Texans Have A Chance To Win These Alluring NFL Awards In 2023
The Texans invested significant draft capital in their roster this off-season, with the primary goal of competing in the highest ranks of the NFL. That means that the rookies they brought in need to make an impact sooner rather than later, and what better way than to bring home a Rookie of the Year award?
Texans Targeting Offensive Rookie Of The Year
The Texans drafted some absolute play-makers on offense including CJ Stroud, Tank Dell, Juice Scruggs, and Xavier Hutchinson. That being said, linemen are rarely in consideration for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, so we will limit our outlook again to the wide receivers and the new Texans quarterback.
Over the last ten years, running backs have won the award four times, wide receivers have won the award three times, and quarterbacks have won the remaining three times. However, if you expand your parameters to the last 15 years, quarterbacks have won the award seven times (that’s almost 50% for you non-math readers). Clearly, this outlines CJ Stroud as the best odds to win the award on the Texans roster.
Justin Herbert is the latest quarterback to win the OROY award throwing for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only ten interceptions. The year prior, Kyler Murray took home the award by having 4,266 all-purpose yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. CJ would need to put up a 4,000+ yard performance with likely 25+ touchdowns, and less than 12 interceptions to have a chance at the award while fending off other rookie stars like Bryce Young and Bijan Robinson.
In Texans history, only a few quarterbacks have ever achieved a passing mark of such magnitude. Matt Schaub had three seasons of 4,000+ and Deshaun Watson did it twice. That’s it. Certainly, CJ would have his work cut out for him with numbers like that, not to mention the tentative receiving core that the team currently has (ranked as one of the worst in the league). Schaub had Andre Johnson for most of his career success and Deshaun had Hopkins for much of his. Without a true number-one option for CJ Stroud, he’ll need to be accurate and protective of the football during his rookie campaign.
CJ Stroud really does have some of the best highlight mixtapes created 🤔😴 After 1 week, how are you feeling with Texans new QB ? Rate 1 – 10#WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/CvPZbteNXi — CJ Anderson SzN 💫 (@AyooTexanNation) May 8, 2023
Texans Rushing Toward Defensive Rookie Of The Year
On the defensive side of the ball, the Texans also brought in some highly-graded rookies with Will Anderson Jr., Henry To’oto’o, Dylan Horton, and Brandon Hill rounding out the 2023 class. Over the last ten years, the Defensive Rookie of the Year award has gone to four edge rushers, two linebackers, three cornerbacks, and one defensive tackle. This puts Will Anderson Jr. as the best-positioned Texans rookie to make a push for the award, and likely the only immediate full-time starter in the group.
Chase Young won the award in 2020, netting 32 solo tackles, 12 assists, 7.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and ten TFLs. Nick Bosa claimed the year before Chase Young, stacking up 32 solo tackles, 15 assists, nine sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and 16 TFLs.
In his best season in college, Will Anderson compiled an eye-popping 56 solo tackles, 45 assists, 17.5 sacks, three passes defended, and 31 TFLs. If you cut those stats perfectly in half, that still puts together a strong DROY candidate. Add in that Anderson will be playing for Demeco Ryans this season, and the possibilities seem endless.
Are we really not gonna talk about the fact that 2021 @will_anderson28 was a completely different breed? 17.5 sacks and 31 TFLs? Easy DROY candidate for the @HoustonTexans https://t.co/f0XRd91hl1 — Louie Stewart (@thelstewart503) May 9, 2023
History Of Texans ROY Awards Needs To Grow
Since the Texans started in the league in 2002, they’ve only nabbed two of these awards, both on the defensive side of the ball. Demeco Ryans himself was the first-ever DROY for the Texans in 2006 (that seems like a good omen) while fan-favorite Brian Cushing brought in the only other in 2009. The Texans roster is in desperate need of a talent influx, and these rookies are poised to deliver.
Found the end zone 🤘 Our Draft picks have 147 combined TDs across their collegiate careers. pic.twitter.com/jgcJY2saYF — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) May 4, 2023