How an astonishing turnaround impacts Houston Texans' future plans
FULL SPEED AHEAD
19 March
FULL SPEED AHEAD
The Houston Texans have made significant improvements to their defense during the recent free agency period, which has been widely recognized.
However, their offense still requires some work, as evidenced by their efforts to trade for Keenan Allen from the Chargers. Unfortunately, the deal did not go through, and the Texans missed out on a chance to add another Pro Bowl-level receiver to their roster.
Despite this setback, there is some good news for Texans fans, as Tank Dell, who suffered a fibula injury last season, is reportedly making excellent progress in his recovery. According to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson, Dell expects to be ready for OTA's this spring, which is great news for the team.
In addition, the Texans have added former Bengals running back Joe Mixon to their offense, which should provide an improvement over the departed Devin Singletary.
#Texans wide receiver Tank Dell @Tankdell4 back running, looks sharp, first offseason workout with private coach Delfonte Diamond @DelfonteDiamond 'Hasn't lost a beat, looks 10 times faster, way ahead of schedule. That first year was the teaser' https://t.co/maROLB8Np1 https://t.co/Z8t2ODWeNt
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 17, 2024
Dell's the type of player the defense has to know where he is at all times. He's almost impossible to cover with elite quickness in his route running, and he can take the top off the defense as well.
As it stands right now, the Texans have all of their receivers returning from last season. Collins, Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson are all under contract.
So while missing out on a trade for Allen is a bit of a downer, the team has plenty of options for Stroud to throw to. Plus, Allen will play this season at 32 years old and has a cap number of over $23 million. He's also in the last year of his contract, and would have cost the Texans a 2025 third round pick, plus a pick swap, per Aaron Wilson.
Could the Texans have another receiver in their sights?
The Texans are rumored to have interest in Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, but trading for him would cost a draft pick and GM Nick Caserio would have to negotiate a long-term mega-contract with him. A move that could preclude the team from re-signing NIco Collins, who's in the last year of his deal.
What about the draft?
This is where I would like to see the Texans add a receiver. This is a great year for wide outs in the draft, with plenty of depth. Adding a young, talented receiver for Stroud to grow with seems like the best plan of action moving forward. I respect the Texans for trying to go all in with Allen, but looking to the draft is a strong Plan B.
C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson found themselves in the same spot when they met in Week 2 last season.
Both quarterbacks were top-five draft picks, lost their season openers and seemed to be facing a steep learning curve.
Richardson won Round 1 in Houston, although he didn't finish the game.
Stroud took Round 2 in Indianapolis with the injured Richardson watching from the sideline as Texans clinched the AFC South title and Stroud locked up his runaway selection as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
On Sunday, each QB begins his second pro season — with a lot still to prove.
“I’m excited. First official game back with my guys and my teammates,” said Richardson, who had season-ending shoulder surgery last October. "I want to win. So, whatever I’ve got to do to do that, I’m going to do it.”
Winning a season opener certainly would be a welcome change for a franchise that last started 1-0 in 2013. The 10-game winless streak is easily the NFL's longest active streak.
But that's just a start for Richardson.
He needs to improve his accuracy after completing a pedestrian 59.5% of his throws in 2023 and must demonstrate he can finish games. He missed 13 last season and only finished one of his four starts because of an assortment of injuries, including the concussion that knocked him out of that Week 2 matchup at Houston after he ran for two scores.
Stroud, meanwhile, is coming off one of the most successful rookie seasons in NFL history.
He became just the third player in a half-century to lead the league in yards passing per game (273.9) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.6 to 1), won a playoff game and made hist first Pro Bowl appearance.
How can he improve on a season like that? By showing last season was a building block — not a fluke. He has a stronger supporting cast, too, with Joe Mixon, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher, and Stefon Diggs, who has four straight 100-catch seasons, now in the mix.
The long journey begins Sunday in Indianapolis.
“I want to just start fast,” Stroud said. “It doesn't have to do with a certain game, just in general this season. Last year, we started off really slow and just kind of had to build our way back. It's not an easy thing to do, so I would say this year we want to start fast.”
Houston receiver Nico Collins had two of his biggest games last season against Indy — catching seven passes for 146 yards and one TD in the Week 2 matchup only to outperform those numbers with a 195-yard day that included a 75-yard TD catch in Week 18.
He could play an even bigger role this time with Indy's young secondary trying to match up not only with Collins but also Diggs, Mixon and tight end Dalton Schultz.
“Nico is a playmaker,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Every time I see him, he’s a true playmaker. So, you just have to get Nico the ball in any way, shape or fashion. Just find a way to get him the ball just to see how explosive and how dynamic he is.”
Injuries and a contract dispute prevented Jonathan Taylor from replicating the form he used to win the 2021 NFL rushing title. Starting against the Texans could be just what he needs.
In six games against Houston, Taylor has rushed for seven TDs and 135.2 yards per game — his highest average against any team he's faced multiple times. And in that rematch with Houston in Week 18, he finished with 30 carries for 188 yards, the NFL's highest single-game total all season.
Houston defensive end Will Anderson, last season’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, will play Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury that limited his training camp snaps.
The No. 3 overall pick in 2023 had 45 tackles, 10 for loss, and 7 1/2 sacks as a rookie. He expects to be even better this season.
“I’m way more comfortable,” he said. “Just going into Year 2 knowing the scheme better, knowing what to expect a little bit more and knowing what’s going to happen gives you more confidence.”
The Colts lost their 2023 sacks leader, Samson Ebukam, with a torn Achilles tendon during training. But they may have the perfect replacement.
Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player taken in April's draft, at No. 15 overall, and he's shown coaches that the moves he used to record 23 1/2 sacks over his last two college seasons can work in the NFL.
“We know that there’s going to be a learning curve there," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. "We know there are going to be plays that we’re going to come in and say there were some good plays, and there were plays he wishes he had back — we understand that. But just his overall mentality and skill set, we’re very excited to see.”