The Houston Texans, in a stunning reversal of fortune compared to just one year ago, will enter 2024 as the darling of sorts for both NFL media analysts and fans around the league. And as C.J. Stroud and Co. emerge as the AFC's next contender, a popular refrain is beginning to emerge from the army of armchair general managers: for struggling franchises, there is a simple model back to contention, one recently executed by the Texans. But such logic feels more like wishful thinking.
Yes, the Texans are in perhaps the perfect spot for a franchise that doesn't have Patrick Mahomes on its roster.