The Top 11 Houston Texans Heading into the 2024 Season

A preseason experiment to gauge the overall talent of the team

Training camp starts on Thursday for the Houston Texans. I will be at every training camp practice and provide what I believe is the best training camp coverage. If you are a free subscriber there is no better time to upgrade than now. Tell your friends about Houston Football. Thank you for your support, especially that of paid subscribers, of the site and my work.

Let’s take a look at the top 11 players on the team as the 2024 season gets underway.

Talent, potential, expected production, and importance to the team all factored into how I ranked the players this year.

Quick Look at 2023

Here is 2023’s list.

Yikes. This list last year was right as the season was starting, and it is full of misses. The safeties were overrated, and the quarterback and wide receivers were underrated. Dameon Pierce fell apart during the season. Collins was far from one of the 11 best. Derek Stingley, when he played, was much better than eighth.

It goes to show you how impressive the offseason and development of the Texans has been when there are seven new names on this list. Most teams I would think don’t have that level of turnover after a successful season.

Let’s see if 2024’s list ends up better.

Honorable Mentions: Tight End Dalton Schultz and Defensive End Denico Autry

Schultz was higher on last year’s list because there weren’t proven pass catchers besides him. That has changed drastically and the addition of other talent has pushed him down. He is still an important part of the offense, but not one of the best 11.

Autry is maybe the best backup player on the team. He had 11.5 sacks last season for the Titans and should do a great job as the third defensive end and a situational pass rusher at defensive tackle. If he was a starter, he is probably in the top 11 but his backup status demotes him a little.

11. Guard Shaq Mason

Mason had a rocky start last season but settled into the right guard spot. He ended up as one of the 15 best guards in football among players that played the most according to Pro Football Focus. Let’s say he is somewhere around the 20th-best guard in football. That’s a good place to be.

He is also the most steady player on the offensive line. He played nearly every snap last year and I don’t expect that to change this season. He’s steady, if not remarkable, and ultimately he turned into a reliable player after some preseason skepticism last year.

10. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair

I love what Al-Shaair is about to bring to the table. Before last season he was mostly a backup or rotational player for the San Francisco 49ers where he played under DeMeco Ryans. The Texans tried to sign him last offseason, but couldn’t get the numbers right. Al-Shaair ended up signing in Tennessee and was one of the best players on the Titans amassing 163 tackles which was good for third in the league.

He will be the coach on the field and significantly help improve the run defense for the Texans. Al-Shaair will call the plays and help execute the defense DeMeco Ryans envisions for his team. He’s not the most notable addition from the offseason but his impact will be felt.

09. Running Back Joe Mixon

I wanted to put Joe Mixon higher, and if I am correct about him, he will end up much higher than this. He is still an extremely productive player despite his age and the amount of carries he has over his career. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik touted how good Mixon is regardless of the scheme and how he can do it all at the running back position.

There isn’t any depth behind Mixon so he will need to be excellent. I don’t know about the long-term potential for him but this year should be a fantastic one and a big upgrade over the rushing attacks the Texans have seen over the past half-decade.

08. Wide Receiver Tank Dell

Dell probably should be a little higher and likely will end up that way but I can’t place him higher than anyone ahead of him right now. He was excellent as a rookie and became a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. His season average if you extrapolate his games played would be close to 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He might be even better this year. Dell mentioned this offseason how much work was put in to learn the playbook, well he already knows it now. Add in some impressive teammates on offense and a better rushing attack and Dell might be a near-impossible cover in 2024.

07. Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs

Diggs is here on reputation and the chance that one of the most productive wideouts in football continues to be just that in a Texans uniform. I am excited to see how the team uses him and nervous to see if the efficiency of the numbers can outweigh the totals. Diggs averaged over 160 targets in Buffalo over the past four seasons. He won’t see that in Houston. He will still draw coverage and attention from opposing defenses though.

The ability to line up anywhere on offense and play with the best group of wideouts that he has played with ever should present Diggs with an environment that keeps him getting the football and happy.

06. Cornerback Derek Stingley

Stingley was one of the best cornerbacks in football after he returned from injury. The Denver game was filled with highlights including one of the best anticipation plays we have seen by a Texans defensive back. Stingley also followed the opposing team’s top wideout as well late in the season.

He is an integral part of the defense when you think about how excellent he can be and how thin the team is behind him at the position. A healthy Stingley should be a potential All-Pro caliber player and a healthy season would go a long way toward calming the concerns about him long-term.

05. Wide Receiver Nico Collins

Collins was spectacular last season. After two seasons where he couldn’t stay healthy or showcase his potential, he broke out for an electric 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. It was not something many expected out of Collins but his production earned him a new contract this offseason.

What impressed me with his season was the amount of different things he did well. He beats man coverage as well as anyone in the NFL. He runs almost all the routes and does so with precision. Collins is physical at the point of attack and physical after he gets the ball in his hands. He should have another great season.

04. Left Tackle Laremy Tunsil

Tunsil is still one of the top tackles in football though plenty of younger players are coming for his spot. He’s still worth the money with his ability to pass protect and the peace of mind he delivers. The way the Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett struggled to attack him and succeed showcases the extreme top-level that Tunsil still provides.

He has to stay healthy to rattle off an All-Pro season though. The knee issues that plagued his 2023 are hopefully behind him. His health is paramount because there isn’t depth behind him. I don’t want to see Blake Fisher or Charlie Heck playing left tackle.

03. Defensive End Will Anderson

Anderson was awesome last year. The sack numbers were solid for a rookie and I expect those to improve this season. Where he impressed the most is in the advanced stats from ESPN. His Pass Rush Win Rate was third in the NFL among edge players and his Run Stop Win Rate was second while facing some of the most double teams.

Anderson is checking in at three only because the team added an All-Pro caliber player at his position, otherwise, he would be second on the list. I don’t know if he will have the best season among defenders on the Texans but don’t be surprised to see a jump to a new level of success for the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

02. Defensive End Danielle Hunter

Hunter’s addition to the Texans still isn’t talked about enough. He is one of the most consistent producers on the edge in the NFL and he joins a Texans team that should be one of the best he has played on in his career. This bodes well for a player who was fifth in sacks and tied for the league lead in tackles for a loss improving on his production.

The scary part for opposing offenses is something Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke said about Hunter: the Texans think his pass rush can be better in the system the Texans run. Think about improving on 16.5 sacks while also having Will Anderson rush opposite him.

01. Quarterback C.J. Stroud

Who else would be here besides the quarterback? Stroud was fantastic as a rookie and is already in the top ten of the league at the position. He produced one of the best rookie seasons ever from a quarterback and has plenty of room for improvement too.

Stroud’s efficiency should improve this season if the offensive line plays better and the team runs the ball well. He also has seen how NFL defenses approach him and Stroud has more input to improve his output at the quarterback spot. It should be an impressive season for the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. The weight of the franchise will be on his shoulders.

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