The Houston Texans are one of the younger NFL franchises but they have already had their share of talent, evidenced by this list of their top-25 players all-time
The Houston Texans were an expansion team in 2002 after the original Houston franchise moved to Tennessee, and eventually became the Tennessee Titans. Since their inaugural season, Houston has had some highs and lows which have included a top overall selection at quarterback as well as the team avoiding some high profile players with that top pick, like running back Reggie Bush.
With the franchise being so young it is hard to compile a list of all-time greats, but still not impossible. Houston has had the luxury of having some big-name stars come through, even if they haven’t always been able to keep them on the roster.
Let’s take a look at where your favorite players landed on our list of the top 25 players to ever wear the Texan’s uniform.
Notable Ommission: Derek Newton, Tackle
The toughest thing about grading an offensive tackle is there are no stats to back up the claims. Still, Derek Newton, the former starting right tackle played in 83 games with 63 starts for the Texans. The 6-foot-5, 313 pounder was selected in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft by Houston after playing at Arkansas State and even earned a solid second contract with Houston. He was also versatile and could slide all around the line whenever needed.
Unfortunately, Newton’s time in Houston ended when he tore the patellar tendon in each one of his knees. He ended up playing just one more game in his career, which was with the New Orleans Saints.
25. Ben Tate, Running Back
It’s crazy how quickly things changed for Ben Tate, who was supposed to be a star in the NFL. The Texans moved up in round two of the 2010 draft to take the bruising back out of Auburn. However, an injury sidelined him his rookie year and he was replaced by the undrafted Arian Foster.
While Foster blew up, Tate still managed to be a feared part of the Texans 1-2 punch at running back for three years. One season he managed 942 yards and four touchdowns and 771 and four scores in another.
More from Toro Times
- Houston Texans: Can Sean Payton really be the next head coach?
- Houston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12
- Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is over
- Houston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie Smith
- Houston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie Smith
He averaged more than four yards per carry during his time in Houston, and while he bounced through three teams in 2014, the fact remains that Tate was solid for the Texans.
24. Brooks Reed, Linebacker
A second-round pick in 2011, Brooks Reed never broke out as a star, but he did start 52 games and provide some solid play for the Texans.
He left for Atlanta in the 2015 offseason after four years in Houston, but finished his time there with 118 tackles and 14.5 sacks. He recorded his first interception in 2014 and also had two forced fumbles in his four seasons.
23. Ben Jones, Guard/Center
Ben Jones, the former Georgia Bulldog became a full-time starter for the Texans after four seasons and showed some versatility in the process. After becoming a good starting left guard for the Texans, Ben Jones allowed the team to move on from a higher-priced veteran in Chris Myers by sliding over to center.
Once he moved back at his natural position, Jones solidified the middle of the line for the Texans. He was so good that it earned him a huge payday with the Titans, but he was still great in Houston.
22. Aaron Glenn, Cornerback
Aaron Glenn wasn’t a member of the team for very long after coming over from the New York Jets but still managed 11 interceptions in three seasons for the Houston Texans. He also returned two of those picks for touchdowns.
Glenn provided a solid veteran leader in the defensive backfield after being picked by the Texans in their expansion draft. The Houston native was a first-round pick by the Jets and helped Houston insert their identity as a defensive force in the NFL.
21. Domanick Williams, Running Back
Injuries shortened the career of Domanick Williams (formerly Domanick Davis), but he makes the list after rushing for 1,031 yards and eight touchdowns en route to being named the 2003 NFL Rookie of the Year.
His second season saw him net 1,188 yards and 13 scores. He also had 47 and 68 receptions respectively in each of those seasons. His final NFL season saw Williams get injured after 11 games and he finished just under 1,000 yards, hitting 976 rushing yards.
For his career, he had 28 total touchdowns in just three seasons, not bad for a fourth-round selection.
20. Dunta Robinson, Cornerback
Dunta Robinson lined up at cornerback for the Texans for six seasons after they picked him 10th overall in 2004. During his tenure in Houston, Robinson started 79 of his 84 games and pulled in 13 interceptions, returning one for a score. Robinson also forced six fumbles during his time in H-Town.
His rookie season was his best year as he took six passes away and returned those picks for 146 yards and had three forced fumbles.
19. Vonta Leach, Fullback
The common link between the solid running for the Texans from 2006-2010 was the three-time pro bowler Vonta Leach.
Although two of those pro bowls came while he was on Baltimore, Leach made his presence known during his time in Houston.
To go along with his stellar lead blocking, Leach brought in 71 receptions for 518 yards and four scores while a Texan, although he had only three carries for three yards during that span. Two of those three carries did go for touchdowns for the big guy.
