NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Houston Texans have a QB. CJ Stroud is putting up veteran numbers while his rookie counterparts are playing like, well, rookies. The Texans’ future looks bright, now they just need to add some pieces.
To bring a QB to their full potential, they need weapons. look at Patrick Mahomes with Travis Kelce and what he had with Tyreeke Hill. Joe Burrow with his three-headed receiver core. Jalen Hurts with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Stroud needs that. He needs players he can not only rely on but those who actually want to be there and can produce.
The Houston Texans will head into the offseason with $86M at their disposal and depending on their record, could be in line for a top 10 pick, and they have 8 picks so far for 2024. The draft is full of weapons. And imagine, just imagine if they can pull off a draft day trade with the Chicago Bears and select Stroud’s former college teammate, Marvin Harrison Jr. Ok, that’s a hell of a reach but anything is possible.
While they do have some young talent at receiver and RB, having a great playmaker would not hurt. There are veterans out there who could help groom Stroud but will any want to come to a team in the middle of a rebuild?
But an overhaul is not only meant for the offensive side of the ball. Having a good defense does wonders for a QB. As good as Tom Brady was in his heyday with the New England Patriots, the Patriots won those titles on the heels of a stout defense. If the Texans can continue to build the right way, we could be looking at the next dynasty.
Are The Houston Texans On The Right Path
Currently, the Houston Texans are sitting at 4-4 and are just one game out of the playoff picture. They have a shot. However, does winning now stunt their growth just a bit? What winning teams deal with is the inability to get some of the best college players. Instead, they become active in the trade market and in turn, have to give up future assets. In all fairness, the Houston Texans are not there yet.
They need talent and by winning, it looks good but it also feels bad. Stroud is playing great. He’s put that team on his back and has carried them through the ups and downs of his rookie year. But he’s not done. As he gets accustomed to the NFL game, his IQ will continue to grow and he will find himself in the conversation with the game’s best.
But he still needs the help. There is no way they can just sit there and watch this kid throw for 300+ yards a game and not wonder what he could do if he had a reliable ground game. Dameon Pierce is average at best. Nico Collins is having a solid year but outside of him, who can Stroud rely on? Noah Brown was great last game and Tank Dell has been serviceable, but are they the future?
As good as this team has been, their ceiling is still high. It’s up to the front office to get the pieces right. Stroud is a baller. While many figured it would be all about Bryce Young in Carolina, it’s Stroud who has taken center stage so far. Can the Houston Texans keep the momentum going?
