The Houston Texans are focused on winning a playoff game and advancing past the AFC Wild Card Round next month, but some fans have waved the white flag on 2024.
Yes, the Texans will represent the AFC South in the postseason.
Yes, Houston still has a chance to go on an improbable run to the Super Bowl.
The Texans, in reality, are several pieces away from competing with the top three AFC rosters for a Lombardi Trophy. That’s where free agency kicks in.
There’s a blend for Houston to re-sign players and add in new talent. One name that should be on watch is All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who despite suffering a torn ACL in October, is expected to be a hot name on the market for any receiver-needy roster.
Diggs should be the Texans’ top priority to extend in free agency, which is exactly how Pro Football Focus sees it.
PFF released its early list of the top 50 free agents of 2025. Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver with Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston, was the only player from the Texans’ roster to make the cut at No. 11 overall.
Playing in an offense where he was no longer the top target hadn’t hindered Diggs’ effectiveness. The star wideout was on pace to extend his streak of seasons with a PFF receiving grade above 75.0 and a drop rate below 10% on the catchable passes thrown his way.
Diggs’ market was compared to Pierre Garcon’s market in 2017. PFF also mentioned that since he’ll be coming off a severe injury, his market to mirror that of Odell Beckham Jr. in 2023.
A season-ending ACL injury for an older player who wins with lateral agility will make for an interesting free-agent dance.
Prior to suffering a season-ending injury, Diggs was on pace for another strong season as Houston’s No. 2 threat. At the time of the injury, he ranked fifth in catches (470) and eighth in receiving yards (496). He was on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign.
Diggs also said during a recent interview with NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” that he’d be interested in discussing a new deal with the Texans. Tank Dell’s season-ending knee injury might have changed the hearts of those inside NRG Stadium.
While not the only receiver on the market, Houston should be already in talks with Diggs on an asking price to run it back in 2025.