Every great quarterback needs a strong supporting cast. Entering 2024, the Houston Texans seem to have both.
While C.J. Stroud took the league by storm en route to helping Houston win its first division title in four years, the overall offense was a pleasant surprise. Houston ranked seventh in passing and 12th in total yards.
The run game hindered Houston’s chances to finish 10 in every metric, but that could change with the arrival of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon. The Texans also elevated their wide receiver room by trading for All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs from Buffalo for a 2025 second-round pick.
Stroud won’t be short of weapons this fall. On top of Diggs and Mixon, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan and John Metchie III are all back for another season. The Texans also planned for the future by drafting Stroud’s former teammate and Ohio State tight end Cade Stover.
But how good is Stroud’s supporting crew compared to the rest of the league? According to ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell, the Texans enter the season among the top-five units at No. 4.
“There’s no sleeping on the Texans. Collins, Dell and Schultz are all back, and this team has made major upgrades elsewhere.”
Houston’s offense, which still features several question marks on the line, should put opposing teams on notice, especially in the passing attack. Collins proved to be a legitimate No. 1 threat after totaling a career-high 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns as Stroud’s top target.
He’ll be around for the long haul after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $72.5 million extension earlier this offseason.
Dell, last year’s third-round pick out of the University of Houston, was on pace to finish with over 1,200 receiving yards before suffering a season-ending leg injury. He’s cleared for the start of training camp and plans to be a focal point of the intermediate part of the field.
Schultz, who returns to Houston on a new three-year, $36 million deal, was Stroud’s security blanket on third down last season, hauling in 59 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Stroud in Houston’s wild-card round victory over the Browns.
Mixon, who signed a three-year extension worth $27 million after being traded from Cincinnati, offers values on the ground and through the air. He’s coming off his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season since 2017. Mixon also finished last season with 52 catches for 376 yards and three touchdowns.
Everyone knows what type of target Diggs is when healthy. He’s posted six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since 2018. In Buffalo, the 30-year-old weapon finished with at least 101 catches per season, including a league-leading 127 receptions in 2020.
Diggs, who enters a contract year with the Texans, currently leads the NFL since 2020 in receptions with 445.
The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.