Giving an NFL head coach full control of the roster can lead to trouble. Just ask the Houston Texans, who named Bill O'Brien their general manager after winning a power struggle with Rick Smith late in the 2010s. O'Brien proceeded to mismanage the roster and leave the Texans devoid of talent and future draft picks.
By 2020, Houston had had enough of O'Brien's questionable managing skills and gave him the boot. However, they couldn't start rebuilding due to the presence of the executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby, who looked down on other team executives and let a "culture of distrust among staff and players" fester.
Easterby was kicked to the curb in early 2022, and the Texans were finally able to start properly replenishing the roster. So far, general manager Nick Caserio has done a superb job of stockpiling the talent and acquiring building blocks for the future. In fact, here are five players that figure to be part important key contributors for Houston for years to come.
No. 5 Texans certified building block for the future: Jalen Pitre, S
You know you came out of the draft with a pretty good haul when you're getting production from your early and late-round picks. And while it sometimes takes a handful of years to truly assess the impact of a draft class, it's fair to say that the Texans hit a series of home runs in 2022.
Take their first second-round pick, Jalen Pitre, for example. The former Baylor Bear started all 17 games as a rookie and went on to lead the team with five interceptions — no other Texan had more than two — and 147 total tackles.
Sure, it wasn't always perfect. Like any other rookie, Pitre was bound to make mistakes but Houston should be thrilled about his playmaking skills heading into Year 2.
No. 4 Texans certified building block for the future: Dalton Schultz, TE
This year's free agency lacked star power but that doesn't mean there weren't impact players for the grabs. In fact, this was a good offseason to look for a tight end if you were in need of one. Both Mike Gesiki and Dalton Schultz were available. Houston locked up the latter and didn't have to overpay for him because the tight-end market was deflated.
Having signed a one-year contract worth $6.5 million, Schultz will be given a chance to earn a long-term deal from the Texans if he plays the way he did during his five-year stint with the Cowboys. A fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft, Schultz was scheduled to become a free agent last year and if he had hit the open market, he would've been one of the hottest names available. However, the Cowboys wanted to keep him around, so they slapped him with the franchise tag.
The former Stanford Cardinal ended up hauling in 57 receptions for 577 yards with five touchdowns but he was often the fourth or fifth option on a loaded Dallas offense in 2023, so it's easy to picture him putting up even better numbers for a Texans team that's lacking a bonafide No. 1 receiver.
As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if Schultz becomes rookie C.J. Stroud's top target by the end of the season.
No. 3 Texans certified building block for the future: Derek Stingley Jr., CB
Teams usually expect early draft picks, especially those selected in the top 10, to contribute from Day 1, so you could make the case that cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had an underwhelming rookie campaign. The former LSU Tiger dealt got off to a somewhat slow start and later a hamstring injury forced him to miss most of the second half of the season.
Not having the chance to step on the football field and learn on the job hindered his development but there are reasons to believe he'll make huge strides in his sophomore year. In fact, he is being projected to have a breakout season in 2023 and it's easy to see why. He's now healthy and feels stronger. On top of that, he says the game has significantly slowed down.
Last year, the Louisiana native gave up 12.5 yards per reception and a 67.3 percent completion rate when targeted. He should have no trouble improving in both areas and increasing his interception totals in 2023, having registered just one, along with four passes defensed as a rookie.
The fact that the Texans didn't make any big additions to their cornerback room besides re-signing Tavierre Thomas goes on to show that the top brass believes Stingley can put it all together in 2023, and why would he not?
No. 2 Texans certified building block for the future: Will Anderson Jr, DE
It's not often that teams have the chance to pick twice in the top 10 of the draft but the Texans pulled off the feat when they chose C.J. Stroud second overall and then moved several spots to select defensive end Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3. Of course, general manager Nick Caserio and the front office deserve props for being bold and not passing up the chance to land a difference-maker.
Heading into the draft, Houston needed to bolster their pass rush but their defensive front wasn't entirely devoid of talent. Veteran Jerry Hughes showed he still has plenty of football left in him and led the team with nine sacks.
Similarly, Johnathan Greenard, who tallied eight quarterback takedowns in 2021, was hampered by injuries last year but should bounce back next season. Still, Houston knew they needed to give their pass rush a boost and Anderson will provide it. It might not be right away though.
Heading into the 2023 season, Anderson must work on his overall technique and develop a wide repertoire of pass-rush moves but his shouldn't be a cause for concern. After all, edge rushers usually take time to adjust to the pros and often hit the stride in Year 2. Even if Anderson gets off to a slow start in 2023, expect him to get much better as the season progresses.
No. 1 Texans certified building block for the future: CJ Stroud, QB
Davis Mills was pressed into action in 2021 when Deshan Watson decided he no longer wanted to play for the Texans. He ended up exceeding expectations as a rookie and was given a chance last year to prove he could be the long-term answer at quarterback. However, the former Stanford Cardinal came crashing down.
Realizing they needed a true franchise quarterback to get out of the NFL cellar, the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud second overall in April. So far Houston should be thrilled with the early returns of his investment.
Not satisfied with the work he and his teammates put in during offseason practices, he's already arranged throwing sessions with his receivers, so they can develop a strong report and dominate in training camp.
That's the kind of leadership skills and drive you want from your starting quarterback and as the face of the franchise, Stroud is passing the early tests with flying colors. Although the Texans haven't yet named him the starter, there's no reason to think the former Ohio State product will be behind center when Houston faces off against the Baltimore Ravens in the opener. And that's the right approach.
Why not let Stroud start from Day 1 and let him learn on the job? Also, why put off the beginning of a new era of Texans' football?