Quarterback: Brock Osweiler, Brandon Weeden
Brock Osweiler is the unquestioned starter for the foreseeable future. This should be great news to any Texans fan because it’s been a while since the team headed into the season knowing exactly who would be lining up under center.
After spending four seasons in Denver, Osweiler bolted for Houston and took a big pay day. His critics are easy to find, but he played well enough that he could have won the Super Bowl if he was never pulled for Peyton Manning in Week 17.
Had Osweiler stayed in and played in that game, he would have commanded $25 million a year and no one would have blinked.
Instead, Houston got him for less money than Sam Bradford of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kirk Cousins of the Washington Redskins are making. Bradford has never had a winning season and Cousins has never beaten a team with a winning record.
Osweiler was 5-2 last season and two of those wins were against AFC Playoff teams. Texans fans have nothing to worry about.
As for the backup, there will be those who want to see third year pro Tom Savage on this list, but Brandon Weeden simply is the better and more experienced player at this point. Weeded stepped up and played well for Houston after being claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys very late in the year.
Bill O’Brien did right by Weeden by not placing him into the playoff game against Kansas City while Houston was being throttled. His last time stepping on the field for the team was a success and he will need that confidence should something happen to Osweiler.
Next: Running Back