Houston Texans fans are enjoying some rare optimism heading into the 2022 NFL season. Who will be the starting 11 on offense come Sundays?
It is a refreshing feeling to have a competent general manager in Nick Caserio. Caserio did one of the best jobs when it came to his team’s draft class, yet no one is talking about that at all. So what will this year hold for the players on the offensive side of the ball?
Houston’s offense struggled last year as Davis Mills got his first true professional game time. While he progressed towards the latter end, the rushing offense was abysmal and often forced Houston out of their own gameplan.
Now armed with a handful of new picks and free agents (not to mention some undrafted ones, too), Houston’s offense is going to be different than it was in 2021.
So who will be the starter at each position group come Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season for the Houston Texans? Let’s start with the obvious one:
Davis Mills is the true leader of the Houston Texans and will be QB1
There isn’t any secrecy to this one at all. Mills proved that he deserved to get an entire season at the helm with his growth in the final games of the 2021 season. Mills’ quarterback coach (Pep Hamilton) is now the Texans’ offensive coordinator.
Hamilton’s promotion was a fan-favorite move and one that should go over a lot better than Tim Kelly calling plays. Mills was also better than some first-round rookie quarterbacks drafted ahead of him and has a real shot to be the best performer out of the 2021 class going into this season.
Houston Texans are slowly building a sturdier offensive line
It was incredibly refreshing to see Houston get an interior offensive lineman in Kenyon Green in the first round. Green is one of the best pullers in the draft who can get to the second level. That ability also allows him to seal off defenders, giving the running back a clear lane to run through.
So when we line up the starting five, here is what it will look like:
Left Tackle: Laremy Tunsil
Left Guard: Kenyon Green
Center: Justin Britt
Right Guard: A.J. Cann
Right Tackle: Tytus Howard
The locks here are Tunsil, Britt, and Cann. Both are the best at their positions on Houston’s roster and can be reliable when taking the field on Sundays.
Green starts Week 1 because A) he’s a first-round pick, and B) he is more mobile than Justin McCray. Meanwhile, right tackle is another spot that could see rookie Austin Deculus take the starting spot from Howard.
Howard was moved around last year and struggled quite a bit at both positions. So it wouldn’t surprise me to see Deculus get thrown into the starting lineup if that happens. Another alternative is switching former Bengals first-round pick Cedric Ogbuehi to the right side as well.
Much more depth at the skill positions has the Houston Texans ready for success in 2022
The only skill player who was worth a threat to defenses last year was Brandin Cooks. Aside from the sporadic breakout games of Danny Amendola, this offense rode the arm of Mills last year.
No help from the rushing game was present, and the 32nd ranking in rushing yards tells you everything you need to know about that. However, new faces look to spark an offense that’s just waiting to go out and excel.
Who are the skill position starters?
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: John Metchie (when healthy otherwise, Chris Conley to start until replaced)
WR: Nico Collins
TE: Brevin Jordan
RB: Dameon Pierce
FB: Andy Janovich
Cooks is a lock, so that doesn’t need any further explanation. I think Metchie and Collins get in the starting lineup due to their athleticism and skillset. But, of course, Metchie needs to recover from his injury sustained in the SEC Championship game and may not be ready for Week 1.
Metchie should start the moment he is healthy as he can be a game-changer, and given how successful some rookie wide receivers have been recently, it’s not something Pep Hamilton can go without for an extended amount of time.
Jordan is the de facto TE1 until further notice and needs more targets. He was a bit disappointing last year, but rookies are rookies.
Pierce is your starting running back, just over Marlon Mack. I think having Pierce on the field brings the energy that Houston needs to start the game.
That will set the tone, making Mack’s speed a nice touch to Pierce’s hard-nosed running style. Janovich will open up holes and make this rushing offense much better than it was a year ago.