The Houston Texans arguably had the most eventful offseason of any team. Not only did the team make several impactful signings in free agency, but a new quarterback and coaching staff were also added. 

The new-look Texans held a voluntary minicamp back in April and had a rookie minicamp after the draft. The team began its first set of OTAs last week and will move on to the second set of practices after Memorial Day. 

With three OTAs in the books, let's take a look at what we have learned so far. 

Everything is earned

Nobody is under the impression that anybody other than CJ Stroud will be the starting QB in 2023. 

However, that did not stop new head coach DeMeco Ryans from giving first-team reps to the incumbent Davis Mills. Mills started OTAs with the starters while Stroud went with the second team. 

While it might not seem like a huge deal, it shows Ryans' way of thinking. Everyone knows that Stroud is the future, but it would be disrespectful to Mills to immediately discard the QB. 

Expect Stroud to work with the starters more and more as the offseason goes on. Still, it's cool to see that Stroud will have to earn his keep in Houston. 

The vibes are good  

The vibes around Houston are much different than they were a year ago. 

This time last year, the team seemed directionless. There was no franchise QB, a placeholder head coach, and a bunch of mismatched veterans. This year, the team has an exciting new coach and several exciting rookies. 

The difference is obvious. Just check out this quote from Ryans:

The guys that are here, they are honing their craft. They are getting better. And it's all about setting yourself up to be able to compete to make the team in training camp. So the guys are doing that. I feel like the guys that are here are going to be in great shape to help us out in the fall."

Ryans has been pleased thus far with the attitudes and performances at camp. That is a very positive sight. 

This secondary could be special

The Houston Texans' secondary was sneaky-good in 2022. The team finished 10th in opponent passing yards per game, allowing just over 200. 

More impressively, the team did that without Derek Stingley Jr., who only played in nine games as a rookie. Safety Jalen Pitre emerged as an extremely effective safety as a rookie and could be ready to establish himself as an elite safety in this league. 

Recently, Ryans was asked about his young secondary, and he described the group as "playing with their hair on fire." 

“Pitre and Stingley, those guys fit any defense because they’re both playmakers,” Ryans said. “They’re instinctive. They’re fast. They’re physical, and they love playing football. They like to play with their hair on fire." 

It will be exciting to see a full season of the Stingley/Pitre combo, and that's not even mentioning the solid veteran trio of Steven Nelson, Desmond King II, and Shaquill Griffin. 

Featured Image via © Thomas Shea | 2023 May 12