Texans viewed as top-three best young team under 25 for 2026 season

The Houston Texans are promising roster for the immediate future, but what about the long-term status of the franchise?

Three straight years under DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have built themselves into a contender. Racking up 32 regular-season wins and three playoff victories, Houston has a team talented enough to compete with the best and become the standard of the AFC.

But what about their young talent? Where does it stack up among all 32 rosters entering 2026?

ESPN revealed its ranking of teams by players under the age of 25. The only criterion was ranking young talent who could be on the rise in the coming seasons.

The New England Patriots, fresh off winning the AFC division title, took the top spot over a dozen names in the age range, including quarterback Drake Maye, offensive tackle Will Campbell and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

At No. 2? The Texans, headlined by All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiter, offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery and quarterback C.J. Stroud.

"The Texans were No. 1 on this list for three straight years, and they've now fallen all the way down ... to No. 2. However, they're going to fall a lot further next year, because star players Stroud and Anderson barely qualified to be counted," ESPN's Aaron Schtaz wrote. "Anderson -- who had 12 sacks in 2025 -- will turn 25 on Sept. 2, and Stroud -- who threw for 3,041 yards -- will do the same on Oct. 3."

Stroud and Anderson are key names who certainly elevate the Texans. One is a Pro Bowl quarterback who has thrown for 4,000 yards, while the other is arguably the second-best pass rusher in the NFL behind Los Angeles Rams and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

But what about when they graduate from the list similar to All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.? Well, ESPN named two rising up-and-comers on the offensive line and secondary to better the Texans' chances.

"There's still plenty of young talent behind those two. Start with the secondary, as safety Calen Bullock and cornerback Lassiter are both just 23 years old," Schatz wrote. "Left tackle Ersery is 24, and his backup, Blake Fisher, who played a lot as a sixth lineman in 2025, is 23. First-round rookie Keylan Rutledge will start at center this season after turning 23 on Sept. 2. And the two Iowa State receivers the Texans drafted a year ago, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, are both 23 as well."

Higgins and Noel are key assets that must continue to flourish for Houston to have a top-three ranking next offseason. Higgins, Houston's first pick in last year's draft, finished with over 40 catches and tied Nico Collins for the team lead in touchdowns. Noel looked promising during offseason workouts, seeming to have carved out more of a role inside the slot while running crispier routes.

Bullock, Ersery, Rutledge and Lassiter seem to be foundational pieces beyond 2027. Two have been Pro Bowlers, while Ersery was one of the league's most improved offensive tackles over the last several months of his rookie season.

To read the full list, click here.

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans viewed as top-three best young team under 25 for 2026 season