The Houston Texans are like most other NFL football teams, in that, despite how much deeper and how much mroe talented the roster is now than in years past, the teams will go as far their quarterback will take them. C.J. Stroud is the alpha and the omega when it comes to the Texans’ ultimate success in 2024. Stroud will need help, though, so it begs the question — who will be the most valuable non-Stroud player on the Texans in 2024?
There are several candidates. Here are my top five:
5. TANK DELL, WR
You could probably choose any of the top three wide receivers on the team, and make a good case for non-Stroud MVP, and that position should be represented on a list like this, because that group will make the engine go on offense this season. I’m taking Dell, in somewhat of an upset, as I think he leads the team in receiving yards this season.
4. DEREK STINGLEY, Jr., CB
The biggest goal for Stingley should be staying healthy for a full 17 game season. He missed the last half of his rookie year with a hamstring injury, and then missed the beginning of last season with another leg injury. When Stingley returned in 2023, we got to see exactly what Nick Caserio saw when he used the third overall pick on him, back in 2022, with five interceptions. Stingley was one of the top rated cornerbacks on Pro Football Focus for the season, and if he’s healthy all year, he unlocks a lot of things for DeMeco Ryans on defense.
3. DANIELLE HUNTER, DE
2. WILL ANDERSON, Jr., DE
The strength of this defense will be their ability to get after quarterbacks. Hunter has been one of the most consistent sack forces in the sport, with 16.5 in his final season in Minnesota. Anderson finished his rookie season with 7.5 sacks, but six of them came in the second half of the 2023 season. Flip a coin as to who might win, but there is no doubt that both of these guys will be in the conversation.
1. AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR, LB
My pick is somewhat of an upset, as Al-Shaair, in his sixth season as a pro, is only in his second season as a starter. He’s been underrated throughout his career, mostly because he had to play behind Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner in San Francisco his first four seasons. Last year, in Tennessee, he had 166 tackles, and here in Houston, he is reunited with DeMeco Ryans and people are raving about his leadership in the building. If this defense takes a big step forward, almost inherently, Al-Shaair will be a key reason why.
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This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
