Keep that same energy going, and the Buccaneers might scrap their way into the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season via an NFC Wild Card berth. Let things go off the rails — the Buccaneers are 4-5 headed into a Week 10 game against the San Francisco 49ers — and it’s on to 2025 and building a new roster.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox already has the top 50 NFL free agents for 2025 ranked following the NFL trade deadline — one in which the Buccaneers made no moves — and has Tampa Bay targeted as a possible destination for Houston Texans wide receiver and 2-time NFL All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 but should be fully healthy in 2025. It’s the first major injury of Diggs’ decade-long career.

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Since then, their QB road has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride, hosting both some surefire elite talents alongside some less elite players. And despite having been around for just over two decades, the Texans have had 21 players start a game at QB.

Yet it feels like this conveyer belt of quarterbacks may be halted, at least for now, with incumbent C.J. Stroud showing top-tier ability as the leader of the offense. 

Let’s take a look at Heavy’s 10 best Texans quarterbacks of all time.

10. Case Keenum

GettyCase Keenum.

• Years as a Texan: 2012-2013, 2014, 2023-present
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 12 starts
  • 3-9 record
  • 56.4% completion percentage
  • 2,486 passing yards
  • 12 passing touchdowns
  • 11 INTs
  • 108 rushing yards
  • 1 rushing touchdown
• Iconic performance: November 3, 2013. Although the Texans ultimately fell to the Andrew Luck-led division rivals the Indianapolis Colts, Keenum put in the best and only 300 yard+ performance of his career, putting up 3 touchdowns along with 350 yards as the Texans narrowly lost 27-24.

If Case Keenum has been drafted a decade later, he could well have ended up going on the first two days of the NFL draft. With height concerns moving him off of many teams draft boards, the Texans were able to scoop him up as an undrafted free agent in 2012. While he never managed to set the world alight, despite some initially promising performances in 2013 in relief of incumbent starter Matt Schaub, Keenum has turned into a capable bridge/backup QB in multiple stints for the organization.

9. Sage Rosenfels

GettySage Rosenfels.

• Years as a Texan: 2006-2008
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 19 games (10 starts)
  • 107-51 record
  • 65.6% completion percentage
  • 3,380 passing yards
  • 24 passing touchdowns
  • 23 INTs
  • 93 rushing yards
  • 1 rushing touchdown
• Iconic performance: October 21, 2007, against the Tennessee Titans. Another closely fought loss against a divisional opponent. While the Texans came up short, Rosenfels turned many heads in this 290 yard display — albeit with 3 interceptions — where all 4 touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter; tied for an NFL record.

For younger football consumers, or who are not die-hard Texans fans, Sage Rosenfels certainly does not have the name recognition of fellow former Houston bridge starters/backups such as Case Keenum and Brian Hoyer. But Rosenfels certainly flies under the radar as a sneakily efficient and productive quarterback for the league’s youngest franchise, including going 4-1 as a starter in 2007 and a very impressive-for-the-time, 65.6% completion percentage.

8. Brian Hoyer

GettyBrian Hoyer.

• Years as a Texan: 2015
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 11 games (9 starts)
  • 5-4 record
  • 60.7% completion percentage
  • 2,606 passing yards
  • 19 passing touchdowns
  • 7 INTs
  • 44 rushing yards
• Career postseason stats:
  • 1 start
  • 44.1% completion percentage
  • 136 passing yards
  • 4 INTs
• Iconic performance: January 3, 2016, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. At this point, it seems like every Texans QB has their most memorable performance in division. Hoyer threw for 249 yards plus a touchdown and interception apiece in a game that clinched the team’s third ever AFC South division title, in what would prove to be Hoyer’s last game in Houston.

If, in a fairly strange parallel world, Brian Hoyer were to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he likely would not go in as a Texan. But, as a starter for the majority of the year, Hoyer became just the second quarterback to lead the Texans to a division championship and into the playoffs (after Matt Schaub). Hoyer has gone on to have a very honorable career as a backup QB and well-respected locker room voice across the NFL — and he will always have a little bit of Houston’s heart for what was, at the time, an impressive accomplishment.

7. Brock Osweiler

GettyBrock Osweiler.

• Years as a Texan: 2016 
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 15 games (14 starts)
  • 8-6 record
  • 59.0% completion percentage
  • 2,957 passing yards
  • 15 passing touchdowns
  • 16 INTs
  • 131 rushing yards
  • 2 rushing touchdowns
• Career postseason stats:
  • 2 starts
  • 1-1 record
  • 56.9% completion percentage
  • 365 passing yards
  • 2 passing touchdowns
  • 3 INTs
  • 33 rushing yards
  • 1 rushing touchdowns
• Iconic performance: September 11, 2016, against the Chicago Bears. Osweiler’s debut game in a Texans outfit certainly started better than it finished, with a confident, 2 touchdown display helping Houston overcome the Bears, 23-14. 

Brock Osweiler will forever go down as a disappointment in the eyes of the Texans fanbase. And, given his (at that point) hefty 4 year, $72 million deal signed in free agency on the heels of a Super Bowl-winning year at the Denver Broncos, this is by no means an unfair assessment.

However, the extent of the let down is not proportional to Osweiler’s level of — somewhat inconsistent — play in Texas: while never managing to reach the heights of days in Denver, Osweiler was still a competent pair of hands, guiding the Texans to another AFC South title and winning just the third playoff game in franchise history.

6. Ryan Fitzpatrick

GettyRyan Fitzpatrick.

• Years as a Texan: 2014
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 12 starts
  • 6-6 record
  • 63.1% completion percentage
  • 2,483 passing yards
  • 17 passing touchdowns
  • 8 INTs
  • 184 rushing yards
  • 2 rushing touchdowns
• Iconic performance: November 30, 2014, against the Tennessee Titans. Not much to debate for this one: Fitzpatrick threw for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns in what many consider to be the best performance of his professional career, in an offensive masterclass against Tennessee.

Throughout his career, Ryan “Fitzmagic” Fitzpatrick has been the personification of the highest highs and lowest lows. A strong-armed “gunslinger” type, Fitzpatrick can always be counted on to produce entertaining football. And this was very much on show during his time in Houston, where he managed five games with over a 100 passer rating, and also three games under 76. Although this inconsistency balanced out for an eventual 6-6 record, Fitzpatrick was unable to guide Houston to the postseason, despite finishing the year at 9-7.

5. Davis Mills

GettyDavid Mills #10.

• Years as a Texan: 2021-present
  
• Career regular season stats:
  • 36 games (26 starts)
  • 5-19-1 record
  • 62.7% completion percentage
  • 6,034 passing yards
  • 35 passing touchdowns
  • 25 INTs
  • 161 rushing yards
  • 2 rushing touchdowns
• Iconic performance: January 8, 2023 @ Indianapolis Colts. Mills pulled out the most clutch performance of his young career, converting multiple 4th down attempts and 2-point conversions to lead the Texans to an impressive 32-31 comeback win.

Although Mills’ greatest Houston Texans legacy may well end up being the aforementioned game, where he secured the Texans draft spot with the No. 2 pick, thus forcing them to take Pro Bowler and budding star, C.J. Stroud, he has played substantially better than his abysmal 0.220 record shows. Working as a young quarterback with a dreadful roster in his first two years, Mills was able to show promise as a competent QB, delivering some excellent performances in the process — even if those showings never materialized into wins.

4. David Carr

GettyDavid Carr.

• Years as a Texan: 2002-2006
  
• Championships & awards:
  • NFL Completion Percentage Leader (2006)
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2002)
• Career regular season stats:
  • 76 games (75 starts)
  • 22-53 record
  • 60.0% completion percentage
  • 13,391 passing yards
  • 59 passing touchdowns
  • 65 INTs
  • 1,235 rushing yards
  • 8 rushing touchdowns
• Iconic performance: October 10, 2004, against the Minnesota Vikings. Much like the majority of David Carr’s unfortunate career in Houston, the Texans lost this game. But this did not stop Carr from going off to the tune of a career-best 372 passing yards, 3 touchdowns for a 116.4 passer rating in this 34-28 home defeat.

David Carr is a tough evaluation; for as many people that consider him to be a giant bust – especially as their first ever draft pick, almost as many believe he was failed by an incompetent organization that failed to put an even vaguely workable offensive line in front of him, taking 249 sacks and plenty of subsequent injuries that ultimately bought an early end to a once highly promising career.

3. Matt Schaub

GettyMatt Schaub.

• Years as a Texan: 2007-2013
  
• Championships & awards:
  • NFL Passing Yards Leader (2009)
  • 2-time Pro Bowl (2009, 2012)
• Career regular season stats:
  • 90 games (88 starts)
  • 46-42 record
  • 64.6% completion percentage
  • 23,221 passing yards
  • 124 passing touchdowns
  • 78 INTs
  • 229 rushing yards
  • 4 rushing touchdowns
• Career postseason stats:
  • 2 starts
  • 1-1 record
  • 70.8% completion percentage
  • 605 passing yards
  • 2 passing touchdowns
  • 2 INTs
  • 2 rushing yards
• Iconic performance: November 18, 2012, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Schaub threw for a whopping 5 touchdowns and the second most passing yards ever in a game, 527, behind only Norm Van Brocklin in 1951, who managed 554 air yards, in a 43-37 overtime divisional shootout.

Matt Schaub was by no means the savior that Texans fans had been clamoring for in the post-David Carr era. But, in the history of 3rd round quarterbacks, there have been few that have over delivered more than Schaub. The 6-foot-6 Pittsburgh native brought Houston their first AFC South division titles, their first two playoff wins (and 40% of their all time playoff wins!) and gave some much-needed consistency and stability to the quarterback position in Texas.

2. Deshaun Watson

GettyDeshaun Watson.

• Years as a Texan: 2017-2021
  
• Championships & awards:
  • NFL Passing Yards Leader (2020)
  • 3-time Pro Bowl (2018-2020)
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2017)
• Career regular season stats:
  • 54 games (53 starts)
  • 28-26 record
  • 67.8% completion percentage
  • 14,539 passing yards
  • 104 passing touchdowns
  • 36 INTs
  • 1,677 rushing yards
  • 17 rushing touchdowns
• Career postseason stats:
  • 3 starts
  • 1-2 record
  • 63.5% completion percentage
  • 870 passing yards
  • 4 passing touchdowns
  • 1 INT
  • 168 rushing yards
  • 2 rushing touchdowns
• Iconic performance: October 6, 2019, against the Atlanta Falcons. Watson threw for 426 yards, 5 touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating in a high-scoring routing of the Falcons, 53-32.

Undoubtedly the most controversial quarterback on this list; yet many would argue he ought to be ranked No. 1. While Deshaun Watson clearly put up phenomenal numbers over his time in Houston and found initial success in 2018 and 2019, he was unable to overcome poor management and coaching from now infamous head coach and GM Bill O’Brien, guiding the Texans to 4-12 in his final season with them. Although he has been unable to replicate this same form for the Cleveland Browns, Watson is undeniably one of the greatest talents to wear a Texans uniform, and the 2nd greatest QB talent, behind only No. 1 on this list.

1. C.J. Stroud

GettyC.J. Stroud

• Years as a Texan: 2023-present
  
• Championships & awards:
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2023)
  • Pro Bowl (2023)
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2023)
• Career regular season stats:
  • 21 starts
  • 14-7 record
  • 65.2% completion percentage
  • 5,685 passing yards
  • 33 passing touchdowns
  • 9 INTs
  • 242 rushing yards
  • 3 rushing touchdowns
• Career postseason stats:
  • 2 starts
  • 1-1 record
  • 64.8% completion percentage
  • 449 passing yards
  • 3 passing touchdowns
  • 10 rushing yards
• Iconic performance: January 13, 2024, against the Cleveland Browns. C.J. Stroud had already had one of the greatest QB rookie seasons of all time, and was poised to be the face of the franchise for years to come. However, after this AFC Wild Card matchup, where Stroud systematically picked apart the No. 1 total defense in the NFL, putting up 276 yards and 3 touchdowns, his stock was immediately elevated to true star status.

