After a tough playoff exit at the hands of the New England Patriots, the Houston Texans are staring down a pivotal offseason-and the spotlight is squarely on quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud’s four first-half interceptions in that loss weren’t just uncharacteristic-they were momentum killers. And while some critics are already jumping the gun with questions about his long-term future, the reality is this: Stroud is still on a rookie deal, and the Texans control his rights through at least 2026. That gives Houston time-valuable time-to build around their young quarterback and set him up for sustained success.
And let’s be clear: the defense is already there. DeMeco Ryans has that unit playing fast, physical, and disciplined.
The offense, though? That’s where the real work lies.
The Wide Receiver Room Needs a Boost
If you watched the Texans down the stretch in 2025, one thing was obvious-the passing game was essentially Nico Collins or bust. Collins had a strong year, pulling in 71 catches for 1,117 yards and 6 touchdowns.
But after him, the production dropped off a cliff. Jayden Huggins was the next best option with 525 yards and 6 scores on 41 receptions.
That’s a steep falloff for a team trying to compete in a loaded AFC.
Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel combined for just 1,024 yards all season. That’s not enough firepower, especially when defenses can key in on Collins and force Stroud to rely on secondary targets who aren’t consistently getting separation or making plays after the catch.
As ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime put it, the Texans need to make sure Stroud has “the appropriate amount of wide receiver help going into Year 4.” And he’s absolutely right. If Houston wants to take the next step, they need to give their franchise quarterback more than one reliable weapon.
Who Could Be the Answer?
There’s no shortage of intrigue when it comes to potential additions. Could Houston make a move for someone like Alec Pierce, whose size and speed could complement Collins well?
Or do they swing bigger-maybe even give the Dallas Cowboys a call about George Pickens? That kind of move wouldn’t come cheap, but it would send a clear message: the Texans are going all-in on building around Stroud.
Adding a top-tier receiver would do more than just open up the offense-it would help Stroud regain confidence after that playoff performance. It would give him another trusted target in high-leverage moments, and force defenses to pick their poison instead of simply bracketing Collins and daring someone else to beat them.
The Bottom Line
C.J. Stroud is still the guy in Houston.
One playoff loss doesn’t change that. But if the Texans want to maximize his window-and their own-they need to give him the weapons to thrive.
The defense is ready. Now it’s time for the offense to catch up.
And that starts with finding another top-tier wide receiver to line up opposite Nico Collins.