18. Whitney Mercilus, EDGE
A first-round pick out of Illinois in 2012, Whitney Mercilus has carved out quite a career for himself. He’s played eight seasons in Houston and while he had double-digit sacks just once (12 in 2015), he’s been a consistent edge rusher that puts up decent numbers. In all, he has 324 tackles and 50 career sacks and in 2019, he even recorded his first two career interceptions.
17. Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
The No. 1 overall pick out of South Carolina in 2014, Jadeveon Clowney had an up and down tenure in Houston. He missed 12 games as a rookie and then struggled to get back to full strength in 2015. Entering his third season, some asked if he was a bust as he had just 4.5 sacks under his belt.
He started to turn things around in 2016, making his first Pro Bowl after recording 52 tackles with six sacks. Clowney followed that up with 9.5 sacks in 2017 and nine in 2018 — again making the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons.
Clowney headed to Seattle in 2019 after the Texans decided against signing him to a long-term deal. He never lived up to his No. 1 draft status but he was still a solid player.
16. Matt Schaub, Quarterback
I know his career flamed out in Houston but Matt Schaub was actually a very good quarterback for a stretch of time for the Texans. The two-time pro bowler was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and even led the league in passing yards with 4,770 in 2009.
By the end of his time here he had completed 64.6 percent of his attempts for 23,221 yards with 124 touchdowns to 78 interceptions. The wheels fell off for Schaub in 2013 and sadly that will be the one memory people are left with from his seven years at the helm.
15. DeMeco Ryans, Linebacker
The less touted rookie in 2006 when Houston took Mario Williams first overall was the first pick in round two, DeMeco Ryans the middle linebacker from Alabama. Ryans was the NFL Rookie of the Year that season after being credited with 156 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one interception.
He made two Pro Bowls for Houston as well before becoming a Philadelphia Eagle in 2012. During his six-season in Houston, Ryans had 479 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles.
14. Eric Winston, Tackle
Eric Winston was a 6-foot-7 tackle who tipped the scales at 303 pounds. He was selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft and started seven games as a rookie. The following five seasons Winston started every game, missing none at all.
Despite bouncing around the league some after leaving Houston and never being named to a Pro Bowl, Winston had incredible durability and helped pave the way for some great rushing seasons.
13. Kareem Jackson, Cornerback/Safety
Kareem Jackson entrenched as the top corner for the Texans and earned a four-year, $34 million deal ahead of the 2015 season. However, The 20th overall pick in 2010 out of Alabama had his share of ups and downs after that. He never really found the consistency he had early in his career.
Ahead of the 2018 season, Jackson was moved to safety in an effort to help him rediscover his magic. That worked out well for him and he parlayed that into a three-year $33 million deal with the Denver Broncos. In all, he had 559 tackles, 16 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns in his nine seasons with Houston.
12. Johnathan Joseph, Cornerback
A former Cincinnati Bengal, Johnathan Joseph, was lured to Houston in 2011 and spent the next nine seasons with them. In that span, Joseph made two Pro Bowls while starting 128 of 133 games played.
He and the team agreed to part ways ahead of the 2020 season which ended an impressive and long-tenured partnership.
11. Connor Barwin, Linebacker
Connor Barwin was a very good outside linebacker and the Texans missed his pass rush after he signed with Philadelphia in 2013.
His best season as a Texan came in 2011 when he racked up 11.5 sacks, but he has been inconsistent as that season was sandwiched between a rookie year that saw 4.5 sacks and his final season in Houston in which he brought down passers only three times.
Barwin went on to make the Pro Bowl with Philly in 2014 and played in the NFL until 2018 after spending one season with the Rams and one with the Giants.
10. Chris Myers, Center
Center Chris Myers was brought over in 2008 in a sign-and-trade deal with the Denver Broncos and started every game for the next seven years for the Texans. He made the Pro-Bowl in 2011 and 2012 as the centerpiece to the Texans solid run-blocking line.
After the 2014 season, Myers was let go in favor of the youth movement head coach Bill O’Brien implemented. While Ben Jones played fine in his absence, he ended up leaving and they have yet to find the kind of consistency he brought.
9. Mario Williams, Defensive End
Everyone thought it would be running back Reggie Bush as the top selection in the 2006 NFL draft, but Houston shocked everyone by taking Mario Williams instead. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive end was slow to get going but wound up becoming a star for Houston.
The best season as a Texan for Williams was his second season when he had 59 tackles and 14 sacks. He followed that year up with 12 more sacks in 2008 and made his first Pro Bowl.
