The Houston Texans are rolling this offseason. The team has been among the most active in the National Football League over the past week as it looks to ensure fans they are not resting on their laurels.
The Texans had a great season in 2025 finishing the season as winners of nine consecutive games to end the year after a rocky 3-5 start and three-game losing streak to open the season. The year proved the team’s mental toughness and resiliency as its impressive turnaround landed the team in the NFL postseason.
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Most outsiders would probably be impressed with the season given how it started. The Texans appear unsatisfied.
This week, the team has pulled off several moves that could be game changers for 2026 and beyond.
Among immediate impact moves, the Texans got the ball rolling with a trade for Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery. The talented skill player adds production and reliable playmaking the team simply was not confident it would have for the 2026 season.
Detroit sent a fourth round and future seventh round pick for the talented running back. It was not the first potentially pricey trade the team surrendered, but it indicates the team is not messing around with settling for nothing if they do not get the perfect deal.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit. Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
One trade that could help the team later and indirectly could aid the team’s 2026 prospects is the trade of right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick. The fifth rounder essentially cancels out the loss of the fourth-round pick from the Montgomery trade, but it does a couple more things.
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Howard was rumored to be set for a huge contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, and perhaps one that the Texans could not afford or would not like to make. Instead of keeping Howard another season, the Texans received value back in the form of the trade and free up the ability to make more moves.
Additionally, the Texans sent a contract extension to star pass rusher Danielle Hunter and gave another extension to offensive tackle Trent Brown.
The main takeaway might be that the Texans entered the offseason with a plan and have executed it. It comes in stark contrast to the somewhat reactionary offseasons other teams may have in 2026.
Houston came into the week prepared to get closer to its first ever AFC championship game. If early returns are any indication, the team is well on its way to a season it can be proud of next year.