Why ESPN's Ben Solak Is Still One of the Texans' Biggest Believers

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C.J. Stroud's rough finish to last season has noticeably shifted the national conversation around the Houston Texans.

Questions about the offense, whether Stroud has plateaued, and even whether Houston should wait to extend its franchise quarterback have become common topics throughout the offseason. ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak sees things differently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoCb4mx5Xzo

Solak recently predicted the Texans to win the AFC in ESPN's preseason predictions, and when he joined me for an interview, it became clear that his confidence in Houston isn't based on blind optimism. He believes much of the reaction to last season has overlooked the bigger picture.

"I've been a DeMeco Ryans guy since his first year with the Texans," Solak said. "I'm still very, very bullish on the team overall."

That perspective was also reflected in his recent ESPN article, where he argued many people are "selling Texans stock" after Stroud's two poor playoff performances while he's happy to "scoop it all up at a discount."

Two Games Changed The Narrative More Than They Changed The Team

One point Solak returned to several times was how much weight people have placed on Houston's final two games.

He didn't defend how Stroud played against Pittsburgh or New England. In fact, he called them the worst football of Stroud's career. But he also believes they've become the defining image of a season that was much better than people remember.

"The season was tremendous," Solak said. "A good 25 percent of our league has great seasons that end extremely embarrassingly. That's the nature of playing a one-game playoff instead of a seven-game series."

That's also why he isn't nearly as concerned about Stroud as much of the public appears to be.

Stroud Isn't The Problem

One of the more interesting parts of our conversation centered on how differently Solak views Stroud's 2025 season than many fans.

While the production looked different from his rookie year, Solak pointed out that many of Stroud's efficiency metrics barely changed. The bigger difference was the offense around him.

Houston couldn't consistently run the football. The offensive line struggled in pass protection. Defenses increasingly played with light boxes and two-high shells because they weren't worried about getting gashed on the ground.

"My favorite Stroud stat is that since he entered the league, the Texans are 31st in EPA per rush and 31st in rushing success rate," Solak said. "Defenses are very comfortable saying, 'Make the quarterback beat us.'"

That lack of balance forced Houston into a style of offense that asked Stroud to distribute the ball quickly rather than consistently attack downfield.

Solak acknowledged there are areas where Stroud still needs to improve. He mentioned his mechanics, handling pressure and avoiding allowing one mistake to snowball into an entire game. But he was also very clear about where he believes the offense's biggest problems originated.

"He's not the problem with the Houston Texans offense. It just isn't."

Houston Spent The Offseason Fixing Exactly That

If Solak is right about what held the offense back, it's easy to understand why he likes Houston's offseason.

The Texans added David Montgomery to stabilize the running game, signed Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, drafted Keylan Rutledge, and continued investing in the tight end room with players like Marlin Klein and Foster Moreau.

None of those moves were flashy, but together they point toward a clear philosophy.

Houston wants to become a more balanced offense that can actually punish defenses for sitting in light boxes.

Solak believes that could dramatically change life for Stroud.

He also expects the continuity to matter. Nick Caley is entering his second season calling plays, the quarterback is no longer learning a brand-new system, and Houston should finally have a healthier supporting cast around him.

"I am as confident as anything I'm predicting for the 2026 season that C.J. Stroud will have a bounce-back year," Solak said.

The Defense Is Why Solak Thinks Houston Can Win The AFC

As optimistic as Solak is about the offense improving, the defense is still what makes him believe Houston belongs among the AFC's elite.

He recently wrote that the Texans finished with one of the best passing defenses of the past 15 seasons and noted during our interview that what makes DeMeco Ryans' group special isn't a complicated scheme. It's that they simply overwhelm opponents with speed, physicality and talent.

"They just beat the brakes off you," Solak said while describing Houston's defense.

With virtually every major contributor returning, the addition of Reed Blankenship, and second-round pick Kayden McDonald helping reinforce the defensive front, Solak believes the foundation is already in place for another dominant season.

Should The Texans Extend Stroud?

The only place Solak and I differed slightly was on the timing of a contract extension.

He believes Stroud will eventually receive a market-setting contract because he's already shown he's a franchise quarterback. His hesitation isn't about Stroud's ability. It's about whether either side has much incentive to do a deal before another season plays out.

He compared the situation to quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love, who ultimately received major contracts despite questions surrounding them at the time.

As Solak put it, Stroud is "the motorcycle driver," not someone simply benefiting from the roster around him. Whether the extension happens now or after another season, he expects Houston to eventually pay its quarterback what the market demands.

For all the debate surrounding the Texans entering 2026, Solak's overall message never really changed. He believes Houston addressed its biggest weakness, returns one of football's best defenses, and has a quarterback whose worst games have unfairly overshadowed everything else he's accomplished.

That confidence is why he picked the Texans to win the AFC in his recent ESPN predictions, and why he closed our interview with another reminder that his belief in Houston hasn't changed.

"The Texans were my preseason Super Bowl pick last year and they'll probably be so again," Solak said. "This is just a very, very good football team."