With their resurgent campaign and playoff win, the Houston Texans were one of the surprise stories of the 2023 NFL season and have made some eye-catching additions to their returning corps this offseason. All of those moves have some analysts taking notice, including ESPN’s Damien Woody, who had high praise for the franchise looking toward 2024.
Damien Woody Calls Texans Top-3 AFC Team
Woody, a former NFL player, discussed Houston’s offseason moves during Thursday’s edition of First Take. The Texans traded for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs this week, adding to an already strong haul of additions thus far.
Woody doled out praise for Houston’s maneuvering and said it may have jumped the franchise into the AFC’s top three teams behind the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens.
“This is a top-three team in the AFC, in my opinion,” Woody said. “Kansas City, I’m going to throw Baltimore in the mix, and then I’m putting the Houston Texans there. … The Houston Texans are a top-three team, they’re one of the top teams in the AFC. They’re knocking on the door in 2024.”
.@damienwoody says the Texans are a top three team in the AFC after acquiring Stefon Diggs 😯 pic.twitter.com/lWZiUuyWJv
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 4, 2024
Aside from their recent trade for Diggs, the Texans have also dealt for running back Joe Mixon this offseason and signed EDGE Danielle Hunter in free agency.
Those players supplement a stout returning group led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s coming off a standout rookie year, alongside wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and tight end Dalton Schultz — not to mention Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., who was an impact player at defensive end.
It’s a group that will hope to avoid a sophomore slump of sorts after going 10-7 last year in the wake of three straight seasons with four wins or less, including a 3-13-1 campaign in 2022.
Adding Diggs could be key in that regard. Given his pedigree and ability to make the Texans that much more dangerous at receiver with pressure taken off of Collins and Dell, and someone within that group likely getting a favorable matchup.
Woody also argued that Diggs’ addition could be better all-around than it was for the Bills due to him not being asked to carry quite as much of the load himself.
“This is different from when Stefon Diggs went to Buffalo with Josh Allen, because they needed a No. 1 to help bring the most out of Josh Allen,” Woody said. “C.J. Stroud had arguably the best rookie quarterback season in NFL history. This dude is already the one. He’s ‘Himothy.’ He’s that guy.”
Whether this revamped group can deliver another successful season in Houston remains to be seen, but the Texans are certainly investing with an eye toward doing so under DeMeco Ryans.
The next key step for the franchise is reaching the AFC Championship Game for the first time after reaching the Divisional Round now five times across its 22 seasons of existence and making the Wild Card round in two other years. Houston is certainly making some moves that position it well for a chance at achieving that goal.
Texans Receive High Marks for Stefon Diggs Trade
In Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson’s grades for the Diggs trade, he was very complimentary of the Texans.
“If the Texans get the 2020 through 2022 version of Diggs, this trade will be a home run,” said Robinson.
While Robinson gives the Texans a high grade and acknowledges the upside in adding the former Bills wide receiver, he does note that this trade doesn’t come without risk.
“However, Diggs showed obvious signs of decline in 2023. He slowed down over the stretch run, failing to surpass 100 yards in a game after Week 7 and eclipsing 70 yards just four times during that span.”
Despite the concerns, overall, the consensus agrees with Robinson that this is a great trade for Houston. They’re looking to capitalize on this window of having Stroud on a cheap rookie contract — who has already proven himself to be a high-level quarterback.
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