Will Texans QB Deshaun Watson get sacked less in 2020?

The Houston Texans offensive line was exceptional at pass blocking. With the unit returning all five starters, will Deshaun Watson get sacked less?

Deshaun Watson’s first two seasons with the Houston Texans were thrilling, but also brutal for the 2017 first-round pick from Clemson.

Through his first 24 career games, including a playoff game, Watson took 84 sacks, including a league-high 62 in 2018. There was only one game in 2018 where Watson did not take a sack, a Week 8 Thursday night win against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans creamed Miami 42-24, Watson threw for five touchdowns, and posted a 156.0 passer rating.

What could he do with substantive pass blocking?

That was the motivating factor for Houston drafting Tytus Howard with their first-round pick in 2019 and then trading for Laremy Tunsil a week before the regular season. The result was the sixth-best pass blocking offensive line in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and also Watson taking 44 sacks in 2019.

In 2020, for the first time since Watson has been in Houston, the Texans will have all five returning starters on the offensive line with Tunsil and Howard as bookends, Max Scharping and Zach Fulton at left and right guards, and Nick Martin at center.

With the offensive line developing another year’s worth of cohesion, and with Watson adding another year’s worth of experience to his athletic ability, there is no reason Houston shouldn’t see the sack total decrease even further in 2020.

Watson’s targets in the passing game are another reason why the Texans could see the sack totals diminish. Houston’s refurbished receiving corps following the trading of receiver DeAndre Hopkins features speed with Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, and Kenny Stills. Additionally, Randall Cobb will provide a reliable slot threat. The running backs for Houston also have dynamic pass-catching abilities in David Johnson and Duke Johnson. Watson will have a variety of means to get rid of the football when he drops back.

Among quarterbacks who started at least 10 games last season, six of the top 10 in fewest sacks made the playoffs. Ryan Tannehill led the Tennessee Titans to the AFC Championship Game and sustained just 31 sacks. If the Texans can keep Watson as equally upright in 2020, Houston should at least repeat as AFC South champions.