The Houston Texans surpassed every expectation on the way from cellar dwellers to AFC South Champions. Taking quarterback C.J. Stroud may have been the most significant factor in Houston’s ascension, but such a large-scale organizational upheaval isn’t possible without breakouts from those already in the building.
Virtually every unit saw a returning player put up a career year. Several of them – like edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and running back Devin Singletary – did so in a contract year.
Subsequently, Houston was recognized for its accomplishments in Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players from the 2023 season.
100. C.J. Stroud, quarterback
Stroud’s placement on this list is an interesting one. Perhaps no Texans starter deserved to be on this list more. He was easily the most valuable player on the team, took home the Offensive Rookie of the Year hardware, and is the face of the franchise. Yet, he is the lowest-ranked of his Houston counterparts.
He set the league on fire and won over the hearts of the masses, but that doesn’t mean it’s unfair to keep him from the pantheon of the league’s elite. Stroud was the 11th-ranked quarterback on this list.
82. Blake Cashman, linebacker
Another player who broke out just in time for a new contract was Cashman, whose athleticism finally showed out in 2023.
Perhaps it was head coach DeMeco Ryans’ influence that made the engine go but Cashman – who had a 19-tackle game – was a fixture in the middle of Houston’s defense. Cashman has been public in his preference to return to H-Town. If not, finding a replacement worthy of a top-100 finish will be a tall task.
76. Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback
Will Anderson Jr. may not have made this list, but the Texans can feel good about their production from No. 3 overall picks. Stingley emerged as one of the league’s better cornerbacks and solidified himself as a defensive back capable of successfully traveling against quality receivers.
His best game of the year may have come in the playoffs, where he traveled against Cleveland Browns receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper, who surpassed 250 yards in his regular season meeting in Houston, found Stingley to be a much tougher opponent – logging just a single catch for -6 yards when the two matched up.
55. Laremy Tunsil, left tackle
One of the least surprising rankings on the entire list was Tunsil finding himself among the league’s top tackles. Tunsil headlined an offensive line that seemed to host an infinite number of combinations by the season’s end.
He played through injuries but remained his typical consistent self, setting the tone for the rest of the unit’s performance. Poor play up front could have ended Houston’s season before it started, but the offensive line – like the rest of the team – managed to surprise.
34. Nico Collins, receiver
There may not have been a veteran on this roster who saw a bigger leap than Collins. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense took him from a boundary-locked vertical threat to a versatile target able to make plays after the catch and over the middle of the field.
Collins asserted himself as one of the best players in the sport and eliminated the urgency for the Texans to upgrade at receiver this offseason.
He may have ranked higher than his quarterback, but their fates are intertwined, both with Houston and the ceiling of the offense they headline.
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