Yes, he has only played 21 games for the franchise, just over 1 ¼ seasons — but he has proven himself to be a Top 5 quarterback in the NFL already. Poised and unflappable under pressure, excellent both in the pocket and scrambling on off-schedule plays, the former Ohio State standout can do everything. Even though, barring any unforeseen circumstances and/or injury, he is set to lead the Texans for the next decade-plus, he may already be the greatest QB in their short history.

How’d we do, Texans fans? See who just missed our list and sound off in the comments!

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Stroud first met Stefon Diggs at the Pro Bowl. Little did he know they’d be working together a few months later.

“I was very excited,” Stroud said in his first offseason press conference on April 15, 2024. “I met him at the Pro Bowl – got to meet each other, got to meet his kids, and to see what type of person he was. Just been able to grow our relationship from there. It’s really cool just to be able to go from not only that scene to now – him being a teammate of mine. Just really excited to get to work with him.”

C.J. Stroud Understands the Value of Stefon Diggs

The Houston Texans seem like the last team that would trade for Diggs — their offense was already packed with options. But, as Stroud sees it, Diggs brings more than seasoned talent.

“He adds a ton of value to that room,” Stroud told reporters. “There’s a lot of wisdom that he carries that I think he’ll spread to the other guys.”

Stroud envisions the chemistry they’re building — and will continue to build throughout the 2024 season — as positive.

“I think we’re all going to feed off of each other,” said Stroud. “It’s going to be very fun and very exciting just to work with everybody in that room and I’m very excited for it.”

Adding Diggs makes for a more dominant offense as Houston fights for a consecutive division crown.

C.J. Stroud on Tank Dell Heading Into Second Season

Diggs’ veteran presence will be significant for the young Stroud and Dell as they continue to develop.

“He looks great,” Stroud said of Dell. “Mentally, I think for both of us, really all of the rookies coming into Year 2, everything is starting to slow down, and the wheels aren’t turning so much up in your head. You’re starting to play ball.”

Stroud, 22, and Dell, 24, entered the league through the same 2023 NFL Draft class, and the two hit it off on the field immediately.

In their first three weeks together, the duo connected for 251 and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference.

On November 26, 2023, Dell found paydirt on a 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter of Houston’s Week 11 21-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The score set a single-season franchise rookie record. He finished the game with 149 receiving yards, the third 100-plus-yard game of the season.

The following week, Stroud and Dell became the sixth rookie quarterback-receiving combo in NFL history to connect for at least seven touchdowns in a season.

Dell had 709 yards receiving when injury struck and cut his outstanding first season short. On Sunday, December 3, he suffered a broken left fibula after it was rolled up on during a block on a Dameon Pierce touchdown.

Stroud and Dell Participated in Private Workouts Before Offseason Training

Stroud, Dell and third-year receiver John Metchie joined Diggs in Los Angeles for throwing drills during the first weekend in April. It marked the first time that the two could connect since Dell’s injury.

Stroud said those workouts were a good sign of Dell’s progress in rehab and recovery.

“Being able to throw with him in L.A. was really big.”

 

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Quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receiver Tank Dell named three — C.J. Henderson, Carlton Davis and Zaire Franklin — who really tested their mental toughness by talking trash.

Appearing on the June 2 episode of the “Million Dollar Worth of Game” podcast, Stroud and Dell did not reveal what their opponents but noted that Henderson is now a teammate after signing a one-year, $2 million contract.

In the Week 8 game between the Texans and Henderson’s Carolina Panthers, Dell was ineffective, catching 3 passes for only 16 yards while Henderson finished the game with 3 tackles.

Dell fared better against Davis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Houston’s 39-37 win, tallying 6 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“Oh, yeah, Carlton was talking a lot,” Dell said without elaborating.

C.J. Stroud Puts 1 Linebacker in the Same Category as Henderson & Davis

GettyTexans quarterback C.J. Stroud

The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year stayed on the topic but did not mention a defensive back.

“He be talking about me all the time, and I know he gonna see this; I ain’t tripping him. Zaire Franklin from the Colts, No. 44. He from Philly, so that’s part of where it comes from. Bro got game but like, it’s smoke, I ain’t tripping like, bro talking about coming for you. I’m coming too, though.”

Franklin expounded upon his rivalry with Stroud during the May 7 episode of “The Green Light with Chris Long.” The seventh-round pick from Syracuse said, “I’m not gonna lie to you. I love C.J., man. I support all our young brothers at quarterback. But C.J., he been saying a lot of wild stuff to me in our run-ins at the Super Bowl. I need to see that boy again.”

The linebacker, who signed a three-year, $31.3 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, claimed that the incident happened on Radio Row for Super Bowl 58. Franklin said, “He had the (Sirius) XM Radio right before me. He was on there about how he cooked the Colts in both games.”

Franklin pulled him aside and reminded him that while Stroud had 384 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, the Texans lost that Week 2 game and were down 28-7 at one point. The seven-season veteran doubled down, “Then I had to remind him as well that he’s never beaten Anthony (Richardson).”

In that context, Stroud told Dell, Gillie Da King, and Wallo267, “Now, we going to have another opportunity and we play him first game of the year. I’m excited. The Colts, playing at their place, it’s going to be rocking. Indy hates me already, and I love it.”

Tank Dell Shares Personal Goals for 2024 NFL Season

GettyTexans wide receiver Tank Dell

The Florida native felt he had a nice rhythm before the fractured fibula injury that ended his season in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals. “This happened to me, at first it kinda took me for a loop you know I was praying I’m like, ‘Why this happened?’ Because I feel like I was hitting stride right before it happened. It was like three, four games where I felt like I was just like going and going, and then this humbled me.”

Now that he’s healthy, Dell is ready to prove that his 709 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games was no fluke. The former third-round draft pick already has specific numbers in mind.

“I already wrote them down, but I want 10-plus touchdowns. I want over 1,300 yards, which is going to be crazy because we got three of us, but we can all do it. Probably like 70-plus catches.”

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The victory of playing football after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia goes beyond those numbers. Overcoming that ordeal inspired the Pro Football Writers of America to make him the 2024 George Halas Award winner.

According to the May 28 press release on the Texans’ website, “The Halas Award is given to an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.” Quarterback Joe Flacco, who played for the Cleveland Browns last year, and the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa were the other finalists.

The diagnosis halted the promising career of a wideout who tallied 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season with the Crimson Tide. However, a year after skipping what should have been his rookie season, Metchie became the second Texans player to win the award after David Quessenberry (2017).

Could John Metchie III be on His Way out of Houston?

GettyJohn Metchie III of the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 26, 2023, in Houston, Texas.

Metchie’s first NFL campaign is an inspirational side story to a triumphant Texans season. His return could be an emotional spark for the team’s monumental transformation from last-place finishers to playoff contenders.

But a different challenge awaits the Texans, now considered a powerhouse squad, as they navigate the seventh-toughest regular season schedule, per analyst Warren Sharp’s May 26 article.

Unfortunately, some NFL-related content creators on YouTube paint a bleak future for the two-time Jon Cornish Trophy winner. “If he has drop issues and if this team can’t trust him to go out there and make plays and make catches, then it’s going to be really hard for him to find a role in this roster and find out where he fits on this Texans team,” Jeremy Beadling said in the May 27 episode of Texans Today by Chat Sports.

John Metchie III is in an uphill battle against a stacked Texans wide receiver corps. The 2023 AFC South champions rewarded Nico Collins with a three-year, $72.75 million contract extension. Tank Dell averaged 64.45 yards per game and 14.5 yards per catch in 11 games last year.

Stefon Diggs’ arrival takes one available spot on the depth chart away. Therefore, Metchie will compete for a place in the 53-man active roster with Robert Woods, Noah Brown, Ben Skowronek, Steven Sims, Johnny Johnson III, Jared Wayne, and Jadon Janke.

Likewise, Metchie’s contract could be a blessing or a curse. While he’s set to earn a $2.2 million base salary this year, cutting him amounts to an affordable $2.32 million dead cap.

John Metchie III Gives Back to the Community via a Football Camp

GettyJohn Metchie III at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

As Metchie battles for a place on the Texans’ roster come training camp, he’s giving young athletes an avenue to succeed through his football camp.

In his March 6 Instagram post, Metchie shared that his one-day camp will be on July 13 at Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time. Boys and girls aged 6 to 16 are welcome to attend.

The camp’s description on the official registration page reads, “During camp, Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III and our coaches will instruct your camper through various skill enhancing drills through a positive and competitive environment. It is our goal to build upon your athletes’ prior knowledge regardless of their skill level.”

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In the episode of ‘The Pivot Podcast’ that premiered May 15, Ryan Clark asked Brady, “Who are some of the guys you actually enjoy watching play because of how they approach the game?”

“I mean, C.J. (Stroud) is a good example. Like, I really appreciate where he came from and all the expectations that he had and what he’s gone and put together last year with a lot of humility,” the three-time NFL Most Valuable Player said.

Brady expounded on Stroud’s down-to-earth demeanor by explaining what he looks for in quarterbacks. “When I watch quarterbacks, the first thing I watch is does he endear himself to his teammates. What are the things that he’s saying? What are the things that he’s doing to endear himself to his teammates so that he does feel like one of the guys.”

Despite his youth, Stroud’s ability to connect with his teammates was instrumental in the team’s impressive turnaround. Once a 3-win team, the Texans finished the season with a 10-7 record and a playoff win.

Pro Football Reference states that in addition to winning 9 of the 15 games he started, the former Ohio State standout led the league in yards per game (273.9), interception percentage for pass attempts (1%), and interception percentage index (130).

DeMeco Ryans Doubled Down on Brady’s Observation on C.J. Stroud

GettyC.J. Stroud is helped up by head coach DeMeco Ryans during their November 2023 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

While Brady is a third-party observer, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans elaborated on what the five-time Super Bowl MVP lauded about Stroud.

During the May 16 episode of ‘The Rich Eisen Show,’ Ryans shared, “The accuracy, the arm strength, the vision, he has all of those things. But it’s the intangible that set him apart. And the connectedness in the locker room, how he gets the guys around him in the locker room to just believe in him.”

The chemistry that Stroud helped establish elevated the skill position players around him. Devin Singletary had a career-high in rushing yards (898), while Nico Collins became a legitimate WR1 after finishing with 80 receptions, 1,297 yards, and 8 touchdowns.

Tank Dell averaged 64.5 receiving yards per game and 15.1 yards per catch. Finally, Dalton Schultz’s solid output (635 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns) earned him a three-year, $36 million contract extension.

But Stroud’s camaraderie isn’t limited to offensive players only. “He’s not off to himself just because he’s the quarterback. He does a really good job of connecting with everyone on the team, not just offensive players. He does a good job connecting with the defensive guys, and all those guys are joking; they’re having fun,” Ryans added.

Because the most important player on the team sees them, everyone has the motivation to perform well for their leader. “They wanted to do their job better because they knew C.J. is gonna do his deal, so you don’t wanna let a guy as capable as he is. You don’t want to let him down as a teammate,” the former Texans linebacker said.

C.J. Stroud Remains a Student of the Game

GettyQuarterback C.J. Stroud leads the huddle during the 2023 Texans rookie minicamp.

Despite his initial success, Stroud never lost his penchant for learning. He picked Brady’s mind when he appeared on the Nov. 2023 episode of the ‘Let’s Go! Podcast.’

“I would just ask: When you started playing well, what was the process of your mentality? Like, how did you stay on the straight and narrow?”

