It’s hard not to notice the different feel and buzz surrounding the Texans as they head into training camp this week.
And for good reason.
For the first time in a long while, there are high expectations surrounding the franchise that is coming off winning 11 games, claiming the AFC South, and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs.
We all want to know what the Texans will do for an encore.
The key components of last season’s surprising resurgence are back, starting with head coach DeMeco Ryans, second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, second-year defensive end Will Anderson Jr., and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
But the Texans and general manager Nick Caserio didn’t rest on their accomplishments, landing some key offseason acquisitions through trade and free agency like wide receiver Stefon Diggs, edge rusher Danielle Hunter and running back Joe Mixon.
Now the question is what will it all mean for the 2024 season?
It all starts to come together in training camp this week. Here are five things to watch for as the Texans embark on the 2024 campaign.
1. How will the team and organization deal with the expectations?
The Texans are coming off an 11-win season, which matched their total wins for the previous four seasons, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Last season, they snuck up on a lot of teams to win the AFC South. That won’t be the case this season. The Texans, a legit Super Bowl contender, will again be among the best in the AFC which means they will get every opponent’s best shot. That means they must change their mindset from being the hunters to one of the hunted. Ryans and his coaching staff have to be even sharper and cutting-edge than they were a year ago. The players, including Stroud and Anderson, will have to dig even deeper this time around.
2. What can Stroud do to top last season?
Stroud, the Offensive Rookie of the Year, was nothing short of spectacular last season. Some say it may have been the best rookie campaign of any quarterback in NFL history. His elevation as a Pro Bowler in his first season lends some support to that. But now comes the hard part, and that is improving on a season in which he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. NFL defensive coordinators have undoubtedly spent the offseason combing through every snap Stroud took last season in search of tendencies and weaknesses in his game. The book has been written. Like his team, Stroud won’t sneak up on any opponent this time around. Stroud will have to be better, at identifying coverages and weaknesses in defenses quicker this season. The Texans have definitely taken steps to help his continued development this offseason with the additions of a running game with running back Joe Mixon and another receiving threat in Stefon Diggs to go with Nico Collins and speedster Tank Dell.
3. Which offseason acquisition will help the most?
This is a tough question because in their own way Danielle Hunter, Stephon Diggs and Joe Mixon will be substantial additions. But Mixon and the threat of a rushing attack will be huge for Stroud and the offense. The Texans ranked 30th in rushing last season, which made them predictable. But the addition of Mixon gives the offense diversity with a workhorse running back who is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard season with the Cincinnati Bengals. With teams now having to respect the Texans’ rushing attack will take some of the pressure off Stroud and the passing attack.
4. Which of the rookies will have the biggest impact?
Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter was the Texans’ first pick of the 2024 draft (second round), but look for safety Calen Bullock to have the biggest impact of them all. The Texans’ third-round (78th overall) pick out of USC could even be the steal of their draft. He is highly instinctive and will give the secondary another ball-hawk to pair with Derek Stingley Jr. But also look for Lassiter to have his moments opposite Stingley. The Texans definitely addressed their biggest weakness with these two.
5. How much better will Will Anderson Jr. be this season?
The short answer here is substantial. Anderson had an impressive rookie campaign, which allowed the third pick overall to be named the Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl. Once Anderson adjusted to the speed of the game and the strength of NFL offensive tackles, you could see his promise. He finished his rookie season with 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 67 pressures and 7.0 sacks. The Texans gave him a huge assist this offseason by adding edge rusher Danielle Hunter. This should eliminate the double teams and the focus Anderson would have otherwise received this season. Look for his numbers and production to improve.
