Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has given major praise for their defense ahead of the 2025 season.
"Them boys swarming everywhere," Collins said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast. "I feel like our defense got the opportunity to be the best defense in the league."
The Texans have a talented defense and do have a chance to be the best unit in the NFL. They have an elite pass rush duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, who had 11 and 12 sacks, respectively, in the 2024 season.
Houston also has a talented secondary led by Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, and trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
On the podcast, Long described the speed and violence that linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and safety Jalen Pitre play at.
"They got something called the kill zone. Don't get caught in the kill zone, that's all I got to say," Collins responded. "Anything that's linebacker depth [and] in front. That's the kill zone. ... There's a fence. Don't get caught lacking."
The Texans have an elite defense heading into the 2025 season, and with C.J. Stroud and Collins leading the offense, they could emerge as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Houston Texans Defender Fires Brutal Shot at Former Team
The Houston Texans acquired defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this offseason, sending disappointing offensive lineman Kenyon Green back to the Eagles in the deal.
Well, Gardner-Johnson has made his feelings very clear in the wake of the trade. While he is happy to be a member of the Texans, he is not exactly pleased with the way things ended for him in Philadelphia, and he has been voicing those thoughts quite a bit recently.
That continued during a recent Instagram live stream, when Gardner-Johnson — who helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl this past season — responded to a fan who said that he would never win another ring outside of Philadelphia.
"That's crazy. They probably won't see one without me. (Expletive) you talking about," Gardner-Johnson said. "You saw what happened when I left (after 2022). ... I'm glad I'm in Texas."
The 27-year-old had two separate stints with the Eagles. He initially arrived in 2022 and spent one year with the club, leading the NFL with six interceptions. He then made his way to the Detroit Lions that ensuing offseason, but signed back with Philadelphia last year.
In 16 games with Philly last season, Gardner-Johnson registered 59 tackles, six picks, a forced fumble and 12 passes defended.
The University of Florida native was originally selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and spent the first three years of his career with the Saints.
Gardner-Johnson's best two campaigns to date came with the Eagles, so we will see if can deliver just as much — if not more — in Houston this coming fall.