Brady responded, “I think the important thing that I want you to realize, this is now your job. When they come to the game, it’s a vacation; it’s fun for them. The process of winning is fun. The memories you’re gonna have from having a great season are fun. The practice, the camaraderie’s fun. Trying to create fun for everybody else outside of that isn’t your responsibility.”

While 2023 was fun for Stroud and the Texans, the team faces a different challenge this season. Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson wrote on May 16 that Houston has the third-toughest schedule in 2024.

With more challenging opponents lined up, it’s up to Stroud to prove that his rookie season was no fluke.

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But those additions were insufficient, according to Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay, who proposed a trade in which Houston would land four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 draft.

“Houston’s brass is clearly trying to maximize the team’s Super Bowl chances by bringing in pricy pieces the team can only afford while [quarterback C.J.] Stroud is locked into a cheap rookie scale contract,”  Kay wrote in a May 7 story on trades that “should still happen before” the new season.

Lattimore, 27, has played only 17 games over the past two seasons because of injury, but from 2017 to 2021, he was among the best at shutting down opposing wide receivers, with double-digit pass deflections in each of those years and 13 total interceptions.

Last year, he sat out the Saints’ last seven regular-season games due to an ankle injury, but he was impressive enough when he played that Pro Football Focus still gave him respectable grades (64.7 in 2022, 67.4 in 2023) for those injury-shortened seasons.

Trading for Marshon Lattimore Would Come With Health & Financial Risks

GettyFour-Time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

Getting a player yearning to prove he’s still among the best at his position could benefit the Texans. But while Lattimore remains a high-impact player, he will also come with an expensive price tag.

Lattimore will count for $14.6 million against the Saints’ 2024 salary cap, $31.4 million in 2025, and $28.5 million in 2026, according to Spotrac.

The Texans have $23.1 million of cap space this season, according to Over the Cap. Though it’s enough to absorb Lattimore’s 2024 cap hit, they could be in some financial mess if the veteran cornerback didn’t live up to those annual values.

And there’s the issue of his health. Besides losing time to the 2023 ankle injury, he missed most of 2022 with a lacerated kidney.

The Texans Have Shored Up Their Secondary

GettyFormer NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore

So far this offseason, the Texans have handed out $18 million worth of contracts to free agent cornerbacks Myles Bryant (1 year, $1.75 million), Lonnie Johnson Jr. (1 year, $2.5 million), C.J. Henderson (1 year, $3.25 million), Mike Ford (2 years, $4.5 million) and Jeff Okudah (1 year, $6 million).

The Texans also used one of their second-round picks in the draft to select Kamari Lassiter, a 2023 second-team All-SEC member.

If general manager Nick Caserio isn’t satisfied with the team’s cornerback depth chart, Lattimore wouldn’t be their only option. A handful of available defensive backs could help their cause, starting with Stephon Gilmore.

The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year lined up in 96.1% of the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive snaps last season, earning 68 tackles, 13 passes defended and 2 interceptions. Spotrac estimates his market value with a $9 million annual salary, $1 million lower than his previous average value.

The Texans could also pursue Houston native and two-time All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard. Howard expressed his desire to play for the Texans in the March 20 episode of ‘The OGs’ podcast. “I would love to do that. Especially back at home, the crib,” Howard said to hosts Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

Furthermore, Howard was willing to take a pay cut to play for a contender like the Texans. He added, “I’d rather take a pay cut to go to a team that’s going to go further in the playoffs. I got my money and stuff like that. I’m to the point, like, ‘How much money do you really need?'”

Other high-profile free-agent cornerbacks include J.C. Jackson, Adoree’ Jackson and Patrick Peterson.

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Yet, with Ryans leading the way, the Texans came close to matching that win total and even clinched a postseason triumph over the Cleveland Browns. Revamping an NFL team is undeniably daunting, but two fundamental principles guide Ryans’s leadership.

During his May 2 interview with ESPN’s Pat McAfee, general manager Nick Caserio said, “We don’t have a lot of team rules. You know, one is to protect the team, and number two is no energy vampires. Come in, have the right mindset, have the right attitude, and be consistent day-to-day with your performance.”

Surprisingly, the young guns infuse the team with energy on the field. C.J. Stroud, at just 22, has established the high benchmark on offense. Pro Football Focus gave him an 82.8 overall mark after he tallied 4,108 yards and led the league in yards per game (273.9).

Stroud’s leadership elevated everyone around him. Nico Collins ranked third among 128 wide receivers with a 91.0 overall grade. Tank Dell received an 83.4 grade despite suffering a season-ending fibula fracture. Dalton Schultz ranked 12^th among 49 tight ends with a 72.7 receiving grade.

While commanding an NFL locker room could be challenging, Caserio praises how Ryans gets everyone on the same page. “DeMeco is just so consistent day-to-day. He has his core philosophies and beliefs on what’s important to him, and the way he messages that to the team is so consistent. Everybody understands what the expectation is on a day-to-day basis,” Caserio said to McAfee.

Drama in His Previous Stops Didn’t Deter Texans from Trading for Stefon Diggs

GettyHouston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs

General manager Nick Caserio didn’t stop at restoring the Texans’ identity as a formidable contender. Instead, they handed out $148.6 million worth of contracts to free agents before the 2024 NFL draft. The team has bolstered every level of its defense, adding key players such as edge rusher Danielle Hunter, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, and cornerback Jeff Okudah.

But on offense, they traded for Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. These additions prompted league analysts to consider the Texans one of the favorites to win Super Bowl 59.

While controversies hounded Diggs’s departures from the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills, the Texans concentrated on his on-field contributions. “We’re not gonna judge a player or any individual based on what may have happened in the past. What we’re gonna focus on is when the player is here, how does he assimilate to our program,” Caserio said in the same interview with McAfee.

In an October 6, 2019, article by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, the Vikings fined Diggs $200,000 for missing team meetings and practices. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport tweeted that the Vikings and Diggs were not on good terms.

Diggs played with the Vikings through the 2019 season before getting traded to the Bills the following year. As written by The New York Post’s Jaclyn Hendricks, Diggs admitted in a December 2020 edition of ‘Sunday NFL Countdown,’ “The [Vikings] were kind of gearing toward a run-heavy [offense] at that time. I didn’t know it going in. I didn’t know it was going to be that way. They only would allow me to do so much. In my eyes, it wasn’t going to be in the best interest of my career.”

Nick Caserio is a Sports Entertainment Fan

GettyHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio

Caserio wore an ‘American Nightmare’ hoodie, best associated with current World Wrestling Entertainment Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. The conversation naturally went there, especially with McAfee being a color commentator for ‘Monday Night Raw.’

“I just thought on the heels of WrestleMania and you had (Drew) McIntyre on yesterday, I just felt it might be appropriate to don this gear. I was gonna wear it for my pre-draft press conference, but (Texans Director of Communications) Omar (Majzoub) will probably look at me like, ‘You probably can’t do that.’ But it’s more appropriate on this show. I figured I would wear it for you,” Caserio said.

However, given the busy schedule leading up to the draft, Caserio learned about WrestleMania 40 results through clips. He’s a devoted pro wrestling fan who even uses walk-up music when introduced in a local sports radio program.

“It’s funny, not too many GMs have a walk-up music but when I go on the local 610 program with (Sean) Pendergast and (Seth) Payne, they play DX. We’ve played that introduction, the D’Generation X theme song. So, they changed it yesterday to the Undertaker. I’m not really sure why, but that was the intro yesterday,” Caserio shared on-air with McAfee.

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General manager Nick Caserio has now added Ben Skowronek from the Los Angeles Rams, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero on Thursday, May 9.

According to the Rams’ official X account, L.A. sent Skowronek and a 2026 7th-round pick in exchange for Houston’s 2026 6th-round pick.

Skowronek, who will turn 27 in June, is entering the final year of the rookie contract signed after being selected by the Rams in Round 7 of the 2021 draft out of Notre Dame.

As a rookie in 2021, Skowronek was a member of the Super Bowl-winning Rams team, playing a then-career-high 46 snaps after O’dell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL and left the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter.

What Ben Skowronek Brings to the Texans

Listed at 6-foot-3, 224 pounds, Skowronek is a big-bodied receiver who struggled to see the field in Los Angeles. That should not come as a surprise, given the presence of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell on the roster of the Rams roster.

Add in the Rams’ use of a sixth-round pick on wide receiver Jordan Whittington out of Texas in the draft this offseason, and the route to playing time for Skowronek in Los Angeles for the 2024 season is certainly uncertain.

However, while Skowronek might have had trouble finding snaps for the Rams, he can address some of the special teams snaps Houston lost in free agency, while providing depth at wide receiver.

Also, Skowronek occasionally lined up at both fullback and tight end during his time with the Rams, according to Pro Football Focus. Neither of those are positions of immediate need for the Texans, with Dalton Schultz and Andrew Beck solidly in place, but it never hurts to add positional flexibility to keep a defense on its toes.

This has not gone unnoticed by fans and observers, many of whom quickly took to social media to share their opinions on Skowronek’s fit with the Texans, first as a receiver.

And as a fullback as well.

In addition, after three seasons playing in Sean McVay’s offense, it should not take long to learn the system used by Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Slowik and McVay both spent several seasons working under Kyle Shanahan, and both run very similar systems.

That should allow for a smooth and nearly seamless transition for Skowronek, with the biggest obstacle perhaps building chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud.

What this Trade Means for Other Texans Receivers

Collins, Dell and Diggs are the unquestioned front three in the receiver room for Houston, and the acquisition of Skowronek does nothing to change that. However, it could easily spell the end for Robert Woods as a member of the Texans.

Woods turned 32 earlier this offseason, and is no longer the threat he once was. He has not recorded more than 556 receiving yards in a season since 2020, when he hauled in 90 passes for 936 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Add in a catch rate of 53.3% in 2023, the second lowest catch rate of his career and lowest since his rookie season in 2013, and the writing is on the wall for Woods.

In all probability, though, the final nail in the coffin for Woods is cost. Woods is set to carry a cap hit of $9.7 million for the 2024 season according to OverTheCap.com. That is a significant cap hit for a receiver who is likely no higher than fourth on the depth chart and contributes very little on special teams.

The Texans can save $4.95 million of cap space in 2024 by releasing Woods, and the question now seems more likely to be about when, rather than about if, the team will make the move.

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Dell posted May 3 on Instagram Stories a photo of him in the Texans’ new red uniforms, captioning the image “God I thank you” along with a praying hands emoji.

According to KPRC in Houston, sources said Dell was “very lucky” to both be alive and to have avoided any structural damage to his leg.

An innocent bystander, Dell got caught up in the middle of a crossfire between two shooters during a private event at a Sanford, Florida, bar. Ten people, including Dell, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Dell sustained a gunshot flesh wound that “went through one side of his leg and exited the other side,” according to KPRC. One 16-year-old suspect was arrested and is in custody.

A video provided by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office shows the shootout in a crowd of people running for their lives.

Dell was visiting his mother in his hometown of Daytona Beach.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud, HC DeMeco Ryans Raved About Tank Dell Before Shooting

Before the shooting incident, the Houston Texans’ dynamic receiver had made a full recovery from a broken fibula that abruptly ended an incredible record-setting rookie season.

Dell had 709 yards receiving and set a franchise rookie record with seven touchdown receptions before breaking his left fibula on Sunday, December 3. The injury occurred when Dell’s leg was rolled up on during a block on a Dameon Pierce touchdown.

Dell had been participating in the Texans’ offseason conditioning program and extra throwing sessions with Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stroud raved about what an improvement Dell had made during the offseason.

“He looks great,” Stroud said in an April 15 press conference. “He’s gotten a lot better. Mentally, I think for both of us, really all of the rookies coming into year two, everything is starting to slow down, and the wheels aren’t turning so much up in your head. You’re starting to play ball. Being able to throw with him in L.A. was really big.”

