The Houston Texans were ranked No. 13 on ESPN’s latest projected starting lineup rankings, seemingly low for a team with two-straight playoff appearances.
Houston Texans Receive Questionable Roster Ranking Ahead of Training Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Despite having one of the most exciting young rosters in the NFL and a playoff appearance each of the last two seasons, the Houston Texans were expected to be viewed as serious contenders heading into the 2025 season.
However, ESPN’s latest projected starting lineup rankings placed them at No. 13. For a team that has rapidly rebuilt around C.J. Stroud and a strong defense, the ranking feels pretty low.
Per ESPN, the biggest strength of this Texans roster lies in its edge rushers. Danielle Hunter lived up to expectations with 12.0 sacks and a league-leading 77 pass rush wins in his first season in Houston.
Across from him, second-year star Will Anderson Jr. wasn’t far behind, logging 11.0 sacks and finishing 13th in pass rush wins despite missing three games. Veterans Denico Autry, Derek Barnett, and Darrell Taylor bring significant depth to the table. This group could arguably be the league’s best at getting after the quarterback.
ESPN pointed to the interior defensive line as the team’s biggest weakness. A rotation of returning veterans like Tim Settle Jr., Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish don't offer much proven production as none of them surpassed 31 tackles last season or earned above-average PFF grades. Even the addition of Sheldon Rankins doesn’t drastically help the unit’s outlook, so it's a vulnerability teams may try to exploit.
ESPN named rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins as the Texans' X factor, taken early in the second round. With Tank Dell recovering from his knee injury, Higgins has a chance to carve out a major role early alongside Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. His development could determine just how explosive Houston’s passing attack becomes.
Finally, the nonstarter ESPN named to watch is offensive tackle Blake Fisher, a second-year lineman who struggled in 2024 and now faces a crowded competition for playing time. His improvement could be vital for protecting Stroud as the Texans' front line has struggled the last couple seasons.
Time will tell whether No. 13 is too low or not, but it can certainly light a fire for the Texans to aim higher.
Related: Texans Sign Final Piece from 2025 Draft Class Ahead of Training Camp
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
