Parsons

The Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud made his way to Asia to host football camps with Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons for 10 days.

The Houston Texans’ growing popularity comes after its surprise 10-7 season, largely due to the efforts of AP Rookies of the Year C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

Stroud recently partnered with Dallas Cowboys star pass-rusher and Lone Star State icon Micah Parsons to hold youth and high school football camps for 10 days in three cities in Asia.

The 2024 Asia Tour, sponsored by Gridiron Imports, is a non-profit organization that aims to provide players around the world with an opportunity to play football and receive education at the high school and college levels in the United States. 

Friday marked the second day in Beijing, which Stroud shared with his Instagram followers, posting videos of him snapping photos with campers and going through drills. 

 

The duo will wrap up their time in Beijing on Saturday before stopping in Shanghai the same day and leaving the next. They’ll complete the tour with a week-long stay in Tokyo starting next week. 

While rivals during the season, Stroud and Parsons have frequently appeared alongside each other in the offseason. The Texans’ quarterback was a recent guest on Parson’s Bleacher Report podcast “The Edge” and again sat down together on B/R’s NFL Draft Live Show.

The content did not disappoint.

The two courtside together at Game 4 of the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks playoff series, prompting another humorous quotable from Parsons that flabbergasted Stroud.

 

The two are clearly good friends off the field. On, they’ll meet for bragging rights when Houston travels to Arlington and AT&T Stadium to Dallas during the upcoming regular season. 

Stroud’s play has factored into his ascension into superstardom, and the continually rising popularity of social media has him poised to reach a level of buzz Houston has yet to see in this new age of technology. 

While J.J. Watt remains the franchise’s most influential star, even he couldn’t create the same hype as a young and talented quarterback like Stroud.

It’s a path nearly all legendary quarterbacks take. Fans loved Tom Brady when he was the underdog who upset the St. Louis Rams, dubbed the Greatest Show on Turf, but fans of teams outside of Boston hated him by the decade’s end.

Winning is the root of hate, and the Texans are building a strong contender after appearing in the playoffs again for the first time since 2019.

Free agency further magnified the buzz around the AFC South ballclub with the additions of Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry. At the same time, Stroud and the offense gained reinforcements from trades that secured Pro Bowlers Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. 

 

Winning the AFC South comes with playing a first-place schedule, including matchups with seven playoff teams from a year ago. It’ll be must-see TV when Stroud duels Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson.

Houston had zero primetime games in 2023 until its regular season finale with Indianapolis moved to ESPN on Saturday. It was the nation’s first time truly watching Stroud since the College Football Playoff, and he gave them a show, throwing for 264 yards and tossing two touchdowns that led to a 23-19 division-clinching win.

Houston will likely be in multiple primetime games in 2024, and perhaps one will be its matchup with Parsons and Dallas.

The Texans won’t take any teams by surprise this season, so it’ll be a developing story throughout the year if Stroud and his team make opposing fans envy their success. 

Texans WR Tank Dell progressing well following season-ending injury

Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud has been working out with several of his receivers, including Tank Dell, who Stroud says “Looks great.”

As the Houston Texans prepare to run it back as AFC South champions, one key element is working his way back from a season-ending injury.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud told reporters Monday during his media session that fellow second-year star Tank looks “great” in his recovery, and should be cleared for the start of training camp.

Dell, Houston’s third-round pick and No. 2 receiver, suffered a fractured leg in early December against the Denver Broncos

“He’s gotten a lot better,” said Stroud. “Mentally, I think for both of us, really all of the rookies coming into Year 2, everything is starting to slow down, and the wheels aren’t turning so much up in your head. You’re starting to play ball.”

In 11 games, Dell caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. He set the franchise rookie record for touchdown catches and yards in a single game with a 145-yard performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. 

He later broke his record with a 149-yard outing against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11. 

Dell, 24, was playing his best ball leading up to the injury. Over his final four full games, the former Houston Cougar totaled 25 receptions for 369 yards and five touchdowns. He was on pace to catch Andre Johnson’s rookie record receiving yardage (976) entering December. 

Per projections, Dell was expected to finish with over 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, which would have been second-most among rookies behind Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua.

Initially believed to be a season-ending injury, there were rumors Dell could rejoin the team deeper in the postseason. The possibility never came to fruition following a loss in the divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens.

Instead, the Texans let their rookie heal and prepare for the next season. 

