'Insurmountable' Task Of Protecting Texans C.J. Stroud? Up to Pricy O-Line

The Houston Texans line has been largely re-tooled in front of former Buckeye C.J. Stroud for his first season in the NFL.

The Houston Texans selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second-overall pick in the first round. Stroud marks the third signal-caller the team drafted in the opening round after Derek Carr in 2022 and Deshaun Watson in 2017. Carr and Watson were already at a disadvantage by virtue of being rookies, but a sub-par offensive line doomed both to failure in their first seasons.

"I think my last year in college, I don't know how many times I was sacked, but it was maybe 15 the entire year," Carr told ESPN. "Then I go from that to 15 in the first two games [with the Texans]. Man, it was really difficult. It got to that point during my rookie year where I felt it was almost insurmountable."

Carr was sacked a still-NFL record 76 times in 2002, while Watson saw 62 (fifth-most ever) in his first season at the helm. Texans general manager Nick Caserio is determined to make sure that doesn't happen with Stroud. Houston's offensive line has been largely re-tooled in front of the former Buckeye for his first season in the NFL. 

In March, Caserio traded for Bucs right guard Shaq Mason, then extended left tackle Laremy Tunsil, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. A month later, Caserio moved up in the 2023 NFL Draft to take Penn State center Juice Scruggs.  

“If you want to be a great offense, you got to have a great protector at the left tackle position," coach DeMeco Ryans said, “and that's what Laremy provides for us."

But Caserio wasn't done yet. In the month following the draft, Caserio extended Mason and right tackle Tytus Howerd. 

"Once we get rolling, this [offense], it's going to be special," Mason told ESPN. "We'll be very key to [Stroud's] development. We invested in our O-line, and we're expected to deliver, which is what we plan on doing. I think that also makes the game easier for him, knowing the stability up front. He's going into every week knowing, 'OK, I know what I'm getting.' That makes him relax more and just lets him play his game."

Caserio has committed $118.5 million in extensions on the offensive line to protect Stroud, in addition to trading three picks to move up and select Scruggs. Caserio is determined to keep Stroud off the ground in 2023, hoping to bolster his chance at success, which will in turn, help the Texans improve on their 3-13-1 record from a season ago.

"The offensive line is important, no matter who is playing at quarterback," Ryans said. "... You want to make sure he has great protection up front. It will always be a high priority to me amongst the offensive and defensive line because I feel like that’s how you win games. It starts up front, and that will never change. Try to go out with a subpar [offensive] line or a subpar [defensive] line, you’re going to be in for a long day. So, it will always start there for me."