The Houston Texans have arrived at the 2024 season with loads of hype attached to their name. We've covered it all, but it ranges from MVP talks including C.J. Stroud to potential Super Bowl wins. These are lofty predictions but for the first time in maybe ever, this is a team that may be able to sustain such lofty expectations.
Lofty expectations are good. They help tell us if the team we like is all it's cracked up to be or if there is doom and gloom on the horizon. The Texans, barring massive injuries to key players, should live up to most of the loftiest of expectations. We hope Stroud wins the MVP and the club wins the Super Bowl, but those are huge goals. Goals that only one man and one team can achieve in a season.
We think there should be some more obtainable goals. Obtainable, but bold nonetheless. So with that, here are five bold predictions for the Texans this season.
C.J. Stroud finishes in the top 3 of MVP voting
It may not seem like a bold prediction, but we think it is. When you have a league filled with guys like Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffery, Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, and more, yeah, finishing in the top three is an achievement. It's a sign that you are among the elite of the elite. There are a lot of just high-caliber quarterbacks who have never finished in the top three before. Guys like Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, and Joe Burrow have never finished in the top three.
So while we're not predicting an MVP win, we are predicting Stroud to finish in the top three.
Three wide receivers will break 1,000 yards
With the amount of highly skilled wide receivers on the team, it's fair to say this isn't a wild claim. Quarterback C.J. Stroud will have plenty of talents to throw the ball around to, with Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell all there to help bust open opposing defenses. Stroud also has Dalton Schultz, Robert Williams, Xavier Hutchinson, and JohnMetchie III to throw to as well. So if someone falls off, gets hurt or (and no names) gets cut mid-season, there's plenty of talent to still make this happen.
It's almost guaranteed that two of the above names will break 1,000, as it was almost the case last season. So we'll just have to wait and see if the football gods smile fortunately on the Texans once more.
Danielle Hunter will make a case for Defensive Player of the Year
With how good Danielle Hunter is, and the potential of this defense, it's not the wildest thing to say that he could be in line for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. A lot of people, if they had to pick a Texans player for this award to go to, may pick Will Anderson Jr. or Derek Stingley Jr. Solid picks, but defensive backs rarely win the award anymore and Anderson doesn't have the flashy stats to get traction.
Hunter is a more pass-rush-focused player and one who can do some absolute damage on the edge. If Anderson improves, and the defensive line is markedly improved from the year before, Hunter could leave the season with some serious hardware.
The Houston Texans will be very active around the NFL Trade Deadline
Now, this isn't to say the Texans would be trading away or trading for anyone in particular. We're just looking at the offensive and defensive lines and wondering if the Texans believe they're set at the positions. We don't think they are and there are talented names still available. Not just on the trade wire but in free agency too. We think if the Texans are going to make a splash to improve one of the two lines on the team, it'll happen around the trade deadline. Whether it's through a trade, a free agent signing or a combination of the two; if it happens it'll happen around here.
The Texans will have a contender for the Rookie of the Year Award again
The three rookies who I think could make a name for themselves this year, just simply because of the position of need and opportunity to play are Blake Fisher, Kamari Lassiter, and Cade Stover. Fisher struggled in the preseason but if someone goes down with an injury, he'll likely be the first man up to fill the hole. Especially if the injury occurs to a starting tackle. Lassiter is going to likely start or be the third man for the cornerbacks. If he plays well, it'll be pretty evident early and often that he is. If he does play well, he'll likely contend for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Stover could compete for the Offensive version of the award. If Dalton Schultz gets hurt, or should Stover see more game-time than expected, they could have a serious contender for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award as well. It's unlikely they repeat both awards in 2024 as they did in 2023 but anything is possible.