“Tank is back and he’s starting to get in with our guys here with the offseason programs,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “So, I’m excited to have Tank back. That was a devastating loss for us last year, losing him. He’s such a dynamic player for us, such an inspiration for myself, a lot of our team.

Dell’s been working with NFL wide receiver and tight end specialist trainer Delfonte Diamond, who posted multiple videos documenting workouts throughout the offseason.

Diamond stated Dell will be ready when the Texans start offseason training activities on May 20. 

A healthy Dell returns to a new-look Texans offense that includes the recently acquired Stefon Diggs and breakout receiver Nico Collins. Combined, the trio might be the league’s top passing unit a year removed from finishing top 10. 

Diggs caught 100-plus passes during his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.  Collins finished eighth overall in receiving yards and became the third play in franchise history to total over 1,200 yards in a single season. 

Dell and Stroud, along with Diggs and third-year receiver John Metchie, recently had organized a throwing session out in Los Angeles earlier this month.

“Being able to throw with him in L.A. was really big and [John] Metchie looks amazing as well – some of the other guys that came out as well,” Stroud said. “It’s been amazing to get some work in.”

The Texans may open things up in the air with the new trio. They ran three wide receiver sets on first down 39% of the time, which is the eighth fewest in the league, according to NFLEO. 

Dell and Diggs played around 70% of their snaps as outside receivers, with the other 30% coming in the slot. With either receiver capable of playing both roles, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s playbook opens up in year two. 

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Stroud said. “A ton of guys who have played a lot of meaningful ball. A lot of guys who can do different things with the ball, which is amazing.”

LOOK: Stefon Diggs dons Texans gear for the first time

The newest Houston Texan, Stefon Diggs, took to Instagram to show off him working out in Texans gear

With so much hype surrounding the Texans’ offseason, it’s no wonder why fans can’t wait for Week 1 to arrive. 

Everything for general manager Nick Caserio was predicated on building around C.J. Stroud while on a rookie deal. He upgraded the run game by trading for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. He strengthened the pass rush with the additions of Azeez Al-Shaair and Danielle Hunter.

But Caserio went for the home run by targeting wide receiver Stefon Diggs from Buffalo. Most recently, the four-time Pro Bowl receiver donned his Texans gear in a workout video on his Instagram for the first time publicly. 

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Diggs has filled fans’ social media timelines with multiple workout videos in his short time in Houston. This is a positive sign that the Texans are getting the best version of the 30-year-old receiver.

His tenure with Buffalo ended unceremoniously, with media members constantly asking about his future.

Diggs’ off-the-field antics often overshadowed his All-Pro-caliber play. He missed the start of mandatory OTAs and publicly displayed his unhappiness with the offense after a divisional-round loss to the Chiefs.

Even in Diggs’ final hours with the team, he took shots at Bills quarterback Josh Allen. During an interaction on X, a fan said that Allen’s success doesn’t require an elite receiver like Diggs, to which he replied, “You sure?”

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Buffalo allowed Diggs to seek a trade to any team except for Kansas City. Stroud, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year, connected Diggs connected throughout the offseason at different functions, including a celebrity softball game at Minute Maid Park.

The new AFC duo put social media ablaze with videos created in collaboration with popular content creator Sketch, who is from the Houston area. John Methcie III and Tank Dell were also seen.

Even with the energy seeming positive, the Texans’ front office isn’t taking any chances. Houston cleared the final three years of Diggs’ contract, moving the $3.5 million guaranteed up to this season. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and, at 31 years old, looking to sign the final big-money deal of his career.

The move is similar to several the Patriots made when Caserio was in New England, like when the Patriots acquired Darrelle Revis after a failed stint in Tampa Bay.

Revis played on a one-year deal, finishing as a first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion. New England let him walk in free agency, and Revis declined shortly after re-signing with the New York Jets. 

There’s no telling what Diggs’ future holds after this season, but he should be highly motivated, and that’s a huge plus for the Texans because when Diggs is playing his best, he’s one of the league’s top receivers. 

He’s one of two receivers to record 100-plus catches in the last four seasons and has topped 1,000 yards in the last six. 

Ironically, Diggs’ first team helped make the deal possible. The Texans’ trade with the Vikings, which sent Houston’s first-round pick via Cleveland to Minnesota, netted them two second-round picks. 

Houston sent Minnesota’s 2025 second-round pick to Buffalo in exchange for Diggs and a pair of late-round selections. The Texans will be Diggs’ third team in the NFL.