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Diggs’ acquisition marks the fruits of a whirlwind yr for the Texans that has seen the franchise go from the league’s laughingstock to a bona fide Tremendous Bowl contender.
Make no mistake, that is the kind of transfer a crew solely makes if it believes it’s a piece or two away from hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. After the rookie season that Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud simply had, who can blame Houston for accelerating its timeline?
Stroud was named Related Press Offensive Rookie of the Yr in 2023 following a season wherein he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions and led Houston to the AFC Divisional Spherical, the place it misplaced to the 1-seed Ravens.
Broad receiver Nico Collins was a revelation, ending the yr with 80 receptions, 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. Rookie Tank Dell would have been within the combine for an OROY nomination if not for a season-ending leg harm in Week 13. In 11 video games, he had 47 receptions, 709 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Diggs had 107 receptions, 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns final season. Since joining the Bills in 2020, his 445 receptions are probably the most within the NFL. He additionally ranks fourth in receiving yards (5,372) and touchdowns (37) throughout that span.
The Texans additionally added working again Joe Mixon earlier this offseason to take over the lead-back position from Devin Singletary, who joined the Giants.
With Diggs, Houston’s offense is as loaded as any within the AFC. Good luck to the league’s defenses in stopping Houston’s three wide-out units: Diggs, Collins and Dell, with working again Mixon and tight finish Dalton Schultz.
Stroud, in Yr 2 with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, was already anticipated to take a leap, however Diggs will take Houston’s offense to a different stage.
Its protection is not too shabby, both. The Texans boldly traded as much as No. 3 total final yr to land defensive finish Will Anderson Jr., who was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Yr. This offseason, Houston additionally added edge-rusher Danielle Hunter, who has 87.5 profession sacks.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans, a former linebacker for the franchise from 2006-11, may be trusted to proceed to get probably the most out of a younger, proficient protection.
In his first yr as head coach, Houston improved to eleventh in scoring protection and 14th in complete protection after ending the 2022 season twenty seventh in factors allowed and thirtieth in complete protection.
The Texans appeared years away from fielding a aggressive crew simply 12 months in the past. They entered the 2023 NFL Draft with 11 wins from 2020-22, the fewest in the league during that span.
The franchise is an ideal instance of the sort of distinction one draft class could make. With Stroud and Anderson offering elite manufacturing at two massively essential positions, the Texans have correctly used this offseason to bolster the roster round their two stars.
Houston is not sneaking up on anybody. A yr in the past at the moment, the Texans have been within the NFL’s wasteland. Now, they may simply be the most important risk to the Chiefs for AFC supremacy.
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