Some don't need explanation and some might jog some good feelings when you see their names
The 11 best draft picks in Texans history
Apr 24, 2019, 6:56 am
Zach Tarrant/Houstontexans.com
If you missed the 11 worst and feel like a glutton for punishment those can be found here.
Chester Pitts - 50th overall 2002
These days Chester Pitts might be seen on your TV or shaking hands to curry favor for his inevitable mayoral campaign but before all that he was one of the Texans earliest picks. He's also one of the more successful ones too. He still holds the Texans record for consecutive starts checking in at 114 straight.
Andre Johnson - 3rd overall - 2003
This doesn't need much explanation.
DeMeco Ryans - 33rd overall - 2006
The best pick of the 2006 draft for the Texans. Ryans was a steadying force in the middle of the Texans defense for years. He's the Texans all-time leader in solo tackles and second all-time in franchise history in total tackles. Plus, he punked Jeremy Shockey not once, but twice in a Texans uniform so that's a thumbs up in my book.
Owen Daniels - 98th overall - 2006
I almost went with Eric Winston but I figured the tight end spot was more important than the right tackle spot. Daniels is third all-time in team history in receiving yards and touchdowns. He was one of the most important players on some of the best Texans teams and caught some of the biggest touchdowns in team history. All that for a fourth round pick is pretty darn good.
Duane Brown - 26th overall - 2008
Duane Brown is probably the best offensive lineman to ever play for the Texans. He held down the left tackle spot for the team from almost the day he arrived. The ending was messy but the time he was here the Texans consistently had one of the better players at the left tackle spot. He was an anchor for the best seasons in Texans history.
Brian Cushing - 15th overall - 2009
Brian Cushing wasn't who I wanted or thought the Texans should take in 2009. I was hoping for Jeremy Maclin to pair with Andre Johnson. Cushing ended up being the right pick for the Texans. He played well alongside DeMeco Ryans and took over when Ryans departed for Philidelphia. He was the 2009 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Pro (2nd team). He is the franchise leader in tackles.
J.J. Watt - 11th overall - 2011
The Texans almost traded up for Patrick Peterson. They wanted Aldon Smith. Thanks in large part to Wade Phillips they drafted one of the most dominant defensive players ever. Enough said.
Whitney Mercilus - 26th overall - 2012
He's the second-best pass rusher in team history. He is also an example of a guy blossoming a few years into his career as he got a second contract and paid it off with huge years 2015 and 2016.
DeAndre Hopkins - 27th overall - 2013
He's the best offensive player in team history.
Deshaun Watson - 12th overall - 2017
Sure, it cost a lot to move up and make it happen but the Texans finally secured what looks to be a dynamic and incredible quarterback. He's got so much room to improve too. It's scary how good he can be.
Justin Reid - 68th overall - 2018
I am prepared to defend this one but also take criticism for this selection as well. There are a lot of arguments for this final slot including Reid's 2018 teammate Andre Hal as well as D.J. Reader and even former Texans lineman Brandon Brooks. Reid put together one of the best seasons for a rookie the team has seen and he did it all with first round expectations despite being a third round selection.
X-factor matchups for Houston Texans to make statement rebound versus Colts
Oct 24, 2024, 6:10 pm
Indianapolis (4-3) at Houston (5-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Texans by 6.
Against the spread: Indianapolis 6-1; Houston 3-3-1.
Series record: Colts lead 33-12-1.
Last meeting: Texans beat Colts 29-27 on Sept. 8, in Indianapolis.
Last week: Colts beat Dolphins 16-10; Texans lost to Packers 24-22.
Colts offense: overall (16), rush (14), pass (17), scoring (18).
Colts defense: overall (29), rush (31), pass (23), scoring (T12).
Texans offense: overall (11), rush (15), pass (10), scoring (14).
Texans defense: overall (2), rush (8), pass (4), scoring (17).
Turnover differential: Colts plus-2, Texans plus-3.
