The accomplished veteran running back only cost the Texans a seventh-round pick in terms of trade capital and is expected to serve as a replacement for late-season rushing star Devin Singletary, who signed with the Giants. However, the Texans clearly view Mixon, who has seven seasons of experience but is only 27, as more than just a short-term solution, given the new deal includes $13 million guaranteed per Bien-Aime's ESPN colleague Adam Schefter.

Stroud seemingly has good reason to be ebullient about the prospects on his side of the ball, considering Houston added Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to an offense that already exceeded expectations under the rookie signal-caller's leadership in 2023. The return to health of both Nico Collins and Tank Dell are also reason for optimism, as is the re-signing of talented pass-catching tight end Dalton Schultz to a three-year extension this offseason.

The veteran back conceded he'd trained "harder than I did ever before" this offseason due to the robust role he's confident he'll fill in the Texans offense. Mixon signed with Houston this offseason after seven seasons with the Bengals, and given his main competition for carries is underwhelming third-year pro Dameon Pierce, the former could potentially see the same 250-plus carries he logged in Cincinnati in two of the last three seasons.

After spending the first five years of his career with Dallas, Schultz joined Houston on a one-year deal ahead of the 2023 season. He finished second among Texans' pass catchers with 88 targets, and third with 635 yards and five touchdowns, which earned him a three-year, $36 million extension during the offseason. He may not have the numbers of Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews or George Kittle, but Schultz's consistency as both a pass catcher and blocker makes him an important piece of the offense as the Texans look to make the playoffs for the second straight year.

Anderson generated seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits in 15 regular-season games after being selected with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The edge rusher could benefit from more pass-rushing opportunities if the Texans find themselves playing from ahead more consistently in 2024 after bolstering their offense with the offseason acquisitions of wide receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon.

Green was acquired from the Steelers just before the 2023 season began and started three games before suffering the knee injury. He replaced Kenyon Green, a first-round pick in 2022 who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during training camp last year. The two Greens are expected to compete for one starting job on the Texans' offensive line in camp.

Dell unsurprisingly had plenty of accolades for Stroud, who helped facilitate plenty of individual success for the talented receiver during their mutual rookie 2023 campaigns. Dell recorded a 47-709-7 line on 75 targets through 11-plus regular-season games before suffering a season-ending leg injury, and he noted in his podcast interview that Stroud's consistency, work ethic, leadership and talent give the young signal-caller a chance to eventually rise to the elite level of the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes.

Stroud enjoyed a memorable rookie campaign in 2023 that saw him validate his pedigree as the second overall pick by throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 167 rush yards and another three scores across 15 regular-season games. Stroud then threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns in a wild-card win over the Browns before succumbing to the Ravens' elite defense in the divisional round, but Dell cites Stroud's consistency, work ethic and physical talent as enough to eventually place the Ohio State product on the same level of the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes.

Keenum and Diggs share a special moment in history together, with the two connecting on the game-winning 61-yard touchdown in the 2017 NFC divisional round against the Saints, better known as the "Minneapolis Miracle." Diggs spent the next two years with the Vikings before being traded to the Bills in 2020, where he recorded four straight 100-catch, 1,000-yard seasons. Diggs was shipped to Houston in April, and the 30-year-old receiver will look to show that he's still an elite receiver as he leads the Texans' pass-catching group of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz.

Even with a deep wide receiver corps headlined by Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Ryans noted earlier in June that Metchie has "improved a lot through these OTAs and minicamp." After missing his rookie season due to his diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia, Metchie played in 16 regular-season games in 2023, finishing with 16 receptions for 158 yards. With a full season behind him, the 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama has demonstrated his development and potential during spring practices as he competes for a roster spot.

Despite his success in Buffalo with quarterback Josh Allen, Diggs admitted that he expected a trade after tension grew between the Bills and the star wideout. Bien-Aime notes that offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik used Diggs in multiple receiver spots during OTAs and minicamp, and the wideout has developed an instant connection with franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. Diggs recorded at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons in Buffalo, and the 30-year-old veteran will lead Houston's wide receiver corps, consisting of Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Robert Woods.

The star defensive end already made quite the statement as a rookie, but Anderson has worked all offseason to be even better in 2024. The 2023 third overall pick has gone back to watch plenty of his own tape, but he's also consulted and trained with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and new teammate Danielle Hunter, with whom he's already developed a quick connection in the classroom and on the practice field in OTAs.

Tunsil is working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery, which he underwent in February. Once healthy enough to take the field, Tunsil is expected to slot back in as the starting left tackle for the Texans.

Howard is bouncing back from November knee surgery, which ended his 2023 season after Week 12. Once healthy, Howard is expected to return to his role as the Texans' starting right tackle.

Collins signed a three-year extension with the Texans on Tuesday, and the deal includes $52 million in guarantees. The $24.2 million figure assumes he gets paid the maximum value of his contract, and puts him in the same range as players like DK Metcalf and DeVonta Smith. Houston has made sure the supporting cast around second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud will remain intact for the next several seasons.

