Here's why Houston Texans place amongst their rivals just took an interesting turn
TEXANS ON TAP
09 May 2024
Are the Texans still the team to beat in the division post-draft? Composite Getty Image.
Coming into the NFL Draft, the Houston Texans were the clear betting favorites in the AFC South, and the addition of Stefon Diggs increased their odds to win the next Super Bowl.
The million-dollar question
But now that the NFL Draft is in the books, have the other teams in the division caught up with Houston? According to the odds in Vegas, the Texans still remain favorites to win the division, despite not having a first round pick.
Nick Caserio and his staff did a good job of addressing some big roster questions heading into the offseason. They added Georgia corner Kamari Lassister with their first pick in the second round. With former Texans corner Steven Nelson currently a free agent, they had to add some depth at the position along with Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson, who were acquired in free agency. Both Okudah and Henderson only signed one-year deals, so drafting a corner early felt like a priority.
The Texans struggled to run the ball in 2023 and offensive lineman Tytus Howard was injured once again. So drafting Notre Dame tackle Blake Fisher certainly made sense.
The other position Caserio addressed on Day 2 was safety with the selection of Calen Bullock out of USC. Texans safety Jimmy Ward missed a lot of time in 2024 with injuries, so depth was a necessity. The only position that the team was unable to bolster early was defensive tackle. Houston added Marcus Harris in the 7th-round, but who knows if he'll make the team.
With all that said, are the Texans the best team in the division post-draft? And have they done enough to be true contenders in the AFC, along with the Ravens and Chiefs?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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