Texans’ turnaround started with ‘special’ NFL draft class

On the second day, the Texans drafted selected wide receiver Tank Dell in the third round.

“Then coming in and getting our favorite receiver in the draft, Tank. … I knew things were starting to go in the right direction just by adding those three guys,” Ryans said.

Their recruits are one of the main reasons the Texans made the playoffs. Houston now heads to the divisional round, where they will visit the AFC's top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+).

On paper, Houston thought they took a step in the right direction in the draft, but Ryans knew he had to see what players could do to turn his optimism into conviction.

“Watching the guys when they hit the field in practice, you put them on the turf and you see who they really are and how they play,” Ryans said. “And it was special.”

This draft class helped turn around an organization that went 11-38-1 from 2020-22 and led the Texans (10-7) to the AFC South title for the first time since 2019.

Stroud made his playoff debut in Houston's 45–14 win over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round. He threw three touchdowns, tying the record for most touchdown passes by a rookie in a playoff game. He also passed for 274 yards and had no turnovers. Defensively, Anderson finished with a sack and a team-high seven pressures.

“No one has said it, but we should have the offensive and defensive rookie of the year,” Ryans said. “Both guys gave a great effort for us – CJ on offense and Will on defense.”

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Texans' 1,866 snaps by rookies were the sixth-most during the regular season. They completed 688 snaps on offense (second most) and 1,178 (16th) on defense. The offensive snaps were the most by a team to win a playoff game since 2000.

CJ Stroud

Stroud became the first rookie to lead the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5) and revived an organization in need of a franchise-caliber quarterback.

“CJ is the reason we’re in this position,” Ryans said Saturday. He's a special young man and player and he continues to shine. No matter how big the moment, our entire team is leaning on him and he has the shoulders to carry the weight.”

Stroud became the first quarterback drafted in the top two of the draft since 1967 to start and win a playoff game in his rookie season and became the youngest to win a playoff game, passing Michael Vick.

He finished the regular season with 4,108 passing yards, third-most for a rookie behind Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336 in 2020). Stroud's six 300-yard passing games were tied with Luck and two behind Herbert for the most all-time by a rookie. His 470 passing yards in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also the most for a rookie.

“If all 11 of us are on the same page on the offensive end, taking our place, fulfilling our mission, it feels like no one can play with us,” the tight end said Brevin Jordan. “Especially when you have number 7 there.”

Will Anderson Jr.

From his early days in OTAs, Ryans knew what he had.

“Seeing Will will be relentless, [to the point] we're like, 'Hey, you need to slow down a little bit,'” Ryans said of the first few practices with a smile, “we knew we had the right guy. »

During the regular season, Anderson set a franchise record for sacks by a rookie (seven), tied for the most quarterback hits (22), and led the team in pressures (64), according to Next Gen Stats.

Anderson also ranked third in pass block win rate (25.8%) behind Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys and Myles Garrett of the Browns. He was sixth in win rate (36%) among defensive ends with at least 400 snaps.

The sack production didn't come right away, but he had six (tied for 19th) from Weeks 9-18 despite missing two games after suffering an ankle injury against the New York Jets during week 14.

“Game by game we know he’s dealing with an injury, but he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around,” Ryans said. “We need to get him off the field. He's not coping. He keeps fighting – he was able to be productive and get some sacks – which is what we needed.”

From the moment Anderson set foot in the organization, his mindset was focused on franchise change. And he wasn't the only rookie to think so.

“We had our first rookie meeting and I could see how excited everyone was,” Anderson told ESPN. “You always say if they're bull—guys or if they're coming for work and business. I felt like it wasn't like 'He's just going to party, he's in the NFL now and he got his money.' Everyone was there to work and change the culture.”

The rest of the class

Dell had 709 receiving yards and ranked 22nd entering Week 13 before suffering a season-ending leg injury against the Denver Broncos. He also scored the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when the Texans drove 75 yards in 40 seconds. Dell finished with six catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Stroud and Dell's 709-yard connection was the most through the first 12 weeks by any rookie quarterback-receiver tandem.

The duo's seven touchdowns were the most for a rookie duo since 2012, when the Indianapolis Colts' Luck and TY Hilton had seven and are also tied for fourth among rookies.

Inside, the Texans' sixth-round pick, center Jarrett Patterson, started the first seven games after their second-round pick, Juice Scruggs, injured his hamstring in the final preseason game against the Saints from New Orleans. This placed him on injured reserve and forced him to miss the first 10 games.

Patterson replaced Scruggs until Week 8, when he suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Carolina Panthers. Offseason free agent Michael Deiter replaced him.

Once Scruggs was activated from injured reserve in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he did not start immediately. But he was thrust into action after left guard Tytus Howard suffered a season-ending knee injury. He then started the rest of the season.

“Really proud of Juice,” Ryans said. “You're talking about a guy who missed – he missed almost the entire season – and for him to come back when he came back, we know it wasn't great with him coming back. We knew that there He played center throughout training camp for us, and for him to come back and play the guard position, he had to get familiar with that spot.

“He’s gotten better every week, which has helped our offensive line and its success.”