Jun 164 min read

The Texans Offense: Where Everybody Eats

Two years ago the Houston Texans had one of, if not the, worst offenses in the NFL. They averaged 17 points per game and 283 yards per game. Their 3-13-1 record set them up to have the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft a few months later.

Houston signed DeMeco Ryans to be the head coach and Ryans brought in Bobby Slowik to be the team's offensive coordinator.

The Texans grabbed quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 and wide receiver Tank Dell two rounds later in that draft.

General manager Nick Caserio then signed free agents Devin Singletary, Dalton Schultz and Noah Brown to name a few.

In 2023 the Texans' offense became that of excitement and no longer despair.

Stroud and company scored 22.2 points per game and averaged 342.4 yards per game. It was a massive improvement. The Texans clinched the AFC South division title and won the Wild Card playoff game against the Cleveland Browns. However, they eventually fell to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round.

With how he led the team in just his rookie year, Stroud was honored for his performance by being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

No Such Thing As Off-Season

In the off-season the Texans revamped the offense.

Houston re-signed tight end Dalton Schultz to a three-year, $36 million deal with $23.5 million guaranteed. He will be back there with Brevin Jordan and rookie Cade Stover. Stover played at Ohio State with Stroud. Stroud in fact wanted him on the team.

Caserio obliged.

In the wide receiver room, Dell is expected to be ready to go and is looking to build off of what was a good rookie season where he gathered seven touchdowns for going down with an ankle injury in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos that sat him out for the year.

Nico Collins had a strong year as well and also got paid.

The former Michigan Wolverine signed a three-year, $72 million after a break out year that saw him haul 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. Collins also ranked ninth in the NFL for yards after catch at 549.

Now with the 2024-2025 NFL season just around the corner, the Texans have higher expectations than ever. They are eying their first-ever appearance in not just the AFC championship game, but also the Super Bowl.

For that to happen the offense needs to be better. With the moves and picks mentioned the offense looks good but there were other moves that made this offense elite.

Veterans With Something To Prove

The two most notable offensive acquisitions for the Texans have been Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon.

Diggs was perhaps the most surprising trade of the off-season as the Texans acquired the former All-Pro via a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Houston got Diggs along with a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder. Buffalo received the Texans' 2025 second-round pick.

However, while Diggs has the caliber, many are worried about him being a "diva."

There were many reports out of Buffalo that Diggs was discontent with quarterback Josh Allen and that Diggs did not like how the offensive play calling was.

But this is a different situation.

Diggs and the Texans agreed to have his contract restructured to a one-year, $22.5 million deal that allows Diggs to explore free agency after this season. Caserio and Ryans are essentially almost guaranteeing themselves a Diggs that is looking to prove he is worth what he thinks he is.

He gathered 107 catches for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.

He will be a part of a dynamic trio with Collins and Dell for Stroud. The former Ohio State Buckeye will have many options to go to. This will make defenses have to make tough decisions on who to focus on more. It will cause chaos.

But the passing game only works if the running game is working. Caserio addressed it.

Back on March 12, it was reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a trade with the Houston Texans that would send Mixon to Houston. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network then reported a few days later that the Texans sent a 2024 seventh-round pick.

Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jordan Schultz then reported later on that the former Oklahoma Sooner had agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract.

Just days before Mixon got traded it was reported that the Bengals were going to release him but opted to do a trade to get value.

Mixon rushed for 1,034 yards on 257 carries with nine touchdowns in 2023.

The 27-year-old had a thousand yard season and was on the brink of being released. Just shows how tough the running back market is. But he has a new home where he is excited to get to work.

In a press conference, he donned a saying that seems to be the identity of the Texans offense.

"I think that no matter what I feel like everybody in this offense will eat."

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