The Houston Texans are used to being overlooked, but after an electric 2024 season and one of the most complete roster builds in the AFC, ESPN’s ranking of their projected starting lineup at No. 13 feels less like cautious optimism and more like stubborn disbelief.
Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, a breakout rookie campaign from C.J. Stroud, and the emergence of Will Anderson Jr. as a certified defensive menace, the Texans were expected to enter 2025 viewed as legitimate contenders. Instead, they’re slotted behind teams with aging quarterbacks, mid-tier defenses, and far less upside.
If this is fuel, Houston may as well light the match.
ESPN Gets the Strengths Right—But Still Gets It Wrong
To their credit, ESPN did acknowledge the Texans’ most obvious strength: edge rush. And they had no choice. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. combined for 23 sacks and over 120 pass rush wins—a level of production that many teams dream of. Throw in Denico Autry, Derek Barnett, and Darrell Taylor, and you might have the deepest pass-rushing unit in the NFL.
Hunter led the league in pass rush wins last season, while Anderson missed three games and still cracked the top 15. This isn’t just a strength—it’s a nightmare for opposing offensive lines. Yet ESPN somehow rated the Texans’ overall lineup behind teams without nearly the same defensive punch.
Where ESPN dinged the Texans most was on the interior defensive line. No returning tackle had more than 31 tackles in 2024, and none earned an above-average PFF grade. Even the addition of veteran Sheldon Rankins, who is admittedly past his peak, didn’t move the needle.
But here’s the catch: when you’re winning off the edge as consistently as Houston does, the middle of the line doesn’t need to be elite. It needs to be serviceable, and in Rankins, Tim Settle Jr., and Mario Edwards Jr., the Texans at least have functional rotational depth. Add Autry sliding inside in specific packages, and it’s not the glaring weakness ESPN makes it out to be.
Underrated Upside Could Prove Rankings Wrong
One of the more interesting notes from ESPN’s write-up was naming rookie wideout Jayden Higgins as the team’s “X factor.” The second-rounder steps into a critical role as Tank Dell continues his recovery, and the early buzz around Higgins’ speed and catch radius makes him an ideal Stroud target. If he delivers even WR2-level production, this passing game could elevate from good to dangerous.
That would give Stroud a trio of Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and Higgins—all with different skill sets but overlapping explosiveness. That’s a scary sight for any AFC defense.
ESPN also flagged offensive tackle Blake Fisher as a “nonstarter to watch,” and for good reason. After struggling in 2024—including a rough outing in the AFC Divisional Round against Kansas City—Fisher is in a crowded competition. But he’s still a second-round talent with time to grow. Houston’s offensive line takes a huge step forward if it can leap.
It’s possible ESPN played it safe with the Texans. But safe doesn’t win playoff games and certainly doesn’t capture what’s brewing in Houston. A No. 13 ranking might be another slight that head coach DeMeco Ryans can weaponize in the locker room.
Because if this team plays anything like it looks on paper, ESPN won’t be underrating the Texans for long.
Texans Get a Surprise From ESPN—And It’s Not a Compliment