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!
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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