The Houston Texans had, by all accounts, an extremely successful 2023 campaign.
They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.
With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.
This series will examine the Top 15 most impactful Houston Texans of the 2023 campaign — first up on that list is defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.
Background
Rankins was one of the priority free agent targets of Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio in the 2023 offseason. They signed him to a one-year, $10.5 million contract in mid-March as one of the most expensive free agent additions to the team.
The goal in adding Rankins was relatively simple: Find ways to improve the league’s worst rushing defense from 2022.
Sheldon Rankins probably has the biggest tangible impact of anyone so far.
The running defense improving is when Houston can start to really capitalize on how strong the secondary looks.
Will be worth every penny if the offense holds up their end of the deal. https://t.co/UIiUH0F31n
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) March 15, 2023
Rankins came with an endorsement from Ryans’ former colleague in New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and was a natural compliment to 2022 breakout player Maliek Collins. The results were exactly what Houston hoped for.
2023 Performance
Rankins finished the 2023 campaign with 37 total tackles and 6.0 sacks while playing 52.5% of Houston’s total defensive snaps.
He was a key component of the Texans renewed effort in stopping the run game and his efforts on the interior played a major role in helping the development of the linebacker group and helping Houston to become one of the NFL’s top run-stopping defense.
Sheldon Rankins vs Cincinnati
•3 Sacks
•11 pressures
•93.8 PFF GradeRankins flashed power, quickness and run stopping ability all day long, he was relentless.pic.twitter.com/mIjjlEeMFj
— Drew (@IndepthTexans) November 13, 2023
In the passing game, Rankins wasn’t always the most impactful, but it was the little things that often mattered. His steady presence and ability to eat double teams certainly played a role in increased production from Maliek Collins as well as breakout seasons from edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Jonathan Greenard.
Sometimes it was the big things, as well.
Rankins had three of his six sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals and played a huge role in helping to steal a win on the road against Joe Burrow and one of the AFC’s premier contenders the last few seasons. His sack on Derek Carr and two tackles for loss against New Orleans also contributed towards winning a somewhat ugly contest against the Saints.
All in all, it feels safe to say that Caserio and Ryans got their money’s worth with Rankins this past year.
2024 Projection
Rankins is an unrestricted free agent entering the 2024 offseason and is able to walk away from the Texans, if he so desires.
Many project that he will be a priority target for the team to re-sign, along with edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, linebacker Blake Cashman and tight end Dalton Schultz. Houston does not have many premier players on the interior and keeping him next to Collins could be prudent as Ryans preaches the importance of a strong front-seven.
Obviously, a great play by Blake Cashman, but credit Sheldon Rankins creating interior pressure on the bull rush of the center, and Jon Greenard for the pressure that Lawrence steps right into. pic.twitter.com/eInWfq0uK9
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) September 26, 2023
Rankins will turn 30 this offseason and may want to enjoy the fruits of landing with a contending team after spending the previous two seasons with the Jets and never quite reaching the mountain top during his time in New Orleans.
Fans will have to wait and see what vision Ryans has for the defense and if Rankins and Caserio can agree on an extension that makes sense for both the strong defensive tackle and the team.
