How DeMeco Ryans Can Turn the Texans Around in One Season
The Houston Texans franchise has been one of the worst in the NFL over the past three seasons. That's evidenced by the fact that the organization is on its third head coach in as many seasons.
But ownership and management think they have their guy in DeMeco Ryans, and as he continues to build his staff, the team certainly has tools in place to turn the page on this most recent dark period.
The Texans have more than $37.1 million in cap space (per Spotrac) entering 2023, and 12 picks in April's NFL Draft, including two in the top 12.
If general manager Nick Caserio can make a splash in the draft with even just a few of those 12 picks, things could turn around quickly.
Fox Sports recently noted six things the Texans must do to be a contender in the AFC South next season.
DRAFT A FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK
By saying "we have to add more" at quarterback in his introductory press conference, Ryans stated the obvious without divulging Houston's plans at the position. But taking a signal-caller with its No. 2 overall pick, the player it hopes can become a franchise quarterback, appears to be inevitable. After a promising rookie season in 2021, Davis Mills proved he wasn't the long-term answer with his struggles in Year 2.
Houston needs to find a guy who can lead the team for the foreseeable future. Thankfully the division isn't loaded with future Hall of Famers at the position, so if the Texans can find a guy that fits Ryans' system, things could turn around sooner than later.
ADD TALENT ON DEFENSIVE FRONT
Run defense was the Texans' most glaring weakness in 2022. They allowed 170.2 rushing yards per game, the NFL's worst mark since the 2008 Detroit Lions. They lacked physicality in the trenches defensively, something Ryans — a former Pro-Bowl middle linebacker — must fix.
The Texans will surely draft their future franchise QB at No. 2, but with the No. 12 pick (acquired in the Deshaun Watson trade to Cleveland), there's no reason they can't find a top-notch defensive tackle that will make an immediate impact.
REVAMP INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
The Texans have a star running back to build around in Dameon Pierce, but they need the offensive line to create more rushing lanes for him.
Center Scott Quessenberry is an unrestricted free agent, and the club needs to get better there. The Texans ranked near the bottom of the league in several run-blocking metrics last year.
ACQUIRE AT LEAST TWO STARTING-CALIBER WIDE RECEIVERS, A PASS-CATCHING TIGHT END
The Texans didn't have a 700-yard pass-catcher in 2022. Brandin Cooks' future in Houston remains unclear, as he told reporters after the season that he doesn't want to be a part of a rebuild. Nico Collins missed seven games last season due to injury. Houston's receiver room is in flux, all the more concerning with the likelihood it drafts its potential quarterback of the future.
Wide receiver should be a priority in the second and third rounds, and that could help the team's new franchise quarterback be successful from Year 1.
FIND A NO. 2 RUNNING BACK
Pierce had 939 rushing yards in 13 games as a rookie last season. Behind him, the Texans didn't have a running back who reached 125 rushing yards for the year (Dare Ogunbowale was second on the team with 123 rushing yards). Houston's running backs averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, second-worst in the league, per Football Outsiders.
If Ryans can have his run-first offense as he discussed in his introductory presser, then he'll need someone to back up Pierce, who because of his physical running style will probably miss at least two to three games per season.
EXTEND LEFT TACKLE LAREMY TUNSIL
Tunsil is under contract for next season — the last year of a three-year deal he signed in April 2020 — but an extension would significantly lower his cap hit, giving the Texans even more financial flexibility to improve the team. Tunsil's scheduled cap hit for 2023 is $35.2 million, the seventh-highest in the league and by far the highest among NFL offensive linemen, according to SpoTrac.
This should be priority No. 1 in the room. Tunsil was recently just named No. 35 on Pro Football Focus' Top 101 Players List, and he's the best thing the Texans have going right now. He needs to be a part of the future.
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