Where Do Houston Texans Land in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Power Rankings?

The Houston Texans rode quarterback C.J. Stroud and an electric offense to the AFC Divisional Round but ultimately fell short. Where do they stand heading into 2024?

The Kansas City Chiefs are once again Super Bowl champions, meaning everyone else can begin their pursuit to take that title away from them. In 2023, the Houston Texans emerged as the fastest-rising team in the sport and a potential troublemaker in the AFC.

However, leaping from feisty playoff participant to legitimate Super Bowl contender is no small task. General manager Nick Caserio has his work cut out in front of him, and with legitimate resources at his disposal, there is room to make the requisite trades, signings, and picks to ensure Houston stays atop the AFC South.

There’s no guarantee the Texans hit on those investments, but one thing is for sure. They have the most important piece of the puzzle. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is the franchise quarterback the organization has so desperately needed and by default makes them dangerous.

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For now, they remain outside of the elite. In ESPN’s way-too-early power rankings, Houston ranked ninth, behind the Baltimore Ravens, Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins in the AFC.

“Their window to maximize Stroud’s rookie contract is now,” DJ Bien-Aime wrote. “But also, the organization has the most free agents (30) entering the offseason … The 2024 Texans definitely will look different.”

Just how different is up to Caserio, but the good news is that high-profile free agents like edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn want to return.

If Houston is going to make a championship run, winning a tightly contested AFC South is paramount. The Texans unsurprisingly rank ahead of their divisional counterparts. The Jacksonville Jaguars rank 14th and the Indianapolis Colts rank 15th.

It’s worth noting, though, that both contenders have a quarterback with the potential to light up the league as Stroud did in 2023. Banking on Stroud being the best quarterback in the division – despite his performance and the optimism it provides – isn’t as safe as one would hope.

How Jerrod Johnson Instilled This Elite Trait In C.J. Stroud

Improving in the trenches, finding more explosives on the ground, and securing the back seven will be priorities for a Houston front office in a position to capitalize on a star quarterback at a discount rate. Doing so could be the difference between a Texans championship and an afterthought in another Kansas City Super Bowl.