2024 Projected File: 13-4

The Houston Texans have been already one of many NFL’s most improved groups final season. They may observe up that spectacular turnaround by taking one more leap in 2024.

After going a league-worst 11-38-1 from 2020 by means of 2022, Houston not solely posted a profitable document (going 10-7), but additionally returned to the playoffs and gained a sport there for the primary time in 4 years. The catalyst for this beautiful change of fortune was C.J. Stroud, the good signal-caller whom the Texans landed at No. 2 general final 12 months.

Stroud shortly confirmed he is able to being a top-tier NFL quarterback by finishing 63.9 % of his throws for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with solely 5 interceptions. He ought to construct upon that in 2024 after Houston’s entrance workplace executed a sequence of franchise-altering strikes that took benefit of the membership’s immense quantity of cap area.

Probably the most notable of those was a blockbuster commerce for star broad receiver Stefon Diggs. Houston now boasts one of many deepest receiving corps within the league with Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell. The Texans additionally re-signed tight finish Dalton Schultz after he caught 59 passes for 635 yards and 5 touchdowns throughout his first season with the Texans final 12 months.

The Texans ought to have a stronger floor sport, too, as they traded a seventh-round choose to the Cincinnati Bengals for veteran working again Joe Mixon. He is a transparent improve over Devin Singletary and may assist Houston subject a extra balanced offense this coming season.

The Texans additionally signed plenty of influence free brokers on protection, together with edge-rushers Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerback Jeff Okudah. Houston might leap from the center of the pack on protection into the highest 5 in each scoring and whole protection following these signings.

In response to NFL.com’s Grant Gordon, Houston grew to become the primary workforce in league historical past so as to add gamers who beforehand had 10-plus sacks, 1,000-plus dashing yards and 100-plus receptions in a single offseason. However as nice as their strikes have been on the open market, the Texans could profit most from their capability to maintain the teaching employees intact.

DeMeco Ryans had a sterling first season on the helm and may solely get higher with extra expertise. Regardless of sturdy curiosity across the league for head teaching vacancies, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has returned for a second season in the identical function.

That consistency will vastly profit Stroud as he appears to construct upon his dynamite rookie season. That development, in addition to 9 picks within the 2024 draft, might catapult Houston to its first Tremendous Bowl look within the close to future.