ESPN says Texans have the 10th-best pass-protecting offensive line

The Houston Texans are actually projected to be top-10 in something in 2021, and it is a good category to boot.

According to Seth Walder of ESPN Analytics, the Texans are projected to have the 10th-best offensive line when it comes to pass protection for the upcoming season.

The Texans look destined for a losing season, but offensive line is one of the stronger units on this roster. You’d hope so, after they mortgaged the future a few years back by trading multiple first-round picks for [Laremy] Tunsil. He and [Tytus] Howard produced higher win rates in 2019 than 2020, and the model takes both seasons into account.

The Texans are projected to have a pass-block win rate of 60%. Walder includes as his projected starters to be Tunsil at left tackle, Max Scharping at left guard, Justin Britt at center, Lane Taylor at right guard, and Howard manning the right tackle spot despite the competition with Marcus Cannon.

If the Texans can have a top-10 pass-blocking offensive line in 2021, it should at least be a nice cradle for third-round rookie Davis Mills to explore the NFL. It should also provide Tyrod Taylor the comfort to go through his progressions and find the open man.

Offensive line coach James Campen told reporters on a Zoom call on June 8 that what he looks forward to the most in training camp is putting together the best five-man combination along the offensive line.

“I think that the competition is what’s going to be really exciting,” Campen said. “It’s going to help these players to get the best out of them, to motivate them, and it’s going to be a heck of a camp until this thing kicks off. I’m excited to see how it shakes out. I really am.”

So long as the five-man combo provides the best in pass protection, the Texans may have a chance to stay out of the bottom-5 of the NFL.