How much premier talent is on the Houston Texans' roster entering 2026?
In ESPN’s most recent projections for who will be the top 100 players in the NFL this season, there are five Houston Texans players who made the list. Four of them were on defense: defensive ends Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, as well as cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter.
Houston’s one player on offense who made the list was wide receiver Nico Collins.
The Texans' defense only got better in the offseason with the addition of Jadeveon Clowney. Anderson had 20 tackles for loss, including 12 sacks, as well as three forced fumbles last season, and with the trio of Anderson, Hunter and Clowney, he could hit those numbers again this season, as the entire defensive
line will be a handful for opposing offensive lines.
Anderson, who became the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL after a breakout season last fall, appeared at No. 14. The second Texan on the list was cornerback Derek Stingley, who was named an All-Pro last season for the second year in a row.
He has 14 interceptions over the past three years and got his first pick-six in the NFL last season.
“After earning back-to-back All-Pro selections, Stingley knows what is possible from an individual standpoint: a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame," ESPN's D.J. Bien-Amie said. "So, don't expect him to relax now that he has had some high-level success. Luckily for him, he plays on DeMeco Ryans' defense that won't settle for less than perfection."
Signature stat: Stingley is the only player in the NFL with at least four interceptions in each of the past three seasons. He is one of four players in Texans history with multiple first-team All-Pro selections, alongside J.J. Watt (five), DeAndre Hopkins (three) and Andre Johnson (two).
As for his prediction, Bien-Amie has Stingely totaling 48 tackles, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Stingley came in at No. 21 overall and the second-highest cornerback behind All-Pro and former Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II of Denver. This is part of the scary thing about Houston’s defense this season. Not only can they dominate you at the line of scrimmage, but also in the secondary. It certainly helps Stingley that the Texans have a lockdown corner opposite him in Kamari Lassiter.
To read the full list and see where the rest of the Texans land in the top 100, click here.
Houston begins its regular season at home against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13 at Noon.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. named Top 25 players for 2026 by ESPN
