Even though it was only quarterback CJ Stroud’s first year in the NFL, the potential he has shown for the Houston Texans has been very promising. The team’s wide receiving unit, at the same time, is also shaping up to be a talented group, as evidenced by PFF’s recent ranking of them.
The Texans’ 2023 season was marked by significant progress and milestones. Under the leadership of rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and Stroud, the team turned heads by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Despite a slow start, the Texans rallied to finish the regular season with a 10-7 record, clinching the AFC South division title. Stroud’s standout performance earned him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, while defensive end Will Anderson Jr., acquired via trade, was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The team’s success was built on a combination of strategic drafting and the implementation of an innovative player evaluation metric, the “T Shoe Index.” This analytics-driven approach provided valuable insights that the Texans leveraged to optimize their roster and game-planning.
While the Texans’ playoff run ended in the Divisional round, the 2023 season laid a strong foundation for the franchise’s future. As they look ahead to 2024, the focus will be on further refining the T Shoe Index and continuing to develop their talented young core, with the aim of building on this year’s achievements and making a deeper postseason push.
Houston Texans’ Wide Receiving Corps Crack Top 5 in Latest PFF Rankings Ahead of 2024 NFL Season
Along with Stroud’s performance, the Texans’ WR unit also performed admirably well during the previous campaign. In an article by Trevor Sikkema, Houston’s wide receivers got a favorable ranking from PFF.
“After trading for Stefon Diggs, the Texans leap into the top five for receiving corps.
Diggs has long been one of the top receivers in the league, even if he had a down year in 2023. Nico Collins had a major breakout season last year, and then-rookie Tank Dell looked good when healthy. The Texans are as deep as any team at wide receiver, rounding out their room with John Metchie, Robert Woods, Noah Brown and more.
Houston also has good receiving options in tight end Dalton Schultz and running back Joe Mixon,” Sikkema wrote.
The arrival of Diggs, along with the continued improvement of Collins, Dell, and, Metchie, among others, has elevated Houston’s wide receiving group to the next level. And with Stroud running the offense, there’s a good chance the Texans can take the leap later this year.
It remains to be seen whether Stroud and company can build on their success during the previous campaign. If they do, the team’s wide receivers deserve to get a good chunk of the credit.
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