There is no doubt about it that the lowest team on the totem pole entering the 2021 NFL season is the Houston Texans, and it is something all of us just have to get used to, most likely for the duration of this season and a little while longer.
It is tough being negative so much as of late, but besides having Laremy Tunsil as a superstar at his left tackle position, he’s the lone standout as being one of the very best at his position in 2021.
The rankings from many media outlets this offseason have been very unkind to the Houston Texans as they have been ranked with the worst roster, duos, head coach, and the list just keeps going. Again, one positive ranking they had was Tunsil as a Top 10 offensive lineman.
Even recently, Pro Football Focus had the Houston Texans ranked last in another roster ranking, as CBS Sports also had them ranked last in their roster rankings as well. Both articles have defense as their weakness, and in the PFF article by Bill Lindsey, he wrote about the quarterbacks being the “X-factor” in 2021:
"“We’re projecting Taylor to be the short-term solution for the Texans — Deshaun Watson is facing 22 lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate behavior — and rookie draft pick Davis Mills will have to acclimate to life in the NFL.”"
There is no issue with the Houston Texans being ranked with the worst roster in the NFL entering the ’21 season because right now this roster isn’t that great on paper and isn’t built for long-term success, especially with all the issues surrounding Deshaun Watson’s offseason.
Quarterback and defense are two aspects of the Texans season to watch closely, but to be quite honest, the entire roster – except for a select few – should be under the microscope this season as many big roster decisions will continue to be made during this long rebuild.
Pick 1⃣ defender to build a team around in 2021 pic.twitter.com/nLgPkKhBDl
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 2, 2021
Houston Texans news: Will the Texans have the No. 1 overall pick in 2022?
Over at 247Sports.com, they have updated a 2022 mock draft where they have the Houston Texans making the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the subject of repairing the defense is evident as they have the Texans selecting Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, as the defensive end could be the next great pass rusher for the franchise.
Having a Top 2 pick is a long way away and much will happen between now and May ’22, but taking a look at a player with the talent of Thibodeaux is always fun, especially during this slow time of the NFL offseason.
In ’20, as a sophomore, Kayvon Thibodeaux played in seven games where in his 38 total tackles, 23 were solo, plus he collected 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Thibodeaux also had three passes defense his sophomore season. As a freshman, he totaled 35 tackles (24 solo) with 14 TFLs and nine sacks in 4 games. That ’19 season also saw Thibodeaux collect three passes defensed and a forced fumble.
Again, Thibodeaux is a highly rated player entering the ’21 collegiate season, and if the Texans are as bad as many believe they will be in ’21, then there is a good chance Thibodeaux could be on the Houston roster in ’22, so if you get the chance this season, watch him play.
If nothing else, at least you’ll be watching one of the best players currently in college football, and that’s not a bad way to spend a Saturday in the fall.