NFL Exec Issues Blunt Prediction on Texans’ Season

The Houston Texans head into the 2025 NFL season as the favorites to come out of the AFC South once again with a new-and-improved roster to surround C.J. Stroud heading into his third year at the helm. But could the results of this campaign look largely similar to what the Texans have faced across the previous two?

In the eyes of one NFL executive, that could be the outcome that ultimately unravels for the Texans.

The Athletic recently polled a pool of over 30 league executives on an array of topics heading into the new NFL season, with one question centering on finding a team primed to fall short of expectations for 2025.

And while the Texans weren't quite the lead vote-getters for the subject (that was none other than the Detroit Lions), they did find their way into the category with three votes, paired with one of those executives placing Houston in the mix having some clearly outlined expectations for how their season will go.

“They'll win the division,” the executive said of the Texans' season, “but they're not Super Bowl contenders.”

On one hand, that division win still makes for a playoff berth for the Texans in what would be their third-straight year of claiming the AFC South. On another, it puts Houston in the same position they've been since C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans came into town: playoff contenders, but not Super Bowl contenders.

The Texans did a good chunk of work this offseason to offset that potential outcome this season. The offensive line C.J. Stroud will have in front of him is much different than what he had last year, for better or for worse. The pass-catching corps will also have a bit of a reboot in store from 2024, besides Nico Collins. The defense will be slightly tweaked, but the core components to make that group an elite one are still intact.

Oct 15, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans celebrates with quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after a touchdown during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Though pinning them in the Super Bowl conversation still might be a few steps away, and a lot of those questions center on the offense outside of Stroud. Can this offensive line hold up over the course of 17 games plus a postseason? Will those new pass-catchers establish chemistry quickly in the offense? It might just end up being a wait-and-see situation to see just how high Houston's ceiling is in 2025.

It's not out of the realm of possibilities for Houston to make a deep playoff run this year, but it'll take a lot of things going their way throughout the season to see it come to fruition.

Read More Houston Texans Coverage