The Houston Texans' 2024 season was one of those seasons that one might categorize as "just fine." They won 10 games, took home another division title, blew out the Chargers in a playoff game, before falling flat in Kansas City in the AFC divisional round. So, they fell short.
Like any failure, there is blame to be assigned, and based on the behavior of the team, both in coaching staff construction and in personnel over the last few days, the blame game for the Texans is clear. The franchise sees the Texans' underperformance as an offensive issue, specifically the offensive line. I say that because the only Texans coaches to lose their jobs were former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and former offensive line coach Chris Strausser.
Meanwhile, a few weeks after making changes to the coaching staff, Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans have spent the last few days completely dismantling one of the most underperforming offensive lines in football. Late last week, they released right guard Shaq Mason. On Monday, they traded Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington for a boatload of draft picks. Finally, on Tuesday morning, they traded left guard Kenyon Green to Philadelphia for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
This is all necessary, if they are going to become a better running and pass blocking team. Here are my thoughts on the Texans' eventful last few days:
The trade sending Tunsil out of Houston is bigger than the one that brought him hereBack in 2019, when the Texans were a few months into Bill O'Brien's reign of terror as head coach AND general manager, O'Brien sent two first round picks and a second round pick to the Dolphins for Tunsil. At the time, it was a massive overpay for a huge position of need for the Texans. In other words, it was done for football reasons. Fast forward six seasons, and Tunsil has made Five Pro Bowls. However, it seems like Texan fans were thrilled to see him go. That's very telling. This second trade of Tunsil, the one shipping him out, was done because Tunsil is not the leader and culture setter that this offensive line room needs. He's not a bad guy, but he is a paycheck player. DeMeco Ryans wants rabid dogs. Tunsil is the world's largest poodle.
Nick Caserio gets SOMETHING out of Kenyon GreenThe Texans used the 15th pick in the 2022 draft to select Green out of Texas A&M, and all things considered, it's been an unmitigated disaster. Green came into his first camp injured, struggled his entire rookie season, missed his entire second season with a shoulder injury, and then was about to get benched in his third season before getting hurt again. The only good thing I can say about Green as a Texan is that he did an admirable job committing to his injury rehab in 2024. He got into great shape. However, the pick has been a bust, in every other way. That's what makes the trade of Green to the Eagles so pleasantly surprising. Nick Caserio was able to extract at least SOME value out of Green, acquiring two seasons of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is a big hitter and had six picks last season. Gardner-Johnson is only 27 years old. This is a fantastic pickup.
Is Tytus Howard safe?
Of course, if Tunsil is getting traded, then it means nobody on the offensive line is safe, because Tunsil was largely good at his job. Shaq Mason has been cut, and Green has been traded. If I were Tytus Howard, who might be the biggest excuse maker out of all the guys on this offensive line, I'd have my head on a swivel. Personally, I hope Caserio moves Howard. I don't care what he gets for him. Get out from under his salary and his non-SWARM personality. Do it, Nick.
What does C.J. Stroud think of all this?
It's too bad this deconstruction of the Texans' offensive line wasn't happening a year ago, because this time last year, it was hard to find an outlet that C.J. Stroud HAD NOT done an interview with. He was on every podcast imaginable, so we probably would have gotten some level of opinion about moving on from Green, Mason, and particularly Tunsil, who protects Stroud's blind side. If the Texans were dismantling an offensive line that was actually good, then it would be a much bigger deal. Stroud should view all of this as a motivated attempt to make his life a whole lot easier.
Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.