5 bold predictions for the Houston Texans heading into training camp

Fortunes can change quickly in the NFL and the Houston Texans are hopeful this will be the case for them in 2023. The franchise has been struggling as of late and hasn't had a winning record since 2019 when they went 10-6.

Since then, they have just 11 wins in three seasons. Now, they're trying to rebound and have made some big moves in the offseason including bringing in head coach DeMeco Ryans and finding a way to land the No. 2 and No. 3 overall selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.

With all the offseason work behind us, we now look ahead with five bold predictions for the Texans in 2023.

5. Dameon Pierce, Devin Singletary combine for 2,000 yards on the ground

In 2022, the Texans won just three games and they really didn't impress on the ground. This isn't to say their aerial attack was overly stout but the running game produced just 1,476 yards and seven touchdowns — both were second to last in the NFL.

That doesn't mean they had no talent at running back though. In fact, Dameon Pierce was impressive as a rookie with 939 of the team's rushing yards and four of the seven touchdowns.

He did much of the work on his own but that won't be the case in 2023. Pierce is now joined by Devin Singletary who spent the past four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

Singletary has 3,151 yards in those four years and while he never topped 1,000 yards, he also never had fewer than 687.

In Houston, he'll continue to work in a committee alongside Pierce, and with C.J. Stroud under center, they're likely to lean on the ground game early. That's why this first bold prediction is that Pierce tops 1,000 yards and the ground game as a whole get's at least 2,000 courtesy of Pierce and Singletary.

4. Dalton Schultz scores 10 TDs for the Texans

When the Dallas Cowboys were unable to come to terms with Dalton Schultz, the sixth-year tight end headed southeast and signed a one-year deal with the Texans.

Schultz is coming off a decent campaign where he had 57 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers were low due to being slowed by a knee injury as well as playing with Cooper Rush for five games with Dak Prescott on the bench with a thumb injury.

When both Prescott and Schultz were healthy again, he returned to the form we saw in 2021 (when he had 78 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns). Schultz even went off in the postseason, catching 12 passes for 122 yards with three touchdowns.

Now in Houston, he's set to be a safety valve for the young C.J. Stroud. In that role, he should succeed and this second bold prediction is that he becomes the team's most reliable target in the red zone with at least 10 touchdown receptions.

That would be a career-high for Schultz and might wind up pricing him out in 2024. Even if that happens, his presence will be great for the development of Stroud.

3. C.J. Stroud starts in Week 1, throws for 3,500 yards, 25 TDs

There were some eyebrows raised on draft night when the Texans took C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall. There were expectations that the franchise would have preferred Will Levis from Kentucky or even the incredibly athletic but rather raw Anthony Richardson from Florida.

As fate would have it, the Texans will be reminded often of the quarterbacks they could have selected since Richardson went to the Indianapolis Colts a couple of picks later and Levis joined the Tennessee Titans early in Round 2.

Of course, if Stroud turns out to be the player they hoped for, they won't mind the reminders at all. And personally, I can see Stroud being every bit the star Houston expects — and more.

For some reason, Stroud was often overlooked when discussing the elite quarterbacks in this class but there could be an argument made that he should have even gone ahead of Bryce Young — the No. 1 pick for the Carolina Panthers.

Stroud has better NFL size than Young at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds. He's better at protecting the football than Levis was and while Richardson was a freak at the Combine, Stroud impressed with his arm. Throw in the fact that he played his best game against a Georgia defense full of NFL talent and there's no reason not to believe in him.

This prediction gets bold in assuming he not only wins the starting job by Week 1 but also throws for 3,500 yards with at least 25 touchdowns. It could be enough to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and if so, they could have two rookies with hardware — if the following prediction also comes true.

2. Will Anderson, Jr. wins the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Houston was wildly aggressive on draft night and it was hard to find anyone who hated their plans. Right after securing their quarterback of the future at No. 2 overall, they traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to take the No. 3 spot as well. That's where they landed Alabama's Will Anderson, Jr. who was easily the best pass rusher in this class.

We can say they overpaid — and they might have. The Texans sent the 12th and 33rd overall selections in 2023, in addition to 2024 first and third-round selections to move up. It was a hefty price but they had the draft capital to do so.

Not only did they have their own pick at No. 2 this season but the No. 12 selection they traded away originally belonged to the Cleveland Browns. They still have one more pick from Cleveland next year (from the Deshaun Watson trade), meaning they'll again have a pick in Round 1 despite the move.

Having said all that, the real determining factor as to whether or not they overpaid will be how Anderson performs. Should he become the defensive centerpiece they hope for, it will be well worth it.

This bold prediction is that he jumps out of the gates and proves to be worthy of the multiple picks. Not only does he wind up with double-digit sacks in this bold prediction but also wins the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

1. DeMeco Ryans becomes first Texans coach to win NFL Coach of the Year

Since joining the NFL in 2002, the Houston Texans have had a few very strong seasons and several star players. They've had players such as DeMeco Ryans win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and J.J. Watt pulled in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award multiple times.

What they haven't had, is an award for coaching. Their longest-tenured coach is still Gary Kubiak who was 61-64 in his career with a 2-2 playoff record. Next is Bill O'Brien, who made it through 100 games with a record of 52-48. He remains the only coach in franchise history with a winning record.

However, neither of them ever won the NFL Head Coach of the Year award. That means the next Texans coach to do so will be the first Texans coach to do so. And this prediction is that Ryans starts out his coaching career the way he started his playing days — by earning some hardware.

Ryans, who beat out teammate and No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams in 2006, won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award after racking up 156 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and an interception. He's since developed into one of the best defensive coaches in the game and now gets his first shot at being the main boss.

Look for him to turn the success of Will Anderson to a strong defensive campaign which will help him earn the honor.

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