The Houston Texans may be banking their fortunes on the development of younger players in 2022.
According to Gregg Rosenthal from NFL.com, who projected the starting lineups for all four teams in the AFC South, the Texans will have a bevy of younger players at key positions, particularly with second-year quarterback Davis Mills leading the offense.
This roster is a start. The 2022 version of the Texans has a lot of young players, especially the rookies, who could stick as core pieces. Last season mostly felt like treading water; now the Texans should start moving forward.
The sense is the club is willing to invest playing time in younger players, who could either benefit from the extended playing time or show general manager Nick Caserio what other areas need to be addressed.
Some positions are going to make sense compared to others. For example, providing an opportunity for rookie fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce to develop as the feature back in the offense is the only logical solution. Rex Burkhead was never the top back in his prime, and he will be 32 years old by Week 1. Marlon Mack is also a reclamation project that is still trying to find his groove following an Achilles tear early in the 2020 season.
There are other positions where growing pains may be a part of the process, such as tight end, cornerback, and safety. As Brevin Jordan enters his second season, the former Miami fifth-round pick will have to continue progressing as a blocker. Derek Stingley has a ceiling to be an All-Pro caliber defensive back, but it won’t exactly manifest in his rookie year. The same can be said for safety Jalen Pitre, who will have to work with the nuances of the pro gram and the Tampa 2 defense.
If the Texans commit to a youth movement across their starting lineup, it should give Houston sports fans a glimmer of optimism that the organization intends to move forward and not wallow in a rebuilding phase.
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