Fresh off back-to-back AFC South division titles, the Houston Texans have ample talent across the roster who will undoubtedly shape the AFC postseason picture amid the 2025 NFL season. Players like quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Nico Collins, defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., and running back Joe Mixon were staples last season in securing a second 10-win season for DeMeco Ryans.
But who’s the one player that could influence the roster that remains flying beneath our noses? CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles ranked 50 “under-the-radar” players who could impact the 2025 season and named fourth-year linebacker Christian Harris as the No. 40 player to watch.
“Harris’ career has been a bit of a roller coaster so far, with the Alabama product ascending from quiet rookie to sophomore standout and then playing in just three games in his third season due to calf and ankle injuries,” Pereles wrote. “Harris is a talent who the Texans hope they can line up behind a fearsome pass rush, but injuries are an issue.”
When DeMeco Ryans joined the Texans following his run in San Francisco, no one was expected to blossom more than Harris, a former Alabama standout linebacker whom the Texans drafted the year prior. Once under Ryans’ watch, the third-round pick transformed into a well-rounded WILL backer, notching over 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception returned to a touchdown in the wild-card round win over the Browns.
A hip injury sidelined Harris for most of the 2024 season. In just five games, including the playoffs, he managed to secure 20 tackles and a sack. That also came in a rotational role behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o for most of the postseason.
Entering camp, Al-Shaair has locked up one roster spot, but the other linebacker role is up for grabs. Harris, a former safety turned linebacker, is the best coverage backer of the group, but his health could limit his playing time. Meanwhile, the Texans still have To’oTo’o for two more seasons and added linebacker E.J. Speed on a one-year deal back in April.
The Texans will need both Al-Shaair and the other linebacker to contribute as three-down role players, though, perhaps it can be a rotational job since the defensive line is loaded with talent. Time will tell if Houston has Harris bought in for the long term, but there’s hope he’ll return to his 2023 form with an entire offseason to recover.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans LB Christian Harris named ‘under the radar’ player who could shape the NFL in 2025
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