“Tank is back and he’s starting to get in with our guys here with the offseason programs,” Ryans said. “So, I’m excited to have Tank back. That was a devastating loss for us last year, losing him. He’s such a dynamic player for us, such an inspiration for myself, a lot of our team. So, I’m excited to see Tank back working with our guys and excited to see him make that same jump I talked about from year one to year two.”

Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans Offers Update on Tank Dell

Since the April 27 incident, Tank Dell has been back at the Houston Texans’ training facility to meet with team officials, including head coach DeMeco Ryans and team owner Steve McNair.

Dell is healing quickly and is expected to make a full recovery before training camp in July, per KPRC. He’s likely to be cleared for physical activity at some point this spring, but rehab comes first.

“It looks like Tank will make a full recovery,” McNair said at the team’s annual charity golf classic on May 6. “We saw him in the office the other day and he looked good, in good spirits. But he’ll have to rehab and get back to where he was.”

When pressed as to whether Dell is expected to be ready for Week 1, Ryans said, “Tank should be fine.” He shared that he’s spoken to Dell several times since the shooting and had a “good conversation.”

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The Texans made the announcement in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

“We have been made aware that Tank Dell was a victim of a shooting in Sanford, Fla. last night. He sustained a minor wound but has been released from the hospital and he is in good spirits,” the team announced. “We are in contact with him and his family and will provide more updates when appropriate, but we ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.”

The fact that Dell is out of the hospital is obviously good news. However, many fans will likely remain concerned for his health until a more detailed update is provided.

How the Florida Shooting Unfolded

Local news station WESH reported that according to witnesses and the Seminole County Sherriff’s Office, the incident happened at Cabana Live, a bar in Sanford, Florida. A post on the venue’s Facebook page stated that the shooting took place outside the bar during a private event and that venue staff are cooperating with the investigation.

Police have charged 16-year-old Christopher Bouie Jr. with possession of a firearm by a minor, use and display of a firearm during a felony, firing a weapon in public property and attempted homicide in the April 28 shooting, according to ClickOrlando.

Citing the arrest report, local media indicated that police say Bouie started shooting into the crowd after a fistfight broke out in which he was not involved. A security guard “was able to tackle the teen and disarm him ‘almost immediately,'” ClickOrlando reported.

Ten victims were transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the outlet reported, noting that investigators said the gunshot wounds were “primarily to their lower extremities.”

According to WESH, the arrest report indicates “there were two Seminole County Deputies at the business when the shooting happened,” after first being called to the location to check on the large crowd. They took the accused shooter into custody, the outlet reported.

Dell Is Just 1 of the Many Expected Playmakers for a Potent Texans Offense

Dell and fellow Texans wide receiver Nico Collins posed a formidable threat to defenses with 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing them the ball.

Through the first 12 weeks of the season the duo combined for 87 catches, 1,509 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, including a 41-yard score against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11.

Unfortunately, Dell’s promising rookie season came to a screeching halt in Week 13. Late in the first quarter of a 22-17 victory over the Denver Broncos, Dell suffered a fractured fibula that forced him out for the remainder of the season.

Hopes for a successful return to the field for Dell are high, though the Texans have enough offensive weapons that there should be no need for Dell to rush back.

In addition to Collins, who finished the 2023 season with 1,297 yards and 8 touchdowns, Houston acquired former Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs on April 3.

The addition of Diggs provides Stroud a trio of targets that would make most other quarterbacks jealous, while the Houston offense also includes Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and tight end Dalton Schultz.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik should have a lot of fun putting his playmakers to use in 2024, and Texans fans are rightfully looking forward to a season that will likely see Houston put a lot of points on the board.

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In a flurry of moves that could prove to be franchise-altering, Houston added defensive end Danielle Hunter, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and defensive lineman Denico Autry.

To stockpile capital in later rounds, an area of the draft head coach DeMeco Ryans called “the sweet spot,” the Texans surrendered their first-round pick (No. 23). In a March 15 trade, Houston’s sent No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for second- (No. 42) and sixth-round picks (No. 188) and a 2025 second-rounder.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has some advice for the Texans brass on best approaching those selections when April 26th rolls around: “Don’t be dumb.”

“Whoever’s up there, man, be smart. Don’t be dumb. Don’t think too hard,” Stroud said in an April 15 press conference.

The Texans didn’t have to think too hard about Stroud in the last draft. The Carolina Panthers made it pretty easy for them.

Texans Given Modest Boost in Power Rankings for Initial Free Agency Moves

After their first round of free agency moves, the Houston Texans received a slight bump, moving from No. 9 to No. 8 in the 2024 power rankings.

“The roster around breakout QB C.J. Stroud appeared marginally improved (if far more expensive) following free agency, the major arrivals being veteran DE Danielle Hunter and RB Joe Mixon,” USA Today’s Nate Davis wrote on April 4. “Then WR Stefon Diggs was acquired Wednesday, likely further bolstering Houston’s chances to reach the AFC championship game for the first time.”

While bringing in Diggs doesn’t preclude Houston from snagging an additional pass-catching weapon for Stroud, it certainly lessens the urgency. The 2024 draft boasts a deep wide receiver class, but it’s almost certain there’s one the Texans won’t be selecting.

C.J. Stroud Praises Projected Top NFL Draft Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a year-plus removed from making sweet music with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at Ohio State.

When the two were on the field together, they couldn’t be stopped. According to Sports Reference, the duo connected for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns over 16 games.

For Stroud, it’s easy to see why his former Buckeye teammate should be the first receiver drafted this week.

“Put on the tape. He’s done it from really his freshman year, his true freshman year, to now,” Stroud said. “When you talk about – I think I read something like he’s NFL ready, but other guys have more potential. That makes no sense. Like, what? If you’re ‘NFL ready,’ how is that not potential? You want longevity, you want somebody who has been doing it. For him, that’s what he sleeps, eats and breathes. He’s a worthy talent, but his work ethic and how he gravitates that room. I challenged him that last year when Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] went down, he had to take over as leader, and he did that. He’s not really vocal, but he became vocal, and you can see his personality start to come out as he started to play more. For me, I think I would love to play with him again. I probably won’t get that opportunity for a while, but I’m super proud of him.

The quarterback phenom is right. It’ll be years, if ever, before fans hear Stroud-to-Harrison in the same sentence again. Not having a first-round selection makes taking the projected top receiver nearly impossible.

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According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC Houston, Diggs paid safety Jimmie Ward a cool $100,000 for the No. 1. It marks the first time in his pro career he’s worn a number other than 14, as he last wore No. 1 during his days at the University of Maryland. Ward reverted to No. 20, which he wore with the San Francisco 49ers.

“Yeah, man, we worked some things out,” Ward told Wilson at the April 14, 2024, book signing for his children’s nutritional book “Jimmie’s Ward Nutritional ABCs For Active Kids.”

“I feel like he’s happy and 20 was available, so I’m happy. It’s a number that I feel like I can make plays in, but I feel like I can make plays in anything. I think Deion (Sanders) said it best: ‘Look good, feel good, play good. Deion said it and I think a lot of people think he was deep.”

$100,000 large is a hefty price tag for you and me. But to Diggs, who was given a raise from $18 to $22.52 million in guaranteed money for the 2024 season, it’s a small price to pay.

Diggs considered switching back to No. 1 in 2021 when NFL owners approved a rule allowing wide receivers to sport single-digits. But after some thought, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“I can’t change my number,” Diggs tweeted on April 5, 2021. “All the people that spent their hard earned money supporting the 14. I gotta keep it.”

Diggs rocked No. 14 for nearly a decade while racking up 9,995 yards and 67 touchdowns on 810 receptions with the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.

New team, new number.

Jimmie Ward Is Confident Stefon Diggs’ Addition Will Make Texans Better

The Houston Texans offense was on fire in 2023, thanks in large part to C.J. Stroud. The then-rookie threw for a rookie franchise record of 4,108 yards on 319 completions to an arsenal of weapons that included wide receivers Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Robert Woods, and tight ends Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan.

Adding Stefon Diggs is akin to bringing in five Nico Collinses.

“Oh man, it’s going to be pretty cool,” Ward told Wilson. “He’s a great talent. He came into this league and did what he’s supposed to do, and I feel like DeMeco (Ryans) and Nick (Caserio) did a great job in going to get him and making that trade. And I feel like he’s going to make our team better.”

There’s no question that Diggs can help Ward become an even better defender when he faces him in training camp. Houston’s camp opens on July 26, 2024.

Stefon Diggs and Bills QB Josh Allen Swapped Texts After Bills-Texans Trade

Though several Houston Texans, including C.J. Stroud, have had their first press conferences of 2024 over the past two weeks, Stefon Diggs has not.

Back at Diggs’ former workplace in Buffalo, quarterback Josh Allen spoke highly of his ex-teammate. Allen shared that he and Diggs swapped texts shortly after news of the trade came down.

“I shared a text with him, and got one back and just thanking him for everything that he did for me,” Allen told Bills reporters on April 18, 2024. “I’ll always have a spot in my heart for him.”

“It’s definitely hard to part ways with a guy that’s been very instrumental in our success here over the last four years. And again, I can’t thank him enough for when he came in and how hard he worked and what he taught me along the years.”

“Obviously, I wish we can keep everybody,” Allen said. “We’ve made a lot of changes this offseason, lost a lot of veteran leadership, ‘Stef’ being one of them. I guess that’s the nature of the business.”

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Text notifications interrupted visions of Nico Collins and Tank Dell dancing in C.J. Stroud’s head.

The 2023 Rookie of the Year was fast asleep when he awoke to the news that his Houston Texans made a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Bills for legendary receiver Stefon Diggs.

He rubbed his eyes. Was he still dreaming? Surely he was.

“I was asleep; I had been on the West Coast, back home in L.A., so I was knocked out,” Stroud told the media on April 15. “I keep my phone under the stairs; I get a lot of phone calls. So I didn’t really know and I woke up, and my boy Chase B texted me. He’s like, ‘How you feelin’, bro?'”

Sleepy but very excited.

Texas QB C.J. Stroud & New Toy Stefon Diggs Get to Work

Ahead of Houston Texans kicking off voluntary offseason workouts on April 15, quarterback C.J. Stroud was getting his drills game on with his new receiver, Stefon Diggs.

It wasn’t the first encounter for the quarterback-receiver duo. Stroud shared that the two met in February at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

“I met him at the Pro Bowl,” Stroud said. “We got to meet each other; I got to meet his kids and see what type of person he was. We’ve been able to grow our relationship from there. It’s really cool to be able to go from that scene to him being a teammate of mine, and I’m really excited to get to work with him.”

Diggs joins fourth-year veteran Nico Collins and youngster Tank Dell, whose incredible rookie season was cut short by a broken leg with four games left to go in the regular season.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud Highlights 2023 NFL Draft Class

NFL Draft classes can’t be judged fairly until about five seasons out, but after a year, one player certainly stands out.

Selected second overall in 2023, C.J. Stroud took the league by storm and put on a rookie quarterback Master Class. He started all 15 of his appearances, completing 319 of 499 pass attempts for a rookie franchise-record 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Among his slew of record-shattering accomplishments was a 100.8 passer rating, good for third-best by a rookie in NFL history.

In a near-unanimous polling of Associated Press sports writers, Stroud garnered 48 of 50 first-place votes with L.A. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua receiving two first-place votes.

“Both Carolina and the Colts likely turned green watching C.J. Stroud transform into a legitimate MVP candidate months into his NFL career,” Around the NFL podcast cohost Marc Sessler wrote in a draft class ranking for NFL.com, where the 2023 class landed at No. 13.

“Attached to the white-hot Texans, Stroud can do it all, whipping 23 touchdowns to just five picks as a newbie. With Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon added to Houston’s laundry list of weapons, Stroud finds himself in prime position to push this organization to the brink.”

