Houston Texans’ 2023 season: 10-7, won AFC South, lost in divisional round
Overview: The Texans took a big and surprising step forward in 2023 behind Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Houston quickly became one of the NFL’s best passing offenses, winning the AFC South and a playoff game before falling to the Ravens in the divisional round. Stroud had arguably the best rookie quarterback season in the history of the NFL, and the advanced metrics placed him firmly in the upper tier of the league’s starting QBs, including a rank of third in adjusted net yards per attempt (which incorporates yardage, sacks, touchdowns and interceptions). The eye test was perhaps the ultimate compliment: Stroud belonged immediately.
Anderson Jr. helped helm a defense that wasn’t great in any particular area but solid overall. Now that side of the ball, especially at defensive back and pass rush, becomes a focal point of improvement for Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio. Because imagine an elite defense paired with Stroud. Whew.
(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports)
Key free agents
DT Sheldon Rankins
TE Dalton Schultz
DE Jonathan Greenard
CB Steven Nelson
RB Devin Singletary
WR Noah Brown
K Ka’imi Fairbairn
Will Jonathan Greenard be back leading the Texans’ defense in 2024? (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Who’s in/out: What the Texans do with Singletary will be interesting, but Greenard might be the biggest name to watch here. His success rates in run stop and pass rush were among the NFL’s best, but it sounds like Caserio is already steeling for a negotiation. “We’ll work through it and see where we end up in March,” Caserio told the Houston Chronicle. If a deal can’t be worked out, Greenard will have plenty of suitors on the open market — which might end up preventing him from returning to the Texans.
Key free-agent needs
Cornerback
Running back
Defensive end
Tight end
Defensive tackle
Why the holes?…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/houston-texans-2024-nfl-offseason-primer-things-looking-up-thanks-to-cj-stroud-afc-south-title-013121048.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-02-23 01:31:21
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