What a difference a year makes!

CJ Stroud has officially ruined the rookie seasons of six talented quarterbacks. Because who can live up to what this man accomplished last year?

DeMeco Ryans is building a great program in Houston, and proving the fact that coaching matters in the NFL. How long has this franchise suffered with underwhelming coaching – even when the talent was good this team continued to underperform. Bringing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik with him from San Francisco proved to be a great decision. Part of Stroud’s development as a quarterback can be tied directly back to Slowik. He’ll be a head coach in the next year or two.

This offseason brought in some big names to help get this Texans team to the next level. I think Joe Mixon still has a couple of productive years ahead of him as a lead back. The Texans will absolutely have to get more out of the running game this year. Even though the Texans had trouble with injuries to their wide receiver group, I don’t love the Stefon Diggs signing.

Diggs is regressing and can be a handful in the locker room if he’s not getting as many targets as he thinks he deserves. This will be a good test for the leadership abilities of Stroud, but it might be an unnecessary distraction as this team tries to get back to the playoffs. Especially with another big name receiver out there looking for a new team. Doesn’t just seem like a perfect fit for the Texans to bring in Brandon Aiyuk? I just don’t see that happening now with Diggs on the team.

I expect the defense will continue to improve under DeMeco Ryans’ watch. CJ Stroud should have another productive season, even if it doesn’t match up with last year. This team might make it as far as last year’s unit did, but this is a quality team that is on the cusp of being a Super Bowl contender.

2024 Prediction: 10-7 1st AFC South/Playoffs Wild Card Round