The Texans lost in cringe-worthy fashion to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs divisional round but finished the regular season at a respectable 10-7—their best record since 2019, when they last made the postseason. Houston has everything it needs to retake the AFC South and go toe-to-toe with their opponent in 2024.

The top-ranked QB draft class currently belongs to 2004, with three of the first off the board most likely headed to the Hall of Fame: Eli Manning (No. 1), Philip Rivers (No. 4) and Ben Roethlisberger (No. 11). Manning and Roethlisberger are surefire first-ballot inductees. With no Super Bowl rings to his name, Rivers might have to wait his turn.

If Stroud’s career is anything like his first season, he’ll have a bust in 2040.

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The surprise wasn’t so much that Diggs was traded, as Houston was the club that pulled the trigger. With a depth chart full of offensive firepower—running backs Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce and receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz—the Texans were the last team anyone envisioned Diggs landing with.

Diggs feeds off drama, and the Texas team that seems to welcome it is notably the Dallas Cowboys. Yet Houston is about to see what it’s like to have a diva in the locker room for the first time in franchise history. The All-Pro’s flare for the dramatic started well before he was drafted No. 146 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, and it won’t just suddenly cease.

From skipping mandatory minicamps to cryptic tweets and sideline outbursts, Diggs is a diva of the highest order. If he’s not the focus of an offense and fed the ball accordingly, he will make a scene.

Houston looked the other way regarding Diggs’ checkered character concerns in hopes that production will far outweigh the suffering to come when C.J. Stroud spreads the ball around to his talented pass-catchers.

Nico Collins, Tank Dell Highlight Texans’ Wide Receiver Corps

Pro Football Focus ranked four-year veteran Nico Collins third on their list of highest-graded wide receivers from the 2023 season. Collins, 25, earned an elite 91.4 PFF grade after not surpassing a 75.0 mark in his first two seasons.

“Collins ranked second in the NFL with an average of 3.11 yards per route run in 2023,” Gordon McGuinness wrote on Feb. 24, 2024. “It was a career year for the third-year Michigan product, who dropped just four of the 130 catchable passes thrown his way and forced 22 missed tackles on 126 receptions.”

Further down the list is No. 15 Tank Dell, who enjoyed an outstanding rookie season before sustaining a broken leg that sidelined him for the remainder of 2023.

According to McGuinness, Dell’s 2.22 yards per route run trailed only L.A. Rams’ Puka Nacua among rookie wideouts.

Oddly enough, Stefon Diggs didn’t make PFF’s Top-20 list, but he should have. Had he made it, Diggs’ 81.1 grade would’ve put him smack dab between Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans and then- Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

With Collins, a healthy Dell and the incomparable Diggs, this corp of wide receivers will be tough to defend in 2024.

Nico Collins Is in for a Big Payday With or Without Texans

The Houston Texans struck gold when they mined Nico Collins in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, he’s in for a massive payday whether from Houston or another lucky club.

Injuries derailed Collins’ first two seasons when he was featured in 24 of 34 games (15 starts), producing 927 yards and just three touchdowns. But he reveled in a break-out 2023 season. Having then-rookie Tank Dell taking attention away helped Collins to a career 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown campaign. With that, Collins became the fourth player in franchise history to reach 1,000 receiving yards, joining Brandon Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson.

“I’ll get a question here very soon about Nico Collins — that’s coming,” general manager Nick Caserio said from the NFL Scouting Combine in February. “That could be a player that maybe he’s a part of the future. You’re dealing with the present. You’re focused on the short term. But part of our responsibility is to kind of think ahead a little bit and just try to make good sound decisions for the team and the organization.”

Caserio’s unprompted statement seems to indicate if the extension comes, it won’t be this offseason. The timing will give Collins a season to prove that 2023 wasn’t just a flash in the pan. According to Spotrac, Collins’ current market value is $22.9 million. Should he meet or exceed his junior-year production, his stock could increase.

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But while it looked as though he quickly adjusted to the pro game, he mentioned a significant difference between college football and the NFL during his April 2 interview with comedian Kevin Hart in the LOL Network’s “Cold as Balls.”

“Man, the play calls are super long. So, like, in college, you can just signal, so like, ‘double right and we’ll go here,’ and we’ll throw a bomb or something. In the NFL, all the players in the league know the words can get really lengthy, and they’re telling you in a microphone, kind of like we’re talking to this. You mess up the play; you can’t execute.”

Stroud didn’t just adapt to the NFL’s play-calling style. He excelled after being crowned Offensive Rookie of the Year, amassing 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and a mere 5 interceptions in the 2023 regular season. The former Ohio State standout led the league in passing yards per game (273.9) last season.

His impressive display earned him an 82.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Stroud earned high marks for his performances against playoff-bound teams, starting with his 79.7 mark for their Week 4 game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and 91.1 in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Likewise, Stroud etched his name in the NFL record books as the youngest starting quarterback to win a playoff game (22 years, 3 months, 10 days), leading the Texans to victory over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC wild-card round.

NFL Insider Speculates League Executives Appreciate the Texans’ Quick Transformation

GettyHouston Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans

Houston’s playoff victory highlighted the remarkable transformation the team underwent with Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans. Before their arrival, the Texans finished the 2022 season at 3-13-1, marking their third consecutive losing season.

The Texans had no direction until they selected Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back picks. That quick change in the team’s fortunes led NBC Sports’ NFL analyst Mike Florio to share that Houston’s turnaround is good for the league.

“And the powers that be in the National Football League have to love this because it shows that any team can go from being the most dysfunctional in all of the league, which the Texans were not that long ago under the Jack Easterby reign in Houston,” Florio said on the April 16 episode of “Pro Football Talk.” “He’s gone, DeMeco Ryans is in, C.J. Stroud ends up being great. And here they are in a position to compete for a potential Super Bowl victory.”

The 2023 Texans matched the franchise’s win total from 2020 to 2022. That period of struggle saw the team go through four head coaches. Romeo Crennel replaced Bill O’Brien on an interim basis four games into the 2020 season. David Cullen (2021) and Lovie Smith (2022) were one-and-done.

But as they become legitimate playoff contenders, their road to a possible playoff return will be challenging. In addition to their AFC South rivals (Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans), the Texans will face AFC East (Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets) and NFC North (Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings) squads.

Houston also has regular-season showdowns with the Baltimore Ravens (their divisional-round conquerors), two-time defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs and perennial playoff contenders Dallas Cowboys. The Texans will play nine road games in their 17-game schedule.

How C.J. Stroud Chose Football Over Basketball

GettyHouston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud at the 13th Annual NFL Honors

Hart asked Stroud during the April 2 interview, “When did you realize that you weren’t good in basketball and that you had to make a switch?”

Stroud answered, “My friends started to get to [6-foot-10], 6-8, 6-6. I stayed around 6-2, 6-3. So, they started blocking my shot, and I didn’t like it, so I went to the football field. I actually joined the [Snoop Youth Football League] with Snoop Dogg and played in his league and that was really the time when I was, okay, I started gaining confidence that I can probably do this for real.”

While Stroud was already playing football at a young age, his life could have gone awry after his father became incarcerated when he was 12. He credited his youth football coach for keeping him straight.

“That was the moment I became really mature because I didn’t have my father around anymore. When I could have went the wrong way or the right way, by the glory of God, Coach Fly [Priest Brooks], who coaches with Snoop, he was the one who came and grabbed me and took me to practice. Ever since then, I’m at his house every week and growing up with his kids, treating me like one of his own. Shoutout to Coach Fly, but that was a pivotal point in my life where I had to make a lot of grown-man decisions.”

Sticking with football paid dividends for Stroud. After a successful stint with the Buckeyes, he will continue to navigate the Texans’ vastly improved offense after adding Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs.

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Before the start of the 2022 season, the Buffalo Bills signed their star receiver to a massive four-year, $96 million contract, which locked him in through 2027. Midway through the deal, Buffalo hit the reset button and offloaded Diggs along with several of their high-talent, high-cap players.

The decision left the Bills with a dead cap hit of $31 million and only one pick (2025 second-rounder) in return for the All-Pro.

Houston could have had Diggs, 30, rostered for the next four seasons; instead, it decided to immediately restructure his contract, wiping out the final three years of his deal and making him a free agent after the 2024 season.

Houston Texans Hope to Get the Best Version of Stefon Diggs

The Texans’ motivation behind restructuring Diggs’ deal is to get the best version of their new receiver while they can.

“I think it’s a good faith thing to say we’d love to have a longer-term relationship with you, but for right now, let’s work through this,” Monday Morning Quarterback’s Albert Breer said on the April 13 episode of The Rich Eisen Show. “I think Diggs had the motivation to maybe get one more bite of the financial apple, and this allows him to go and do that.”

“It’s going to be very difficult for the Texans to franchise him based on what that number will be in 2025, and so Stefon Diggs effectively has a freeway to free agency, which gives him great bargaining power.”

According to Over The Cap’s projections, the 2025 franchise tender for wide receivers is expected to cost $24.7 million.

“He’s 30 years old, so is the way last year ended a harbinger that things might be going in the wrong direction? It’s possible,” Breer said. “That’s what happens sometimes with older receivers, but I think it does give the Texans a chance to get a very motivated Stefon Diggs — not that he wouldn’t be otherwise because of how competitive he is.”

Texans Need to Grab Bull by the Horns With C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Rookie Contracts

The Houston Texans know money doesn’t grow on trees, even in the NFL. Their most important player — C.J. Stroud — is in the second year of his rookie deal. Considering his fifth-year option, Stroud will be on the cheap end through 2027, as will edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who was taken one pick after.

Eventually, the Texans will have to pay the piper. And if their first seasons are a glimpse of what’s to come, Stroud and Anderson will command big bucks.

That’s the distant future. Houston will have 44 free agents in 2025, including receiver Nico Collins. As all teams on the brink of contention, they’ll have some creative juggling to do next season.

“If you look at where the Texans are financially, too, they’re going to be looking at paying Nico Collins after this year,” Breer explained. “Then down the line budgeting for Will Anderson and C.J. Stroud, so they’re going to have some bigger numbers coming down the pike over the next few years.”

The Texans must take advantage of their young, affordable team and hope it leads them to the Promise Land before things get financially complicated.

“I view it as them sort of keeping themselves loose financially going forward where they have Stefon Diggs coming in on a one-year deal,” Breer said. “[It] doesn’t mean he won’t resign after the year,r but he’s in on a one-year deal. They have Danielle Hunter coming over from the Vikings to play opposite Will Anderson on a two-year deal. [It] very much targets the next couple of years as a time to take advantage of having C.J. Stroud on a rookie contract.”

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The “Straight Shooter” author jested “America’s Team” during the April 3 episode of ESPN’s “First Take.” While Louis Reddick was talking, Smith said, “You know you’re missing the big headline?”

Reddick asked, “What’s that?”

“The big headline is, they’re (Texans) probably the best team in Texas,” Smith said with a grin, as shared by Awful Announcing on X (formerly Twitter).

The Texans only gave up a 2025 second-round pick for a wide receiver coming off six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and four straight 100-reception campaigns.

In addition to getting a two-time All-Pro wide receiver, the Texans regained some draft capital by getting a sixth-round pick in 2024 and a fifth-round pick in 2025.

The revamped Texans roster has Smith fired up for a showdown between the two teams based on the Lone Star State.

“I don’t know if it’s on the schedule, but I’m hoping it’s Houston against Dallas. Down in Dallas, Texas, so what’s going to happen with those Dallas Cowboys is they’re going to sit up there, and they’re going to monitor this situation,” Smith delivered in his best impression of the Southern accent.

While the game schedule remains unknown, the Texans will face the Cowboys this season. In addition to their AFC South division rivals, Houston will face AFC East and NFC North teams. Therefore, it would be high drama when Diggs faces his former team, the Buffalo Bills.

Last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud, will face reigning Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and two-time defending Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs).

