The Houston Texans have been making a name for themselves as Texas’s team despite the Dallas Cowboys being considered “America’s team.” Last season, the Texans, led by rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, finished with a 10-7 record. They clinched the AFC South Division title, secured a playoff spot, and even won a playoff game, unlike the Cowboys. In that game, the Texans dominated the Browns with a 45-14 lopsided victory in the Wildcard round.
If you found that team intimidating, then this team will be even more frightening in the 2024-2025 season. Why? Unlike the Cowboys, the Texans actually went “all in” this offseason by improving the roster instead of just talking about it like Jerry Jones. On April 3, the Houston Texans made a significant addition to their already potent offense by acquiring four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills in a blockbuster trade. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills are receiving a 2025 second-round pick from Minnesota as part of the deal. In addition to Diggs, the Texans will receive a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick. This move adds to Houston’s series of prime offseason transactions, including the recent trade for running back Joe Mixon from the Bengals in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Improving the running game is something the Texans have been targeting since the start of the offseason.
“I think the running game will be significant for us to improve,” Ryans told John McClain of HoustonTexans.com after last year’s season. “As you go through the game, especially in (the) postseason, teams that win (have) to be able to run the football and sustain it. We’ll see where all the guys and all the positions on our team are. We’ll look at the roster – me and Nick – and see where we have to improve. Our job is to improve our roster as best as we can.”
Mixon, who rushed for 1,034 yards on 257 attempts and nine touchdowns, should be an upgrade to the Texans’ running game that finished 22nd last season.
What do all these moves mean for the Texans? Could they be eyeing a Super Bowl as early as this up-and-coming season? Diggs, who reached the 1,100-plus-yard receiving mark in each of his four seasons in Buffalo, including leading the NFL with 127 catches and 1,535 yards in his first season with Josh Allen, will play alongside Nico Collins, who just completed his best season in the NFL with 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns and Tank Dell, who just came off a sensational rookie season with 47 catches, 709 yards, and a rookie-record seven touchdowns, to form one of the best receiver corps in the NFL. Stroud, that trio of receivers, Mixon, tight end Dalton Schultz, who finished the season with 635 yards and five scores on 59 receptions, plus their good offensive line should equate to an explosive offense for the Houston Texans.
The Texans improved on the defensive side as well. In 2022, the Texans finished last in run defense, allowing 170 yards a game. Last year, under Ryans and first-year defensive coordinator Matt Burke, they improved to sixth, surrendering 96.6 yards a game. In addition to having the AP Offensive Player of the Year, Houston had the AP Defensive Player of the Year in Will Anderson Jr. The defensive end finished with 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 67 pressures, 7.0 sacks, one pass deflection and one blocked field goal across 15 games. He will be paired with the Texans’ new acquisitions, defensive linemen Danielle Hunter, Foley Fatukasi, and Denico Autry, as well as linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Lonnie Johnson Jr.
All of these moves and the Texans can still improve via the draft. Houston does not have a first-round pick because they traded it to the Cardinals last year to move up to third, where they selected Will Anderson Jr. However, because they did not give up any of this year’s picks in the Diggs trade, the Texans have two second-round picks, a third, two fourth-round picks, two sixth-round picks and two seventh-round picks, totaling nine picks in the upcoming draft.
Knowing Nick Caserio’s history, the Texans’ general manager will seek to bolster the defense with more firepower. Since Caserio took over the Texans in 2009, drafted 10 defensive backs out of 22 second-round picks. According to McClain, the Texans should prioritize tackles and cornerbacks. This is because Houston will be playing a first-place schedule that includes five division champions and 11 games against teams that finished with winning records. McClain even provided a list of players whom the Texans should target, which included DT Braden Fiske, 6-4, 292 lbs, from Florida State, and CB Max Melton, 5-11, 187 lbs, from Rutgers.
Regardless of who the Texans pick in the draft, the Texans are poised for a deep playoff run and have their sights set on winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Last season, they exceeded expectations and surprised everyone. This year, things have changed. With standout rookies on offense and defense, top-notch coaches, and significant offseason moves, the Texans are no longer flying under the radar.
The odds in Las Vegas have been updated. Last season, the Texans had the worst odds to win the AFC. According to DraftKings, they now have the fifth-best odds to win the AFC Conference at +850. They are favored to finish first in the AFC South Division at +115. Additionally, they have the seventh-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +1700, and they are projected to win more than 9.5 games at -140. Just a reminder: Before the stunning Diggs trade, the Texans’ Super Bowl odds were at +2500.
As I mentioned before, I’m not suggesting that you should bet the house on the Texans to win the Super Bowl. However, similar to Vegas, I believe they have a real chance. But just because it looks good on paper, it doesn’t mean it will translate to the field. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys.
