Do Houston Texans Have NFL's Brightest Future?

The Houston Texans have a franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud and all the optimism in the world. Is any team better positioned for the future?

There’s no shortage of optimism surrounding the Houston Texans and their long-term trajectory.

Sure, the division is only getting better, and the AFC is a gauntlet of quarterbacks. But in a league where having a star quarterback meaningfully increases one’s championship odds, Houston can feel comfortable that the most important piece of the puzzle fits snugly in the organization’s plans.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was historic in his rookie season and was a nearly unanimous Offensive Rookie of the Year recipient. The future is bright, but how tempered should the Houston faithful’s expectations be?

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In Pro Football Focus’ rankings of the teams best positioned for the future, the Texans took the top spot.

Houston ranks highly in large part because of Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans, but also because of the resources it has at its disposal. Only five teams have more cap space, per Over the Cap and the draft capital for April isn’t too unhealthy, even after trading up for edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

However, competition was stiff. Among the top five were the second-ranked Washington Commanders, followed by the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

Capitalizing on Stroud’s rookie window means spending big in the coming years. The earlier the Texans feel comfortable handing out big deals, the longer they can shuffle in veterans before a nine-figure Stroud extension. It’s safe to say he’s earned that confidence.

In 2023, he led the league in both touchdown/interception ratio and passing yards per game, joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks – not just rookies – to do so in the same season. His measured aggression, playmaking ability, and ability to keep the ball safe have earned him the chance to play with the kind of roster Houston can field.

“They can be aggressive and pursue a dominant interior defender, such as the Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones or the Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Madubuike,” wrote Gordon McGuinness.

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Of course, none of this guarantees the Texans much of anything. Draft picks bust, signings don’t work out, and the AFC runs through Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes until further notice. With the Titans and Colts ranking so highly as well, and the Jacksonville Jaguars having the prodigal son under center in quarterback Trevor Lawrence, competition will be stiff.

Yet, quality quarterback play has a way of erasing the mistakes of front offices, especially those who continue to make good-process decisions. It’s time to swing big, Houston.