Texans C.J. Stroud Key to Raising AFC South from Second-Worst QB Group in NFL

When the Houston Texans drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud they didn't just put in motion a plan to raise the quality of their own team, but the AFC South Division as a whole.

The Houston Texans surprised everyone who believed they would pass on Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. 

With Stroud now a part of the Texans' future - for better or worse - there are hopes he can be the catalyst to turn the fate of the franchise around in the relatively near future. 

But just about nobody is expecting it to happen in one season as these things tend to take time to develop. 

That hope of an eventual upward climb in Houston's quarterback play is good, but it's not enough to dig the AFC South Division out of second-to-last place in the NFL rankings, according to the league's media outlet.

"I do believe in this division's two first-round quarterbacks. Stroud and (Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson) need time, but it's going to happen," says NFL.com. "Stroud was absolutely prolific at Ohio State, and DeMeco Ryans put together a really great offensive staff that will ease his transition into the NFL. Houston's weapons aren't great, but they are better than you think, with guys like Dameon Pierce, Robert Woods, Dalton Schultz and Devin Singletary."

To support the site's stance on Stroud's group of skill position players around him, we'd certainly take these players over what that other NFL team in Texas is giving their quarterback. 

Still, the unproven nature of Stroud with the Texans and Richardson with the Colts won't let NFL.com rank the division higher, especially when you combine that with the lack of confidence it has in Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. 

With only Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence registering as any really proven commodity in the AFC South's group it's easy to see why the ranking is so low here, but there's palpable optimism surrounding Houston's new leader and what his talents may do to these rankings in the future.

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