“But it’s another thing entirely when you ain’t even the best team in Texas. They’ve got a younger quarterback; they have the better coach. And, excuse me, and these brothers ain’t going to cost $60 million against your cap right now,” Smith added.

After trading for Stefon Diggs, who carries a $19.5 million cap hit, the Texans still have $10.8 million in cap space. It’s enough to sign their nine selections in the 2024 draft, barring any additional trades.

Houston struck gold with Stroud, who will count for only $8.2 million against the cap. Meanwhile, Nico Collins and Tank Dell have a combined 2024 cap hit of $4.6 million.

In contrast, Dak Prescott will count for $55.4 million against the Cowboys salary cap, while CeeDee Lamb is in his fifth-year option worth $17.9 million.

Smith Sees C.J. Stroud Benefitting From a ‘Game Changer’ Like Stefon Diggs

GettyESPN “First Take” Host Stephen A. Smith

Reverting to the headline about Diggs going to Houston, Smith pointed out his impact in every stop of his NFL career.

“He was in Minnesota; he was clearly the best receiver. … Like you (Riddick) pointed out, Josh Allen elevated when Stefon Diggs arrived. The brother is a difference-maker and a game changer,” Smith said during the same “First Take” episode.

Diggs finished the 2023 season with 107 receptions, 1,183 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus gave him an 81.1 grade in receiving, and he surpassed that mark in four games.

However, there’s a caveat to his performance: he never had a 100-yard game again after Week 6 against the New York Giants. He struggled against teams with elite defensive secondaries, as proven by his 27 receiving yards in Week 11 versus the New York Jets and 24 in Week 14 against the Chiefs.

Besides occasional dips in his performance, Diggs has been among the league’s best receivers. Smith sees this as a positive for a budding star like Stroud.

“Wherever he goes, quarterbacks looked better. And C.J. Stroud was looking big time without him. So, imagine what C.J. Stroud is gonna look like now. Look out for the Houston Texans.”

During his rookie season, Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (273.9). He completed 63.9 percent of his throws (319 out of 499 attempts) for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. The former Ohio State standout added 3 rushing touchdowns out of 167 yards.

As impressive as he was last year, Stroud’s game has much room for improvement after PFF graded him 47.4 for fumbles. He had five games with fumble marks below 38.1 and finished the regular season, losing four of his eight fumbles.

Damien Woody Declares Texans a ‘Top 3 Team’ in the AFC

GettyFormer NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody

Woody, an offensive guard who played 12 NFL seasons, holds the Texans in high regard after they traded for Stefon Diggs.

“So now add him (Diggs) into the mix; he doesn’t have to be the number one guy. Nico Collins is that dude down there. Now you got two guys on the perimeter and add in Tank Dell coming off the injury. This is a top-three team in the AFC, in my opinion. … They’re one of the top teams in the AFC. They’re knocking on the door in 2024,” Woody said during the April 4 episode of “First Take.”

Woody’s bold declaration makes sense on paper because the Texans have done a masterful job of adding valuable pieces on both sides of the ball.

In addition to Diggs, Houston acquired Joe Mixon for a 2024 seventh-round pick and signed All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend to a two-year, $6 million deal.

But they made the most additions on defense, the most notable of which is acquiring four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter on a two-year, $49 million contract. After agreeing to a two-year, $20 million contract, Denico Autry will line up with Hunter and 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr.

The Texans paid attention to all three phases of their defense by bringing in free agents like linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $34 million) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (one year, $6 million).

Ryans will turn their holdovers and these new additions into a cohesive unit once training camp starts in July.

To spice up their preparation for the 2024 season, Click2Houston’s Aaron Wilson wrote on March 27, “The Texans plan to host the Los Angeles Rams for joint practice sessions during training camp in Houston, per a league source. The Texans will also face the Rams during the preseason.”

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“First and foremost, I want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud said as people in the audience applauded at the NFL awards night in Las Vegas. “I want to thank the Texans organization all the way to the McNairs, Nic Caserio, [and] DeMeco Ryans. You all trusted in me by drafting me No. 2, and I appreciate that and it never go misunderstood. I appreciate you all.”

“Secondly, I want to thank my family, my father, my mother, my brother, [and] my sister,” Stroud added. “You all have been my rock since I’ve been a kid, and I love you all so much.”

Stroud gave Texans fans a lot to like this season amid 4,108 yards passing and 23 touchdowns versus five interceptions. He led the Texans to a 10-7 record and a Divisional Round appearance.

His top performances included an NFL rookie record 443 yards passing in a 39-37 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November 2023. Stroud also dominated the Cleveland Browns in a Wild Card game amid 274 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-14 route in January.

C.J. Stroud Gives Shouts Out to OSU, Hometown

A former Ohio State star, Stroud gave a shout out to his alma mater on Thursday. He tallied 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions in two years as a starter.

“I want to thank Ohio State, coach [Ryan] Day, Todd Fitch, and a ton of just Buckeyes out there that have given me nothing but support and showed a young kid some love all the way 2,000 miles away from home.”

Stroud grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he became a high school star quarterback. He took a moment to thank people from his hometown.

“And I want to thank back home, southern California, all the way back from the Ivy to L.A. I’m a true Cali kid and … everything that y’all taught me. Took a village to raise me. And I appreciate that,” Stroud added.

“This honor means a lot. Whatever kid that’s out here watching, I’m a living testimony to perseverance and just trusting your goals and your dreams, and I just thank God for this. Thank you all.”

C.J. Stroud Breaks Silence on NBC Censorship

Stroud’s openness about his faith got blocked by NBC after he led the Texans to a playoff-clinching win over the Indianapolis Colts in January. He addressed NBC’s decision to edit his comments and in an interview with Complex, published on February 1.

“I’m not angry about it. I wish that it wasn’t that but, you know, I pray for people and I think God has called us to love one another through thick and thin, mistakes or success,” Stroud told Complex. “I just want to show love. We’re not all perfect as people, even myself, I follow the Lord but I’m not perfect and I try to just be that light in a dark time.”

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Stroud still expressed his faith and high hopes for his team next season afterward. He completed 57.6% of his passes for 175 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions in a 34-10 loss to the Ravens.

“First, I want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. It’s been a heck of a year,” Stroud told reporters on Saturday. “Our future is bright … that’s a great Ravens team over there. They deserve to win. And it’s tough to just, you know, get embarrassed like that, but definitely, I think our future definitely is bright.”

Stroud, who has been vocal about his faith all season, touched on it again in the press conference when asked about disappointments. He put things in perspective in the process.

“I think for me, what I lean on through thick and thin and honestly I’m upset right now [but] I’m really just blessed looking back on this year, this opportunity that we had today, playing in front of millions of people,” Stroud said. “I’m just really grateful to God on all of the opportunities. He’s blessed me with. I’m going to just lean on Him.”

The No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Stroud finished the season with 4,108 yards passing and 23 touchdowns versus five interceptions. He also had a 63.9% completion rate and a 100.8 quarterback rating for the season.

C.J. Stroud on Texans: ‘Man, They’re Close’

Stroud led the Texans turnaround from a  dismal 3-13-1 record in 2022 to a 10-7 record with an AFC South crown and convincing Wild Card win. The Texans dominated the Cleveland Browns 45-14 on January 13 in Houston.

“Honestly, I already knew that this team was a team full of fighters. Man, you look at last year, I think we lost six games from one score. I’m like ‘man, they’re close,'” Stroud said.

Houston started 1-2 and didn’t make it above .500 until Week 9  with a 39-37 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stroud fired the game-winning pass in that contest when he broke Andrew Luck‘s single-game rookie record with 470 passing yards.

That came amid a three-game winning streak, which put the Texans above .500 to stay. Stroud and company finished the job in Week 18 with a 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts to win the AFC South.

“The foundation is set,” Stroud said about the season overall.

C.J. Stroud: ‘Just Gotta Get Better’

Saturday’s loss will leave Stroud and the Texans with plenty of hard lessons to take into next season, however. Houston couldn’t keep up with the Ravens after a 10-10 tie after halftime, and Stroud never led a touchdown drive as the lone touchdown came from Steven Sims‘ 67-yard return in the second quarter.

“Offensively, just can’t keep going backwards like that,” Stroud said. “There’s too many MAs, too many penalties, too many missed assignments, you know, just may part, I gotta run the offense better, you know. So just gotta get better there.”

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Jordan’s touchdown came on a play in which rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a short pass to Jordan, who shook off one Cleveland defender and outran the rest for a season-long 76-yard score early in the second quarter.

As a result, the NFL complimented Jordan in the most NFL way possible by administering him a random drug test after the game. Jordan posted a picture on his Instagram of the NFL’s notice to him with the caption: “Ran to fast I guess.”

Texans Earn First Playoff Win Since 2019

The win over the Browns marks the first playoff win for Houston since 2019.

Against obtaining a 24-14 lead at halftime, the Texans widened the lead in the second half by forcing Browns quarterback Joe Flacco into throwing pick-sixes on back-to-back drives early in the third quarter. After the Texans scored another touchdown early in the fourth quarter to take a 45-14 lead Houston’s coaching staff pulled the starters as their focus shifted toward the Divisional Round.

Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud completed 16-of-21 pass attempts for 274 yards, threw 3 passing touchdowns, and committed 0 turnovers against an elite Browns defense.

With the win, Stroud became the youngest QB in NFL history to win a playoff game. Stroud also produced the third-highest passer rating in NFL postseason history and the highest ever for a rookie (157.2).

Stroud’s leading receiver in the game was Nico Collins, who caught 6-of-7 targets for 96 yards and scored 1 touchdown, which came on a 15-yard screen pass inside the Browns’ red zone in the first quarter. TE Dalton Schultz caught Stroud’s third and final touchdown pass late in the second quarter on a 37-yard play.

Running back Devin Singletary led the Texans in rushing with 13 carries for 66 yards — 5.1 yards per carry — and had 1 rushing touchdown.

As for Houston’s defense, the unit rose to the occasion and dominated the Browns’ offense. Along with the two pick-sixes, the Texans’ defense sacked Flacco 4 times for a total loss of 39 yards and also recorded 11 tackles for loss.

Houston’s Divisional Round opponent will be determined by the result of the Buffalo Bills’ home playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, January 15.

If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh, then Houston will travel to face the No. 1 seeded Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. If the Steelers beat the Bills, then the Texans will travel to face the No. 3 seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the next round.

No matter the result, the NFL has already announced that the Texans will play their Divisional Round Game on Saturday, January 20 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be available to watch on ESPN and ABC.

The Wild-Card matchup between the Bills and Steelers — which was previously scheduled for Sunday but was postponed due to inclement weather in Buffalo — will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time and will be available to watch on CBS.

Twitter/X Reacts to Texans’ Victory

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Houston’s playoff victory over Cleveland.

“Stroud continuing to set records. Texans fans have a lot to be excited about for the present and future,” former NFL QB Matt Cassel wrote.

“They got a coach. They got a ROOKIE QB… they got a playoff win year 1. It don’t take long to build,” another user wrote.

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So when Keenum thinks rookie QB C.J. Stroud is going to be the GOAT one day, that carries some weight with it.

“I think he’s gonna be the best of all time,” Keenum said of Stroud, via Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic. “Like, he truly has the ability to be that way. … I know, it’s very early to say that sort of stuff. But, man, he does some stuff that is just out of this world.”

Keenum’s claim about Stroud comes in the wake of Houston’s 45-14 drubbing of the Cleveland Browns during Super Wild-Card Weekend. In that game, which was Stroud’s playoff debut, Stroud completed 76% of his pass attempts for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns and committed 0 turnovers against a historically great Cleveland defense.

With the win, Stroud became the youngest QB in NFL history to win a playoff game. Stroud also produced the third-highest passer rating in NFL postseason history versus the Browns (157.2).