The 2022 fourth-round pick saw his numbers decline last season after a surprisingly productive rookie campaign, with both his efficiency and touch volume dropping. Pierce's collapse was part of what prompted the team to acquire Mixon, but coach DeMeco Ryans hasn't given up on him yet. "I see Dameon having a very clear head space as we are out working, and I think that will allow him to have a really productive year this year," Ryans said last week during OTAs. "He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us, and I think him and Joe as a one-two punch would be very beneficial for us all."

Woods' 40 receptions over 14 games in 2023 tied a career low, while his 426 receiving yards were the fewest in any of his first 11 seasons. Skowronek, a teammate of Woods with the Rams during the former's rookie 2021 campaign, is six years younger, can play special teams, and is a more formidable presence in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field at 6-foot-3, 224 pounds.

Skowronek enjoyed his best professional campaign to date in 2022, when he mustered a 39-37-6 line across a career-high 680 snaps in what was Woods' first season away from the Rams after spending the previous five years in Los Angeles. The two players, teammates during Skowronek's rookie 2021 campaign, could now ultimately battle for Houston's No. 4 or No. 5 receiver job this summer.

The injury was described as minor at the time, and the team doesn't seem to have any worries about it affecting Dell long term. The wideout is coming off a dynamic rookie season in which he hauled in 709 yards in only 11 games before suffering a broken fibula. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans had said in April, prior to the shooting, that Dell was fully recovered from his leg injury.

The Texans took Stover with the 123rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Over his last two years at Ohio State, Stover registered 77 catches for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he was named as the Big Ten Conference Tight End of the year in 2023. His criticism heading into the draft was his blocking, but Stover's impressive route tree and strong hands gives the Texans another threat in the passing game alongside Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz.

The Texans selected Lassiter 42nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, so he'll almost certainly contribute in some form as a rookie. Derek Stingley will be locked into one starting cornerback spot when healthy, though he's appeared in only 20 games combined in his first two seasons as a pro. The spot opposite of him is wide open, with Jeff Okudah, CJ Henderson and Desmond King all candidates for a starting role along with Lassiter. It's also possible that Lassiter slides inside as a pro to work in nickel coverage.

Dell should have a strong chance of being back to full speed from the serious lower leg injury he suffered in Week 13 of last season by the time training camp rolls around, if not sooner. However, his outlook for his sophomore campaign has now been altered to a degree, considering the arrival of Diggs, who averaged a whopping 161 targets per season over his four-year Bills tenure, presumably will keep Dell in a No. 3 receiver role to open the 2024 season.

The star wideout also got a raise to $22.5 million for 2024, as the Texans moved the $3.5 million guaranteed to him for 2025 and moved it into his salary for the coming season. The voiding of the back end of the deal appears to have been strategic from more than just a salary cap perspective -- the Texans now anticipate Diggs will be highly motivated in the coming campaign since he'll be playing for a new long-term contract.

As far as landing spots go, Diggs couldn't have asked for a better one, as the Texans are an ascendant franchise coming off a playoff berth, and C.J. Stroud is one of a handful of quarterbacks that doesn't represent a downgrade from Josh Allen as a passer. Diggs has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past six seasons, but he produced only 422 yards in his final 10 games with the Bills. The 30-year-old wide receiver will be looking to prove that his decline down the stretch in Buffalo wasn't the first sign of age catching up to him.

Diggs and Nico Collins will be locked into starting roles as long as they're on the field, while Tank Dell and Noah Brown both substantially outperformed Metchie in 2024. Dell and Brown are currently working their way back from fibula and shoulder injuries, respectively, but the expectation is that both will be available for the start of the 2024 season. Houston also has veteran Robert Woods, who racked up 426 receiving yards to Metchie's 158 in 2023. The Texans had high hopes for Metchie when they drafted him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but the former Alabama wide receiver's window of opportunity to carve out a meaningful role in Houston looks to be closing.

After failing to reach 500 receiving yards in either of his first two NFL seasons, Collins broke out with 1,297 yards in 2023, due in large part to seeing a team-high 109 targets. Diggs commanded at least 154 targets in each of his four seasons with the Bills, and if Diggs becomes the top option for quarterback C.J. Stroud, Collins would likely see a decrease in volume, especially once fellow wide receiver Tank Dell recovers from a broken fibula.

Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie with Nico Collins and Tank Dell as his top two receivers. Diggs had a disappointing second half of the 2023 season in Buffalo but still finished with 1,183 receiving yards, topping 1,000 for the sixth consecutive season. With Diggs joining Collins and then Dell potentially being ready to start the season while he works his way back from a broken fibula, Stroud will have one of the league's most talented wide receiver rooms at his disposal in 2024.

Pierce saw 2023 backfield mate Devin Singletary, who usurped him for the No. 1 job in the latter portion of last season, leave via free agency to the Giants earlier in the week. However, the Texans quickly made a trade with the Bengals for Mixon and handed the new arrival a three-year extension Thursday. Pierce's status therefore remains murky, considering he's likely to get additional competition in next month's 2024 NFL Draft and looked like a poor fit in the team's new offense last season while averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.

The accomplished veteran running back only cost the Texans a seventh-round pick in terms of trade capital and is expected to serve as a replacement for late-season rushing star Devin Singletary, who signed with the Giants. However, the Texans clearly view Mixon, who has seven seasons of experience but is only 27, as more than just a short-term solution, given the new deal includes $13 million guaranteed per Bien-Aime's ESPN colleague Adam Schefter.