Battle Red Blog
Every year the NFL polls current players on who is the best among their peers. Once the votes are in, that list runs as a TV series called The NFL’s Top 100.
We detailed Houston Texans pash rushing force-of-nature Danielle Hunter making this year’s list two weeks ago.
As it stands right now, Hunter’s teammates, Nico Collins, C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. have joined him.
As of this writing, the league has only revealed 21-100 on this year’s list. Conspicuously absent so far is the man some are calling the best cornerback in Houston Texans history: Derek Stingley Jr.
NFL.com
#25
After eight seasons played in Minnesota, Hunter joined the Texans and continued his stellar defensive play for Houston. Hunter reached 10-plus sacks for the third consecutive season and earned a third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. Head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans noticed Hunter’s immediate impact and gave the star pass rusher an extension in March that made him the league’s second-highest paid defensive end. Hunter and the Texans defense expect to create a lot of turnovers in 2025.
NFL Pro Insight for Hunter: Danielle Hunter generated 90 pressures this season, the second-most in the NFL. Hunter’s pressure rate (19.1%) was the second-highest among defenders with at least 200 pass rushes.
#32
Collins was one of the few Texans offensive players who lived up to the massive weight of expectations last season. He surged out of the gates with three 100-yard receiving performances in his first five games. He likely would’ve made it four, too, considering he already had 78 yards on two catches at the time of his Week 5 hamstring injury. Although Collins wasn’t quite as prolific upon his return in Week 11 and beyond, he remained one of the league’s preeminent deep threats and C.J. Stroud’s surest bet at success — descriptions likely to fit him again this year amid a remade WR room in Houston.
NFL Pro Insight for Collins: Nico Collins caught 29 passes as an isolated receiver this season for a league-leading 545 yards, 127 more than any other player. His 164 receiving yards over expected on those targets ranked second in the NFL, 2 yards behind Ja’Marr Chase.
#39
Those concerned with Stroud’s sophomore slump are missing the bigger picture. With him under center, a team that had managed only 11 combined victories in three seasons prior to his arrival won 11 in a season (including playoffs) for a second straight year. He’s already produced two blowout postseason wins. He experienced a step back in 2024, but he also played behind PFF’s 29th-ranked offensive line and lost all three of his best receivers to injury at various points. The Texans have addressed both groups this offseason, and Stroud possesses all the talent to capitalize with a redemption arc.
NFL Pro Insight for Stroud: C.J. Stroud finished third in the NFL with 699 yards on passes outside...
