It is fair to say that expectations for the Texans were at rock bottom entering 2021. Whilst they managed to win just four games, there was some cause for optimism. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills flashed enough potential to keep the starting job in 2022 and four of their losses were within one score. That should at least give fans a modicum of hope entering 2022, and that has been a rare thing in Houston in recent seasons.
Offseason additions and losses
With all of the dysfunction surrounding the Texans, it has been tough for them to attract big names in free agency in recent years. This offseason proved no different. The biggest free agency deal they handed out was a two-year, $10 million contract to a soon-to-be 34 year old Jerry Hughes. The other moves of note were generally extensions, the biggest of which was Brandin Cooks. Despite plenty of trade rumours the Texans locked him down to a two-year, $40 million extension.
The departures were certainly a little more noticeable. Houston finally traded away Deshaun Watson in the midst of a litany of sexual assault allegations. They netted three first round picks in return from the Browns and this should help them kick off a much needed rebuild. They also said goodbye to star safety Justin Reid, who joined the Chiefs in free agency.
2022 NFL Draft
| Pick | Player |
| 1.3 | Derek Stingley – CB, LSU |
| 1.15 | Kenyon Green – IOL, Texas A&M |
| 2.37 | Jalen Pitre – S, Baylor |
| 2.44 | John Metchie – WR, Alabama |
| 3.75 | Christian Harris – LB, Alabama |
| 4.107 | Dameon Pierce – RB, Florida |
| 5.150 | Thomas Booker – IDL, Stanford |
| 5.170 | Teagan Quitoriano – TE, Oregon State |
| 6.205 | Austin Decelus – OT, LSU |
The Texans haven’t had much to cheer about in the last couple of years but they came away from the draft with an outstanding class. In Stingley they landed a cornerback with the potential to be the very best in the NFL. Green will be a much-needed addition along the offensive line and help to keep Davis Mills upright. Pitre can be a contributor from the outset, and in Dameon Pierce they may well have landed their RB1 of the future with a fourth round pick.
Offense
There is no getting away from just how dire the Texans were on offense in 2021. They ranked dead last in yards per drive and were only marginally better in ranking 30th for points per drive. Amidst all of this though there were some surprising flashes from Davis Mills in his rookie season. He finished the year with 16 touchdowns and 10 picks, completing 66.8% of his passes. He overcame a poor offensive line too, with a 2.57 second average time to throw that ranked sixth in the NFL. His performances down the stretch were particularly impressive (nine touchdowns and two picks in five starts) and give hope for 2022.
Outside of Mills there are certainly some nice pieces on this offense. They have one of the game’s best left tackles in Laremy Tunsil, who is somehow one of the elder statesmen of the offense, despite only joining Houston in 2019. They also have Brandin Cooks, who has quietly been one of the game’s most reliable pass catchers since he entered the league in 2014. There are also some exciting young players, including Brevin Jordan, Nico Collins, and a host of rookies.
The Texans’ issue is both a lack of proven talent and a lack of depth. Outside of Tunsil and Cooks the team is made up of either journeymen or young players who are yet to make an impact on the NFL stage. The lack of depth behind this group is also noticeable. Houston’s WR4 is Chris Moore. Their TE2 is Pharaoh Brown. Rex Burkhead is currently listed as their backup running back. It is very difficult to win many games with an offense this thin on talent.
Defense
Offense wasn’t great for the Texans last year and their defense wasn’t much better. They struggled for consistency and were a below average unit against both the run and the pass. Some will find causes for optimism in their additions. Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre might be rookies, but they should both really improve the secondary. Getting Jerry Hughes and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo should also help the defensive line to get pressure more consistently.
That said, there isn’t much outside of that to get excited about. Their best player on defense last season was Justin Reid, who is now in Kansas City. They also saw edge rusher Jacob Martin leave in free agency. Martin isn’t a recognisable name, but he was quietly the most productive pass rusher on the team last year. This was a line that already struggled to pressure opposing quarterbacks, being one of just three teams in the NFL with no player logging 40+ pressures.
The deeper you look at the roster, the more worrying things get. Their linebacker room was a real weakness last year and their only addition has been Alabama’s Christian Harris, who is noticeably raw. Outside of rookies, their secondary is made up of Steven Nelson and Desmond King at cornerback and Eric Murray and Terrence Brooks at safety. Both Nelson and King struggled for consistency in 2021. At safety, Brooks is projected to start despite having never played more than 275 snaps in a single season through eight years in the NFL.
Prediction
The Texans made some nice additions through the draft, but this is still a roster that is a long way off being competitive. Any chance of success in 2022 is contingent upon Davis Mills taking a leap at quarterback and a handful of rookies proving themselves to be impact starters. That isn’t impossible, but it is unrealistic. Houston will no doubt need a few more years before they can compete in the AFC South.
