Top 10 Houston Texans Players Going Into the 2026-27 NFL Season

The Texans are an interesting team. On paper, they have the talent to make a deep run, but they haven't quite broken through to that upper echelon yet.

That defense is one of the best in the league, hands down. It is a matchup nightmare for any quarterback.

However, as good as the defense is, the offense is a bit average. C.J. Stroud is honestly holding them back. Literally, all they need is above-average play from him, and they're going places.

The Top Ten

Will Anderson Jr.

Will Anderson Jr. is an elite defensive end in the NFL. There's a valid reason why he got a massive extension. Anderson has been one of the best young defensive ends in football, and it's been that way since his rookie season. He was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, he made the Pro Bowl, and was First-Team All-Pro in 2025.
He finished the season with 54 tackles, 35 solo tackles, 12.0 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss. He had 93 pressures, ranking third in the league, and PFF gave him a 92.6 overall grade, ranking second best in the league. 2025 was an incredible season for Anderson. He should continue to be a dominant presence for the Texans defense.
Derek Stingley Jr.

Derek Stingley Jr. is one of the top cornerbacks in the league and a true ball hawk, with 14 interceptions over the last three years leading the entire league in that span. He's a true shutdown cornerback, allowing one of the lowest pass completion rates in the league.
He has back-to-back Pro Bowls and is back-to-back First-Team All-Pro. Stingley is truly an elite cornerback that will be a valuable asset to the Texans defense for years to come.
Danielle Hunter

Danielle Hunter (born October 29, 1994) is a Jamaican-American professional football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Hunter was... read more

Danielle Hunter is arguably one of the most underrated edge rushers of his generation. He's so consistent and productive. He's a name not many people talk about, but he's been elite for years.
In 2025, he had 54 combined tackles, 28 solo tackles, 15.0 sacks (third most in the league), 15 tackles for loss, and three passes defended. His 89.1 PFF grade ranked fifth best in the league among edge defenders, and he also had the fifth most pressures at 83. He was named Second-Team All-Pro.
Kamari Lassiter

Kamari Lassiter is a young standout cornerback for the Texans. He was a two-time National Champion with the Georgia Bulldogs. He had a great sophomore season with the Houston Texans earning a Pro Bowl.
He finished with 91 tackles, 62 solo tackles, and seven tackles for loss. He had 17 passes deflected and four interceptions. PFF gave him a 75.9 grade, ranking 11th in the league among cornerbacks. It is still early in his young career, but he's showing positive upside already.
Nico Collins

Nico Collins has been an excellent wide receiver for Houston and has really shown improvements in his game over the last three seasons. It's easy to see that he's the main go-to option for C.J. Stroud to throw to. He has impressive efficiency and great production with three straight 1,000+ yard seasons and back-to-back Pro Bowls.
Last year, he had 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. He finished in the top 10 for most receiving yards among wide receivers last season, and his 15.7 yards per reception average ranked fifth in the league. PFF gave him an 87.4 grade, ranking comfortably in the top 10 among all wide receivers.
Azeez Al-Shaair

Azeez Al-Shaair had a really good season, arguably his best since 2023, his lone season as a Titan. Since joining the Texans, he's become arguably the leader of the defense.
He led the team with 103 tackles last season, had two picks, and made the Pro Bowl. Overall, he is a solid player, even if he comes off as dirty at times.
Jalen Pitre

Jalen Pitre may be one of the best safeties in the league, and nobody talks about it. He had an outstanding rookie season but has cooled down statistically since then.
He finished 2025 with 74 tackles, 43 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups. PFF graded him second highest in the league with an 86.5 grade. He should continue to be a great asset for the Texans defense.
David Montgomery

David Montgomery should be one of the Texans' primary running backs this coming season. He was a dynamic piece for the Lions over the last three seasons with 33 rushing touchdowns in that span.
He's a veteran running back with some mileage, but even in statistical down years, he's still rushing for over 700 yards, and that's with him splitting reps with Jahmyr Gibbs. Now in Houston, he should be the dominant running back in their offense.
C.J. Stroud

Honestly, the fall off of C.J. Stroud needs to be studied more. His rookie year was incredible, and he looked like the next superstar in the making. Then, his sophomore campaign was slightly worse, and last year was even worse than that.
Sure, the offensive line hasn't been good, so it's definitely a factor in his overall regression, but still, I've tried giving him the benefit of the doubt before. Now is kind of his chance to reclaim the same highs he had reached his rookie season. It's a make-or-break season for him where if he can just be above average, the Texans are going to go far.
Dalton Schultz

Dalton Schultz is an overall decent starting tight end. Blocking could leave something to be desired, but he's a decent pass catcher. He finished the 2025-2026 season with 82 receptions for 777 yards and three touchdowns. He had the sixth most yards among all tight ends, and PFF gave him a 73.6 overall rating, ranking 12th overall.
He isn't Trey McBride by any means, but he is still respectable in his own right, averaging nearly 9.5 yards per catch. He's a reliable target for C.J. Stroud to throw to.