Texans boast 3 young stars on PFF's top-25 under 25
Texans boast 3 young stars on PFF's top-25 under 25
The Texans are no strangers to rebuilding, but there's a newfound optimism swirling around NRG Stadium in 2024.
A big reason for that is the team's wealth of young talent over the past few years. Something that's become abundantly clear after Pro Football Focus' Zolton Buday listed his top 25 players under the age of 25 list.
Three Texans landed on the list, which was second only behind the Lions, who had five. All three are under the age of 23 as well.
Texans boast 3 young stars on PFF's top-25 under 25
The first Texan to make the list is star quarterback C.J. Stroud. He finished No. 7 following his Offensive Rookie of the Year season this past year. This should come as no surprise, too, as Stroud was a critical piece to this team's success in 2023 after being drafted No. 2 overall. He's already being considered a top-5 quarterback in the NFL before he enters his second season.
Here are Buday's comments on Stroud:
Stroud burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023 as one of the most promising quarterbacks in the NFL. Out of 95 rookie quarterbacks who have played at least 100 snaps in their first season since 2006, Stroud’s 83.1 PFF overall grade ranks fourth.
While Stroud's 4,108 passing yards ranked eighth in the NFL as he led the Texans into the playoffs, 59.0% of that total came before the catch, which ranked third in the NFL.
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Will Anderson Jr., the team's No. 3 overall draft pick in 2023, is the second Texan on the list at No. 14.
Although Anderson’s first NFL season was slowed down by an ankle injury, it did not stop him from earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Anderson stood out not just among 2023’s rookies, as his 16.7% pressure rate ranked first among all rookie edge defenders over the past four seasons.
The final Texan to make the list is lockdown corner Derek Stingley Jr. at No. 23. Houston drafted Stingley with the No. 3 pick in 2022. He's effectively the crown jewel of the team's 2022 class, although the rest of the group enters a pivotal season this year.
Stingley's first season was somewhat disappointing and cut short due to injuries, and despite some injuries in 2023, too, he showed why he was the first cornerback selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Stingley's 85.3 PFF coverage grade tied for the fifth highest among all cornerbacks in 2023, as he allowed just a 74.3 passer rating.
With Stroud leading the offense, Anderson terrorizing quarterbacks, and Stingley locking down receivers, the Texans have a young core that's ready to compete for years to come. A large portion of the credit goes to general manager Nick Caserio, who has built a strong foundation for sustained success in Houston.
If you're wondering where wide receiver Nico Collins is — he turned 25 in March and was therefore ineligible for the list. His running mate, Tank Dell, is technically eligible as he'll turn 25 in October.