Division rival praises Houston Texans player, and rightly so

The AFC South is underrated. The Houston Texans aren’t going to have the luck of making it as some think they will. With three potential playoff teams in the same division, you’re going to have some major matchups and some tough opposition to conquer. There’s a lot of talent in this division and the Texans are going to have to deal with that talent.

One of the biggest names the Texans will have to keep an eye on is Josh Hines-Allen, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Pro Bowl defensive end. He has been one of the best defensive players for the Florida-based club and the league. He is not to be taken lightly.

So when he praises a rival, you know he means it. Recently on Herd with Colin Cowherd, the Jaguars defensive end praised several offensive tackles, but the one we’re focusing on the most is Texans left tackle Laremey Tunsil.

The Jaguars star compared Tunsil to two of the league’s best players in Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs. Frankly, it’s not a comparison that bothers us. Tunsil is one of the league’s best tackles and while some may think he’s regressed in 2023, we disagree. The offensive line was destroyed last season due to injuries and poor play. It’s one of the few units in football that requires total cohesion.

If one player is bad, it can ruin the whole line. Sure, Tunsil’s performance has dropped off a bit in 2023, after all, a lot of players struggled last year. It’s likely that Tunsil, who is only 29 (he turns 30 in August), will bounce back and return to form in 2024.

Frankly, it has to be done. The team can’t afford to try to replace Tunsil mid-season. You can replace a mid-level offensive lineman mid-season and not lose a single step. But replacing an All-Pro offensive tackle is nearly impossible. If Tunsil doesn’t elevate his game, the team will struggle. Unfortunately, there’s no way to fix that.

Still, it’s good to hear that Hines-Allen still believes Tunsil is a top-tier talent, because the Texans will need him to be a major factor.