That performance doesn’t solidify Stroud as the GOAT. But it’s a part of his resume that will be highlighted at the end of his career when debating where he stands among the best in NFL history.

Texans First Playoff Win Since 2019

The win over the Browns on Super Wild-Card Weekend marks the first playoff win for the Texans since 2019.

With Stroud leading the charge, Houston’s offense was very efficient against Cleveland. Stroud’s leading receiver in the game was Nico Collins, who caught 6-of-7 targets for 96 yards and scored 1 touchdown, which came on a 15-yard screen pass inside the Browns’ red zone in the first quarter.

Tight end Brevin Jordan was Houston’s second-leading receiver by way of a 76-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, which was Jordan’s only reception of the game. Fellow TE Dalton Schultz caught Stroud’s third and final touchdown pass late in the second quarter on a 37-yard play.

Running back Devin Singletary led the Texans in rushing with 13 carries for 66 yards — 5.1 yards per carry — and had 1 rushing touchdown.

As has been the case over the last month, Houston’s defense rose to the occasion and dominated the Browns’ offense. The unit forced Cleveland QB Joe Flacco into throwing two pick-sixes and also sacked him 4 times for a total loss of 39 yards. The Texans’ defense also recorded 11 tackles for loss against the Browns.

Who Will Texans Play in Divisional Round?

Houston’s Divisional Round opponent will be determined by the result of the Buffalo Bills’ home playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, January 15.

If Buffalo beats Pittsburgh, then Houston will travel to face the No. 1 seeded Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. If the Steelers beat the Bills, then the Texans will travel to face the No. 3 seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the next round.

The Wild-Card matchup between the Bills and Steelers — which was previously scheduled for Sunday but was postponed due to inclement weather in Buffalo — will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time and will be available to watch on CBS.

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“It’s a blessing. I can’t do nothing but just thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud told ESPN”s Lisa Salters after a Week 18 win to clinch the AFC South. “I’m just blessed enough to be the vessel that [Jesus] Christ picked to lead this great franchise. So I could do nothing but just thank the Lord.”

Stroud will lead the Texans at home against the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round on Saturday because he became a vessel to spark a turnaround in Houston. The Texans took the former Ohio State star the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he delivered.

He threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns in the process for the teams’ first division title since 2019. Stroud led the Texans out of a three-year quagmire of four wins or fewer per season.

Along the way, Stroud wears his faith on his sleeve, and his wrist band. He explained to Salters what he wrote on his wristband to remind him of his faith.

Stroud has a cross, the number “777”, a faith quote, and Proverbs 3:5-6 on the wristband. He literally wore his faith more on a Jesus t-shirt after the game during the postgame press conference.

“First of all, I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud said on January 7. “Whew! That’s a good game. … To be my first season and make the playoffs, man, it’s just been a heck of a year. I’m blessed enough to be in this position for this great organization, this great city of Houston. I’m just blessed.”

Stroud also credited his mother, Kim, praying for him. He also listed off his family members and expressed his appreciation.

“When I look up and I see her praying, it just gives me a sense of comfort,” Stroud said. “I love my mom to death. She’s so supportive of me.”

C.J. Stroud: ‘No Difference’

While Stroud has been a leader in the locker room, he has taken advice from veteran players to heart, especially on  approaching the playoffs.

“They’ve said it’s no difference,” Stroud told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s just what you make it. For me, I think that’s one thing that I can appreciate is the honesty, just not blowing things up with them.”

“They’re always going to be honest with me and not tell me something’s bigger than what it is or lesser than what it’s going to be. It’s just football,” Stroud added.

“Just be yourself, is what they always tell me. I’ve played in playoff games before, big games. The less that you put pressure on yourself, I feel like the more you just execute and do your job. That’s when good things happen,” Stroud concluded.

Stroud of course had College Football Playoff experience from the year before in 2022. He and his Ohio State teammates came up a point shy against Georgia for the national semifinals.

C.J. Stroud: ‘I Can’t Wait’

Houston has been solid at home with a 6-3 record this season, and Stroud expects a great home field advantage on Saturday.

“I can’t wait to see NRG, how loud and excited the fans are going to be,” Stroud said. “I’m really excited to play in my first playoff game, of course. It’s been a goal of mine since I’ve been a kid. I’ve always watched it and things like you said. So, I’m really excited and just ready to roll.”

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“The crazy thing is, he’s not playing like a rookie quarterback. He’s very poised in the pocket, he can make all the right decisions and makes all the right throws,” David told reporters on Thursday, November 2. “He knows where guys are supposed to be at. He [doesn’t] make the silly mistakes that you kind of see out of the rookie quarterbacks. He’s controlling that offense really well.”

“They’ve got a great team around him, they’ve got a great running game and a great offensive line who protects him really well. He’s definitely holding up his end of the bargain of being the No. 2 overall pick,” David added.

Houston took Stroud out of Ohio State, a program that doesn’t have a recent history of producing NFL franchise quarterbacks. Fellow former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t solidified his future with the Chicago Bears yet, and the Buccaneers dominated him in Week 2.

The Texans (3-4) have been one of the NFL’s surprises this season after a 3-14 campaign in 2022. Stroud made the difference thus far as he completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,800 yards and nine touchdowns versus one interception in seven games. He’s also a solid runner with 3.4 yards per carry and a touchdown.

Tampa Bay had trouble stopping the run with 115 yards allowed in a third-straight defeat against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. That trend happened, too, against the Atlanta Falcons with 156 yards allowed in a 16-13 Week 7 loss.

Lavonte David Still Confident in Buccaneers

Overall, the Buccaneers’ slide doesn’t have David overly concerned — albeit publicly. Last season’s Buccaneers squad lost three straight and still won the NFC South and made the playoffs.

“I’ve been here 12 years. I’ve seen a lot of things — a lot of good, a lot of bad,” David said. “I’ve always got faith in whatever team I’m on, especially this group. [There are] guys who I’ve won with, and these guys who I’ve played with for a very long time.”

“I know they’ve got a lot of confidence in themselves and I’ve got a lot of confidence in them. I’m definitely looking forward to how this thing can turn around, and I know it will, ” David continued.

Buccaneers Defense Still Going Strong

A turnaround could largely rest on the defense, which gives up 18 points per game. The Buccaneers lead the NFL in red zone defense at 27.3% for red zone touchdowns allowed and rank sixth in points allowed overall.

“Yeah, obviously, teams getting into the red zone and [us] stopping them from getting points, getting turnovers — all of that works hand-in-hand,” David said. “At the end of the day, the total yards, if we give up all the passing yards, that plays a factor, as well. We want to be a whole defense — we don’t want to just dominate in certain categories, we want to dominate in all categories. We want to try to put it all together and be better at everything.”

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Stroud completed his first pass of the night in Foxborough, an 8-yard throw to Nico Collins. But Stroud was sacked for a 15-yard loss three plays later, and two plays after that, he tossed a terribly thrown interception to Jalen Mills in the middle of the field.

Stroud completed one pass in the next series, which ended when he scrambled for just 2 yards on a 3rd-and-4 situation at his own 46-yard line. That was it for his night, which ended with 2-for-4 passing, a sack, an interception and a quarterback rating of—gulp—17.7.

As Nate Tice, a former scout and coach in the NFL who now does The Football Show podcast for The Athletic, wrote on Twitter, “Think CJ Stroud felt more pressure in his first two NFL preseason drives than in two years at Ohio State.”

Mills Poised for Big Season?

For the Patriots, it was a good start for Mills, who has the opportunity to build on a good year in 2022 with plenty of opportunities throughout the defensive backfield this year now that safety Devin McCourty has retired. Mills has played a lot of safety in his career, but has mostly been a corner with the Patriots.

He said during the team’s OTAs that he is comfortable flipping between positions and can line up with safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.

“It’s really on [the coaches],” Mills said at the time. “Guys in the secondary, we come out in the huddle. I might be out there with Pep and Dugg, and they’re like, ‘Hey Mills, go to nickel this drive.’

“Or they might be like, ‘Hey, go get on a tight end this drive.’ … So I think it’s just, we talk about the versatility of guys being able to play every different thing.”

Texans Wanted Stroud to ‘Not Blink’

As for Stroud, suffice it to say that, going back two days to what Texans coach DeMeco Ryans had to say about tonight’s game, Houston was disappointed. Small sample size, just preseason, first game—all that is true. But Ryans said at the time that he was not necessarily looking for Stroud to be a star from the first snap, he just wanted him to not be intimidated.

“I just want to see those guys not blink,” Ryans said. “I want to see them go out and continue to do what they’ve done in practice, not try to make too many big plays or try to put the team — it’s just about them focusing on their craft and what they’re doing.”

It was a preseason game, Ryans said. He wanted his players, including Stroud, to take it that way.

“I want to see guys go out there and not make it too big. I want to see that the game isn’t too big for guys. I want to see guys operate efficiently — guys fly around, have some fun playing the game.”

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Fortunately for the Patriots, it happened in Boston instead of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Hopkins, who doesn’t eat pork, didn’t like how his seafood order turned out at a Boston restaurant.

“I accidentally ate pork for the 1st time in 8 years because I ordered clam chowder in Boston,” Hopkins wrote via social media. “Somebody should’ve told me it’s bacon chowder.”

Threads

Patriots fans jumped on the commenting below, begging Hopkins to still come to New England. One fan posted a graphic of Hopkins in a Patriots uniform.

“Bill [Belichick] will take care of it for you,” one fan, n_casey2, wrote in the comments.

Hopkins’ abstinence from pork isn’t a dietary fancy. The five-time Pro Bowler promotes Beyond Meat, a food company that promotes a plant-based diet.

“It honestly changed my life. It changed my body and my performance. These have been the best seasons I’ve ever had. I would say my performance on the field was a direct result of what I did off the field, how I treated my body and what I put in my body – which was primarily Beyond Meat,” Hopkins shared via the company’s website.

A Patriots player embracing a plant-based diet wouldn’t be an anomaly if Hopkins signs with the team. Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady famously embraced a primarily plant-based diet with his TB12 Method.

New England needs Hopkins as No. 1 receiver to boost third-year quarterback Mac Jones after a subpar 2022 season. Jones, a No. 15 NFL Draft pick in 2021, hasn’t come close to Brady’s stature yet, and the former Alabama star has limited talent to work with among the receiving corps.

JuJu Smith-Schuster has been dealing with a knee injury since last season. DeVante Parker recently agreed to a $33 million extension, but he regressed in 2022.

Kendrick Bourne likewise didn’t play up standards last season, and Tyquan Thornton‘s rookie season left much to be desired. Otherwise, the Patriots will look to rookie Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte to make an impact.

Patriots Had a Good Visit With DeAndre Hopkins, but Competition Remains

As for Hopkins, the visit with the Patriots went well overall, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. Hopkins didn’t sign the contract that the Patriots offered, but the two parties have remained in contact according to ESPN’s Jeff Fowler.

New England still has competition for Hopkins. The Tennessee Titans likewise still have contact with Hopkins, according  to Fowler, since the team’s visit and contract offer.

The Kansas City Chiefs could also pursue Hopkins, Fowler reported. However, the Chiefs will need to clear salary cap space in order to afford Hopkins.

DeAndre Hopkins Likely to Wait Until Training Camp to Sign With a Team

With less than three weeks left before training camp, Hopkins could wait on signing with a team right before camp begins. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously reported that as a realistic possibility for Hopkins.

Despite his continued production, the Arizona Cardinals released Hopkins on May 26 amid his previous $54 million contract with the team. Hopkins likely won’t receive a comparable contract according to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry.

“I’m just telling you, there ain’t that much money out there,” Perry said. “DeAndre Hopkins is finding this out right now: He still hasn’t signed with anybody because the money isn’t there. Teams haven’t saved up to have as much money as you would need to pay a guy big bucks at this point in the calendar year.”

