Even we were surprised with glowing, albeit divergent Texans grades post free agency
WOW FACTOR
21 March 2024
Cowherd has the Vikings over the Texans? Composite Getty Image.
With most of the action winding down from NFL free agency, we're starting to see outlets publish their post-free agency power rankings.
The Athletic is very high on the Houston Texans this year, ranking them fourth behind the Chiefs, 49ers, and Lions. They love the additions the Texans have made, but others aren't so optimistic about Houston's outlook in 2024.
FS1's Colin Cowherd revealed his post-free agency Herd's Hierarchy this week, and he doesn't even have the Texans cracking the Top 10. What's even more odd is he has zero teams from the AFC South making the list.
And yet he has 3 teams from the NFC North in the Top 10 including the Minnesota Vikings.
Currently, Sam Darnold is their quarterback, and their best pass rusher Danielle Hunter is now playing for the Texans.
It appears the Vikings plan is to land one of the top QBs in the draft, but they will have to trade up to do so. They could end up missing out on one of the elite QBs and be stuck with Darnold taking snaps. Why not wait until after the draft to include the Vikings on this list?
Plus, he points out how much he likes Minnesota's receivers and Pro Bowl tight end TJ Hockenson. However, he fails to mention Hockenson just had surgery to repair his ACL at the end of January. Reports out of Minnesota indicate Hockenson is more likely to be placed on the PUP list than being available Week 1. Which means he wouldn't be ready to play until Week 5.
We understand Colin's job is to get people talking, and contrarian view points are a good way to do that. But the Vikings over the Texans is going a bit too far in our opinion.
Be sure to watch the video below as we react to Cowherd's rankings, discuss how they compare to The Athletic's, and much more!
Mauricio Dubón homered twice and Josh Hader stayed perfect in 19 save chances this season by getting Mike Trout to line out to center field with a runner on second as the Houston Astros held off the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the rubber game of their series Sunday.
DUBI SENDS ONE OUT! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/XqKhVxPgOs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Dubón's second career multihomer game began with a leadoff shot against starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning for the Astros' first run. Dubón added a two-run drive off Hunter Strickland for a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
DOUBLE DUBI DAY! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/4dx2q3rvUa
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.
Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single for the Angels in the seventh, and Zach Neto trimmed it to 8-7 with a solo homer off Hader in the ninth. Schanuel finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Peña hit his 11th home run one out after Dubón’s shot in the fifth to tie it 2-all. Meyers singled, stole second and scored on a two-out error by Luis Rengifo at third base. Christian Walker followed with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor Ward had a two-out double off Astros rookie Ryan Gusto, and Logan O'Hoppe hit his third two-run homer in two days to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second. O'Hoppe has 17 home runs and is closing in on the team record for a catcher set by Lance Parrish with 22 in 1990.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Moore singled in the bottom half, and Schanuel gave the Angels a 5-4 lead with his sixth homer.
Gusto (5-3) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hendricks permitted five runs — three earned — in five innings. Strickland (1-2) worked an inning and was tagged with his first three earned runs this season.
Key moment
The Angels had a run in with two on and two outs down 8-6 in the seventh with Trout coming to bat. Bryan Abreu replaced Bryan King and needed just three pitches to strike out Trout swinging on a pitch in the dirt.
Key stat
Trout went 1 for 11 after entering the series as the active leader against Houston with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 73 RBIs.
Up next
Houston returns home to play the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Tuesday.
The Angels hadn't announced a starter for Monday's series opener against RHP Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.95 ERA) and the visiting Boston Red Sox.
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