Colts player to watch
RB Jonathan Taylor. Despite the Colts optimism each of the past three weeks, Taylor has continued to sit out. Now, he appears to be close to fully recovered from the sprained ankle that knocked him out late in the victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 29. It’s unclear how much Taylor will play — or how effective he’ll be — but having Taylor in the backfield will only make QB Anthony Richardson's ability to run more of an option.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud. The second-year pro looks to bounce back after throwing for a career-low 86 yards without a TD pass last week. The Texans are focused on improving his protection after he was sacked four times and hit another seven in the loss to Green Bay. He’s been great at home this season, going 3-0 with 936 yards passing.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. the Indianapolis run defense. Mixon has had at least 100 yards rushing in each of the three full games he’s played this season. The former Bengal, who is in his first year in Houston, had 115 yards rushing and ran for two touchdowns last week for his 10th career game with at least two rushing scores. Now Mixon, who ran for a season-high 159 yards and a TD in Week 1 against the Colts, will face a run defense which ranks 31st in the NFL by allowing 159.9 yards a game. Indianapolis has allowed at least 185 yards rushing three times this season, capped by 188 yards last week against Miami.
Key injuries
Indy’s injury list finally appears to be shrinking. Richardson (right hip) and Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly (calf) returned last week against Miami. Taylor is scheduled to return Sunday at Houston and All-Pro DT DeForest Buckner (sprained ankle) returned to practice Wednesday. WRs Michael Pittman Jr. (back), Josh Downs (toe) and Alec Pierce (shoulder) have continued to play through their injuries, leaving one big question mark this weekend — LB E.J. Speed (knee), who missed last week’s game. … Houston LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) missed Sunday’s game and could be out again this week after missing practice. ... LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion) and CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) returned to practice after missing time but coach DeMeco Ryans wouldn't say if they'll play Sunday.
Series notes
Houston has won three of the past four matchups, the past two by a total of six points — both in Indy. ... This will be the third meeting between these franchises in an eight-game stretch. ... Stroud and Richardson were selected two picks apart in the 2023 NFL draft and they developed a friendship while preparing for the draft. But they’ve only played against one another twice. Richardson won the first meeting in Week 2 of 2023, rushing for two scores in Houston before leaving with a concussion. Stroud won the rematch in September.
Stats and stuff
Sunday will mark the second matchup this season between Colts DBs coach Ron Milus and his son, Texas defensive assistant Ryan Milus. ... The Colts have won four of their past five since starting the season 0-2. ... Indy is 4-9-1 in division games since the start of the 2022 season. But the Colts can even the season series with Houston and pull into a tie for the AFC South lead with a victory. ... Indy’s 31 plays of 20 or more yards this season are the fourth most in the NFL this season. ... Pittman needs 2 yards receiving to reach 4,000 in his five-year career. ... Taylor needs 78 total yards to pass Hall of Famer Lenny Moore (6,040 yards) for No. 4 in franchise history. ... Richardson and 39-year-old Joe Flacco have thrown a total of 10 TD passes this season. ... Pierce leads the NFL with an average of 25.5 yards per catch and has a league-high five receptions of 40 or more yards. ... Colts DE Laiatu Latu’s two sacks are tied with Jonah Elliss of Denver for the most among NFL rookies. ... LB Zaire Franklin leads the NFL in tackles with 78. ... CB Jaylon Jones is one of seven players to pick off two passes in a game this season. His eight passes defensed are also tied for No. 5 in the league. … The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their past two games. … Houston WR Stefon Diggs has had at least 65 yards receiving in four of his past five games. He has two TD receptions in each of his past two games against the Colts. … WR Tank Dell, who didn’t have a catch last week, had seven receptions for 72 yards a touchdown in the previous game against the Colts in Houston. … DE Danielle Hunter has had a sack in two straight games. … DE Will Anderson has had at least one tackle for loss in three straight games and at least one sack in his past two. He is tied for sixth in the NFL with 6½ sacks this season. … DT Tim Settle had two tackles for losses and a sack last week. … LB Neville Hewitt led the team with a season-high nine tackles last week and had an interception. … S Calen Bullock is tied for first among rookie in the league with three interceptions. He had an interception in the first meeting with Indianapolis. … CB Derek Stingley had six tackles, including one for a loss and defended a pass last week. ... LB Devin White, a Pro Bowler in 2021 with Tampa Bay, signed with Houston on Wednesday.
Fantasy tip
Mixon should be a good pickup this week against Indy’s struggling run defense after he’s combined for 217 yards rushing with three rushing TDs and one touchdown reception in the two games since returning from injury.