Even we were surprised with glowing, albeit divergent Texans grades post free agency
WOW FACTOR
21 March
WOW FACTOR
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!
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.