Houston Texans 2026 Offseason Outlook

Talk about glass half-full or half-empty... An optimistic Houston Texans fan would tell you that this team has by far the NFL’s best defense, a world-class unit that can carry Houston to the Super Bowl. A pessimistic fan, however, would warn that quarterback C.J. Stroud makes too many mistakes, and the offense is not good enough to get this team over the hump.

The realistic view might be somewhere in the middle. The Texans didn’t win the AFC South last season, but they did produce their third straight season with double-digit wins — the first time that’s happened in franchise history. The Texans have actually won a first-round playoff game each of the last three seasons ... but then promptly lost in the divisional round.

Problem is, this year’s divisional playoff loss to the New England Patriots was a particularly ugly affair for Stroud. The 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year threw four interceptions in a 28-16 loss, and he looked so overmatched that Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked by reporters at the 2026 NFL Combine if Stroud might be traded. Caserio immediately shot down that notion as ridiculous.

"Our quarterback,” Caserio said of Stroud. “He isn’t going anywhere. We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief. I'd say the philosophy that [head coach] DeMeco [Ryans] and I have, we're going to support our players and do everything we can to help them.”

Therefore, the main offseason question for the Texans is: What can they do to make life easier for Stroud?

2025 recap

The Texans opened last season with three straight losses, but they ended the season on a nine-game winning streak to finish 12-5. They officially were crowned “the team nobody wanted to face in the playoffs.”

Defense led the way. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter were the league’s best bookend edge rushers, combining for 27 sacks and 45 QB hits. On the back end, shutdown cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was the centerpiece of a stellar secondary. Houston finished first in total defense and second in scoring defense, holding nine opponents to 17 points or less.

Stroud got off to a shaky start, and when he missed three games due to injury in the middle of the season, backup Davis Mills was acually 3-0 in relief. But Stroud did have his moments, ultimately completing 64.5% of his passes for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Aside from veterans Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, the receivers were young and inexperienced. The running game, meanwhile, was a minimal help. Joe Mixon missed the entire season with a foot injury (and he may not be back). Rookie back Woody Marks was productive at times, but the ground game was near the bottom of the league in yards gained.

Key free agents

WR Christian Kirk
S Jimmie Ward
DE Denico Autry
DL Sheldon Rankins
LB Derek Barnett
RT Trenton Brown

Texans salary cap space

($1,403,295)

2026 draft needs

With such a great defense, the Texans need to bolster their running game, both with improvements along the offensive line — especially the interior — and in the backfield. In his latest mock draft, Luke Easterling has Houston taking offensive linemen with two of their first three picks, including massive Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor with the 29th overall pick. If there is a running back the Texans think can be their RB1, they should make that happen.

2026 opponents

Home: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dallas, N.Y. Giants

Away:Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Cleveland, Green Bay, L.A. Chargers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington