Texans Have Too Many Reasons To Avoid Selling At The NFL's Trade Deadline

The Houston Texans have reached a point in their season where it would be easy to start looking toward the future. Sitting at 2-5, Houston has not lived up to expectations, and its disappointing start has created plenty of reasons to question whether this roster can turn things around. However, the Texans should not be considering themselves sellers at the NFL trade deadline just yet.

Despite the record, there are still plenty of reasons to believe this team can salvage its season. For starters, Houston is entering its bye week at an important time. The extra week gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate what has gone wrong, make necessary adjustments and get the roster healthier before the second half of the season begins.

Injuries have played a role in the Texans' struggles, and getting some key contributors back could make a significant difference. Just as importantly, the coaching staff has an opportunity to self-scout. Houston has struggled with consistency on both sides of the football, and the bye week provides a chance to identify the biggest problems and figure out how to address them. There is no guarantee those changes will lead to immediate results, but the Texans have enough talent to warrant giving this group another opportunity.

The upcoming schedule is another reason Houston should avoid waving the white flag. The Texans have a favorable stretch coming out of the bye, beginning with a matchup against the winless Los Angeles Chargers. While no game in the NFL is guaranteed, that is an opportunity Houston needs to take advantage of.

Things do not get much more intimidating after that, either. The Cleveland Browns have shown plenty of reasons to question whether they are as competitive as their record shows, while the Indianapolis Colts have started to show signs of an implosion. Those are three games in which the Texans should have a legitimate opportunity to come away with victories.

Winning all three would bring Houston to 5-5, completely changing the outlook of its season in a relatively short period. Even winning two of those games would put the Texans in a much better position heading into the final stretch.

The trade deadline presents an opportunity for teams to decide whether they are building toward a playoff run or preparing for the future. Houston should not be ready to make that decision yet. This roster was built to compete, and a disappointing first seven games should not be enough to abandon that plan.

The Texans need to use their bye week wisely, get healthier and take advantage of the schedule in front of them. There is still plenty of football left to play, and selling off pieces now could be a decision they regret if this team finally starts playing up to its potential.