The Front Office Is Betting on The Team.

It was a lot to give up to trade back up to snag Anderson. The 33rd pick this year, a 3rd rounder rounder next year, and most worryingly, our first rounder next year to move up 9 spots (and get a 4th rounder). Me personally, I wish it was the Browns' pick we'd have given them. Giving up ours feel like it's much more of a risk.

But by giving up that first round pick, the front office has signaled that it genuinely intends to try to compete this year. They believe that the hirings of Demeco and Bobby Slowik, the free agency class we had this year, and now the selections of CJ Stroud and Will Anderson (plus whoever else we land this year) will be enough to make losing our own first round pick worth it. And the only way to lower the value of that pick is to win games now.

It's an enormous risk, that much is undeniable. Houston is currently pegged by just about every analyst and betting outlet to be a bottom five team.

But for the first time since 2020, there is reason to be genuinely hopeful. The talent from the last two drafts, plus our best free agency class in years, has resulted in easily the most talent on the team in the last four seasons. We have a new coaching staff, helmed by a former player who has now shown he can squeeze all the potential possible out of a front seven. Not to mention, have you seen our home schedule? It's very light.

Is this team winning a Super Bowl? No. There will be a lot of growing pains this year, between a Year 1 head coach and a rookie QB that does have his concerns. There are still major areas of need (WR and C come to mind) It's totally possible we eat s**t, lose 13 games again, and end up giving the Cardinals Marvin Harrison Jr.

But in the meantime, it seems like the culture is shifting towards something more positive. The players sound excited, and the front office has confidence. It's nice to have some hope, and it's nice to have two of the top five prospects in this year's draft.