He made two pro bowls for Houston and then made two in his first three seasons after leaving for the Buffalo Bills. Even though he didn’t finish his career with Houston, he proved he was the better pick than the consensus selection of Bush.
8. Brian Cushing, Linebacker
Brian Cushing, the first-round pick out of USC came into the league looking like a man possessed and finished his rookie campaign with 86 solo tackles, 47 assists and four interceptions and sacks apiece. Once again Houston had a Rookie of the Year as Cushing looked to be one of the best linebackers in the league.
Unfortunately, freak injuries limited him and after 2011, he only played 16 games one more time — which came in 2015. Cushing also found himself on the wrong side of the league’s substance-abuse policy more than once, but none of that takes away from how good he was when he did play.
7. Owen Daniels, Tight End
Owen Daniels was a tight end that was released too early. The underrated tight end was picked in round four of the 2006 draft and caught 385 passes for 4,617 yards and 26 touchdowns until the team released him following the 2013 season.
In 2013, he played only five games before being injured and still outperformed the disappointments that Houston lined up in 2014 as he had 24 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns. His best year was 2008 (one of his two Pro Bowl years) when he had 70 receptions for 862 yards and two touchdowns.
6. Duane Brown, Tackle
Duane Brown was selected 26th overall out of Virginia Tech in 2008 and the 6-foot-4 303-pound lineman was a fixture for Houston for more than nine seasons. His tenure didn’t end well as he forced his way out of town and was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
5. Arian Foster, Running Back
Undrafted out of the University of Tennessee, running back Arian Foster stepped in for an injured Ben Tate and never looked back. Gaining 1,616 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns his first year as a starter was impressive.
Even more impressive was the consistency Foster played with during his prime. He continually averaged above four-yards per carry and was a weapon in the passing game as well for the Texans.
Durability ended up becoming a concern as FOster missed times in his final three seasons with Houston before heading to Miami. Once there, he only managed to play four more games before calling it a career.
4. DeAndre Hopkins, Receiver
The first-round pick out of Clemson broke out in 2013 during his second NFL season. After getting 52 receptions for 802 yards and a pair of scores as a rookie, DeAndre Hopkins finished 2014 with 76 catches good for 1,210 yards and six trips to the end zone.
Hopkins made the all-time great Andre Johnson expendable in the eyes of the Texans’ front office as they cut the veteran to allow Hopkins to flourish as the top pass target going forward. It wasn’t an easy decision but it was the right one as ‘Nuk’ had four trips to the Pro Bowl and recorded 8,602 yards om 632 receptions with 54 touchdowns in his first seven NFL seasons.
Sadly, Hopkins is now gone as head coach Bill O’Brien went rogue and shipped him off to the Arizona Cardinals, where he will surely continue to have a great career.
3. Andre Johnson, Receiver
The most accomplished receiver the Texans have ever used is Andre Johnson. 1,012 receptions 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns are all proof of the dominance AJ had throughout the years for the Texans.
Johnson ended up losing his job in favor of DeAndre Hopkins and he ended up spending time with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Even after going to play for divisional rivals, Johnson continued to be a positive presence in the Houston area, showing his worth extended well beyond the playing field.
2. DeShaun Watson, Quarterback
The Houston Texans constant search for a franchise quarterback finally ended in 2017 when the used the No. 12 overall pick on DeShaun Watson out of Clemson. For whatever reason, Bill O’Brien tried to keep him on the bench behind Tom Savage, but that lasted roughly 45 minutes.
Watson then led the Texans to a 3-3 record as a rookie while throwing 19 touchdown passes in his first six games. A torn ACL ended his first season far too early, but he has since come back with a vengeance.
Over the past two seasons, Watson has led the Texans to a 21-10 record and made two Pro Bowls. One of the best young gun-slingers in the game, Watson is still improving as a player — a scary prospect for the rest of the AFC Sout.
1. J.J. Watt, Defensive End
J.J. Watt is by far the most popular player in the history of the Texans, and it’s not hard to see why. The former No. 11 overall pick out of Wisconsin has earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards and was the first player to ever record more than 20 sacks in a single season two separate times.
In addition to his three Player of the Year awards, Watt also earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and was a five-time All-Pro First-Team selection. Still, his best work comes off the field as Watt has constantly proven to be someone the community can count on.
When the Houston area was struck by Hurrican Harvey, Watt helped raise over $37 million for relief funds. That work helped him earn the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
There are other stars on this team now and there will be in the future, but it’s going to take a lot to knock J.J. Watt out of the top spot. He was the first global star the Texans franchise had and was the face of the franchise for years, something that’s not easy for a defensive lineman to do.