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Brady and Mallett played together with the Patriots from 2011 to 2013 after the team took Mallett with a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Mallett, who was 35, also played for the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

“We lost a great man. Thank you for everything Ryan. Praying for the Mallet family and all their loved ones tonight,” Brady wrote on Instagram.

Instagram

Mallett had been vacationing in Florida with his girlfriend, Madison Carter, at the time of his death according to KNWA. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident in Destin, Florida, after first responders arrived after 2 p.m. at the scene.

“A group of people in the water near the second sandbar had reportedly been struggling to make their way back to shore,” the sheriff’s office reported. “One of the individuals, an adult male, went under and lifeguards say he was not breathing when pulled out. Lifesaving measures were immediately undertaken but the man was pronounced deceased at the Destin Emergency Room.”

The National Weather Service issued a warning about “dangerous rip currents” in the area for that day according to NBC News. In the U.S. alone, 4,000 fatal “unintentional drownings” and 8,000 “nonfatal drownings” occur annually, according to the CDC.

Mallett had been coaching high school football in Arkansas before his death. He most recently served as the head coach for White Hall (Arkansas) High School.

His football career took off in Texas when he became the No. 2-ranked high school quarterback in the country in 2006. He played college football at Michigan in 2007 followed by Arkansas from 2008 to 2010.

Patriots’ Bill Belichick ‘Extremely Saddened’ by Ryan Mallett’s Death

Mallett appeared in four games for the Patriots in 2012 as a backup behind Brady, but he also served as the primary backup for 2013. New England traded Mallett to the Texans in 2014.

“I am extremely saddened by Ryan’s tragic passing,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stated via the Patriots’ social media team. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the many people whose lives he touched.”

Former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski shared a tribute to Mallett via Instagram Stories with a praying hands emoji. Julian Edelman, a former Patriots receiver who also played with Mallett, likewise shared a tribute via Twitter.

J.J. Watt, who played with Mallett in Houston, wrote “rest in peace brother” on social media. Mallett notably threw his first career touchdown to Watt amid two seasons with the team. Mallett threw for 1,170 yards and five touchdowns versus six interceptions.

Houston released Mallett in 2015 after his benching and his missing a team flight for a game in Miami. The Ravens signed him in December 2015, and he closed out his NFL playing career in Baltimore.

Ryan Mallett Remembered for ‘the Love He Had for His Teammates’

Mallett played in eight games for the Ravens from late 2015 to 2017. He tallied 648 yards passing and four touchdowns versus three interceptions.

“Our hearts go out to Ryan’s family, and we offer every condolence to them today,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh wrote in a statement shared by the team. “Ryan was a part of us. I will always remember the love he had for his teammates and for making the most of enjoying every football day while here.”

After the NFL, Mallett took a few more shots at pro football, with an XFL tryout in 2019 and a short stint with The Spring League in 2021.

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Hopkins, who also received an offer from the Tennessee Titans, has yet to sign a new deal  since his May 26 release from the Arizona Cardinals. Russini reported that Hopkins will take his time.

“His sales job continues trying to get more teams interested at this point, because right now, we know that there are only two teams that have had DeAndre Hopkins come to their facility,” Russini said on “NFL Live” on Thursday, June 22.

“I was told by sources close to the situation that Hopkins is going over some of the offers from both of those teams, the Titans and the Patriots,” Russini added. “He’s mulling over and trying to come up with a decision with what he wants to do.”

Hopkins visited the Patriots and Titans last week, but he hasn’t visited another team since. The three-time All-Pro remains unsigned with almost five weeks left before training camps open in late July.

“I was told to be very patient here,” Russini continued regarding Hopkins’ timeframe. “This isn’t something that’s going to go down in the next 24 or 48 hours. It’s going to take some time for DeAndre Hopkins to come up with his final decision of where he wants to play.”

DeAndre Hopkins Has Vested Interest in Waiting

Hopkins waiting doesn’t come as a total surprise. ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously explained that there’s truly no rush for a free agent such as Hopkins to sign during the quietest period of the offseason.

“It’s been a flat market. It doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to [sign] a deal,” Schefter said. “You don’t have to sign in the middle of June when you can wait until right before training camp.

“For all we know, some team suffers an injury, some team loses a receiver, the dynamics change and shift, and there could be more leverage at some point in time for DeAndre Hopkins,” Schefter added.

“So he can listen to Tennessee, he can listen to New England, he can see what they’re offering, but there’s no rush,” Schefter continued. “He can wait until a firmer offer from another team materializes. Doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to do anything right now.”

For now, the Patriots at least have the benefit of a positive visit with Hopkins. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Hopkins “gave the impression he’s certainly intrigued, interested in playing with New England.”

Bill Belichick, DeAndre Hopkins Visited at Length

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted that Hopkins visited with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for a while during the visit. Hopkins and Belichick had a notable chat at a December 2022 game between the Patriots and Cardinals.

“But I think one thing that came across is this is going to have to be on Bill’s terms,” Breer said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich Podcast” last week. “And I think the fact that Bill and Hopkins spent one-on-one time at the end of the visit, tells me that those terms have been discussed.”

“And are Bill’s terms now getting closer to what Hopkins’ terms for going to a team would be? That to me is the question,” Breer added. “Because I still think money is a factor. If money was less of a factor, I think he’d be a Buffalo Bill or a Kansas City Chief now.”

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Despite the NFL tilting further in favor of the offense than ever before, there were 16 defensive players chosen in the first round to only 15 offensive prospects, headlined by EDGE Will Anderson and cornerback Devon Witherspoon both coming off the board in the top-five picks.

This spring featured one of the deeper cornerback classes in recent memory, and there should be at least a handful of immediate starters emerging from the first round alone.

So, which defensive rookies have the best chance of becoming immediate stars this fall? Here’s a prediction, with insight from NFL scouts and executives mixed in:

5. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. follows his legendary father’s footsteps into a starting role in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ defense, carrying an extra large chip on his shoulder from sliding out of the first round to No. 32 overall. That’s likely bad news for the rest of the NFL.

One of the longest cornerbacks in this year’s class, Porter’s 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame give him the ability to neutralize opposing receivers and caused opposing quarterbacks to shy away from targeting him last season.

“He’s going to be really good covering smaller receivers,” an AFC scout told Heavy. “He’s long, a really good athlete, and tough. The fact that he’s a Steeler seems to mean something extra to him, too.”

Porter Jr.’s massive wingspan helped him hold opposing receivers to just 143 total yards last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and opposing quarterbacks to a pedestrian 63.6 passer rating when targeting him. The Steelers have an instant starter and high-impact cornerback to continue building around, in Porter Jr.

4. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

There might not be a cornerback with better ball skills in this year’s class than Devon Witherspoon, and he’ll walk right into a starting role in the Seattle Seahawks‘ secondary.

“Devon’s competitive as hell,” an NFC executive told Heavy. “And tough as they come. It’s like he was built to play for the Seahawks.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon only allowed 22 receptions on 60 targets last season, surrendering just 3.3 yards per target with 14 pass breakups and three interceptions.

Seattle might not yet have its next incarnation of the “Legion of Boom,” but there’s a good chance that Witherspoon Island is about to pop up in the Emerald City thanks in large part to Witherspoon’s competitiveness and range on the outside.

3. Deonte Banks, CB, New York Giants

New York Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale couldn’t contain his excitement that Banks would be the team’s selection as general manager Joe Schoen phoned in the No. 24 overall pick. It’s easy to see why.

While Banks had just one interception in 2022, opposing quarterbacks posted a mere 71.4 passer rating when targeting handsy 6-foot and 200-pound cornerback. Banks’ speed and versatility give him the potential to make an instant impact, and a worthy counter-punch to the NFC East’s bounty of elite receivers.

Banks’ presence on the perimeter affords Martindale a little more freedom to do what he loves most, and what his defense is built on; blitzing. New York has a long way to go in terms of building out a secondary, but Banks has the frame and athleticism to be a cornerstone.

2. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

General manager Howie Roseman once again managed to marry value with elite talent and need for the Philadelphia Eagles, stopping the slide of arguably the most dominant defensive player in this year’s class at No. 9 overall.

There likely won’t be much easing Carter into the Eagles’ rotation, following the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Javon Hargrave from a line that powered a run to the Super Bowl last season.

“From a talent standpoint, Jalen is a perfect fit for what the Eagles do up front,” an AFC South Scouting Director told Heavy.

Not only will Carter take up all kinds of space in the run game alongside Fletcher Cox, but his 16.3 pass-rush win rate last season at the University of Georgia gives him the potential to round out one of the more disruptive interior pass-rush duos in the league.

1. Will Anderson, EDGE, Houston Texans

The Texans are seemingly all in on importing the San Francisco 49ers‘ defense to Houston, and handed new head coach DeMeco Ryans a cornerstone to build around in EDGE rusher Will Anderson.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Anderson was nearly unblockable. The explosive 6-foot-3 and 253-pound defensive lineman posted a stellar 20.4 pass-rush win rate in 2022, along with 14 sacks and 51 pressures. As a three-year starter, Anderson logged 207 pressures, underscoring just how disruptive he can be, while going up against some of the nation’s premier offensive tackles in the SEC.

Houston has a long way to go in terms of building out its front-seven, but Anderson is going to be the kind of player who wreaks havoc on opposing backfields, while potentially drawing double teams to create opportunities for the players around him, as well.

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“What I’ve continued to hear from different people down there is that this is really gonna come down to Bill [Belichick],” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on the “Toucher & Rich” podcast on Friday, June 16. “And it’s sort of self-explanatory with everything here for the last 23 years.”

Hopkins visited the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday but left without a signed contract. It marked his second free agency visit after a prior visit with the Tennessee Titans, which all came two weeks after his May 26 release from the Arizona Cardinals.

Belichick, the Patriots’ longtime head coach and general manager has been long-known to not spend big — even on Pro Bowl-caliber talent. Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss only made north of $10 million once in his three full seasons with the Patriots in the 2000s.

Hopkins isn’t Moss, but Hopkins can produce at a high level amid 11,298 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns in his career. Whether or not Hopkins can land his Spotrac projected value of $23.2 million remains the question for the Patriots or any team.

“But I think one thing that came across is this is going to have to be on Bill’s terms,” Breer said. “And I think the fact that Bill and Hopkins spent one-on-one time [Thursday] at the end of the visit, tells me that those terms have been discussed.”

“And are Bill’s terms now getting closer to what Hopkins’ terms for going to a team would be? That to me is the question,” Breer added. “Because I still think money is a factor. If money was less of a factor, I think he’d be a Buffalo Bill or a Kansas City Chief now.”

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in two of the past four seasons, and the Bills have been contenders in recent years.

Money vs. a Super Bowl Ring Question Lingers for DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins notably teased interest in both the Chiefs and Bills over the Patriots in a video earlier this offseason.

Instead, Hopkins visited the Titans and Patriots — both teams that missed the playoffs in the 2022 season. However, Breer noted that Hopkins could choose the Chiefs closer to the season.

In addition, Hopkins was in contact with the Titans amid the Patriots visit according to Breer. The Titans notably offered Hopkins a contract before leaving Nashville, but he continued his search instead.

DeAndre Hopkins Still Not Part of the Patriots ‘Familia’

Hopkins teased his interest in the Patriots during the visit with an Instagram photo that featured himself and New England linebacker Matthew Judon. While five-time Pro Bowler used the phrase “La familia” on the photo, Judon indicated that Hopkins hasn’t joined the family yet.

“He still has that decision to make to where he wants to play,” Judon told J.P.  Smollins of WPRI on Thursday. “But he’s a very talented football player. Everything that he’s done in his career can’t be taken away from him. So, if he wants to join the team, we’ll love to have him. But if not, we’ve played him before — so we know how to guard him as well.”

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