Texans Super Bowl Contenders? ESPN Makes Bold Prediction
The Houston Texans have one of the brightest futures in all of the NFL.
Not only do they have one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the sport, but they also have a star in the making at quarterback in C.J. Stroud and loads of young talent around him for the future.
Not to mention financial flexibility and draft capital to improve the roster even more.
Their future is so bright, in fact, that one ESPN analyst has predicted the Texans to make it all the way to Super Bowl LIX, where they will fall to the Detroit Lions.
Lamar and CJ
"Detroit was one late-game collapse from a Super Bowl appearance and will return nearly its entire core (especially on offense) in 2024, though an improving NFC North will make things tough," ESPN wrote. "Quarterback C.J. Stroud appears to be the real deal, so a strong offseason from the Houston front office could quickly get the Texans to contender status in the AFC."
The Lions, of course, were one of the best stories in the NFL this past season, making it all the way to the NFC Championship game in what was their deepest post-season run in decades.
But in terms of quick risers, the Texans are right there nipping at their heels. The team not only improved upon their lackluster 3-13-1 record from the 2022 season but also surpassed all expectations by finishing with an impressive 10-7 record and clinching the AFC South title.
So how can the Texans take the next step? By filling holes.
Most analysts continue to lean heavily toward defensive upgrades as the top priority for Houston in the draft.
While the event is still more than two months away, the most recent batch of mock drafts has already surfaced this week.
HoustonTexans.com surveyed 36 prominent mock drafters, revealing that six of them (16.7 percent) anticipate the Houston Texans selecting Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson, while an equal number predict the Texans opting for defensive tackle Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton from Illinois.
With a shrewd offseason approach, and another solid draft, the Texans could quickly become AFC contenders. That said, a tough schedule will make things a lot more difficult for Houston than it was in 2023.
And while a Super Bowl next season might be a bold prediction this early in the process for Texas, one thing is clear - Houston has the potential to become one of the top teams in the NFL.
It might just take a little more time.
