Houston bolsters its offense significantly, acquiring crucial talent to protect their star quarterback and supercharge their Super Bowl aspirations.
The Houston Texans entered the 2026 offseason looking to get better, as every other team in the league does. However, Houston is just a few moves away from being considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The franchise has won a playoff game in three consecutive seasons, and the organization has one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Texans are not losing any major defensive players, so it is fair to say the Super Bowl window is open. The decision-makers just need to make the right decisions on the offensive side of the ball.
C.J. Stroud's play in the 2025 season finale was concerning, and the quarterback has definitely shown some regression. However, it is important to consider that he is young, and there wasn't a ton of great play around him on offense. His offensive line was not protecting him well enough, and Houston's running game was not intimidating at all. Houston has already taken steps to fix that as the team traded with the Detroit Lions to acquire running back David Montgomery.
In addition to the upgrade at running back, Houston also re-signed offensive tackle Trent Brown. The Texans then went out during the NFL's legal tampering period and signed one of the best offensive tackles that was available, Braden Smith.
Smith has spent his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, and he should be considered a great signing by Houston. He agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $25 million with $13.5 million guaranteed. He was considered one of the top-20 or so free agents for the 2026 offseason, so this is a great addition for the Texans. He also possesses some positional versatility.
Noting that Smith can also play guard is interesting. Houston just re-signed Brown, who has experience and could start to begin the 2026 season. Aireontae Ersery had a great rookie year at left tackle in 2025. Smith is better than Brown, but the organization could play him at guard to improve the offensive line as a whole.
These moves on the offensive line will hopefully make Stroud feel more comfortable in the pocket and elevate the running game. That will open up the entire offense as the play-action passing game can become more dangerous. If Houston's offense can take a significant step forward in 2026, the franchise should be considered a legitimate threat to represent the AFC in Los Angeles for Super Bowl LXI.