The Houston Texans turned into one of the best teams in the NFL this past season because of quality contributors from a plethora of players up and down the roster. This team wasn’t top-heavy by any stretch of the imagination, and the depth at multiple positions proved that in 2023.
While rookies C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. look like bonafide superstars-in-the-making, the Texans didn’t have any big-name studs at any positions – except maybe offensive line with tackle Laremy Tunsil. That doesn’t mean Houston’s best players don’t deserve recognition, though.
Pro Football Focus named one “secret superstar” from all 32 teams this year – unsung heroes who either didn’t receive accolades or whose stats didn’t tell the whole story of their respective seasons. For the Texans, that player was linebacker Blake Cashman.
The fifth-year linebacker, who joined the Texans in a trade from the New York Jets before the 2022 season, went from backup to productive starter in his first season with DeMeco Ryans as head coach. Cashman tallied a team-high and career-high 106 combined tackles this past season, which was also more than he recorded in his previous four seasons combined. He also finished with two sacks and a 83.7 PFF grade in 2023, the fifth-highest among all linebackers.
Cashman is one of Houston’s 36 impending free agents, though, and might not return in 2024. The Texans have the third-most expected salary cap space, though, so general manager Nick Caserio could try to retain Cashman at a reasonable price if Houston prioritizes bringing him back.