The Houston Texans had, by all accounts, an extremely successful 2023 campaign.
They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.
With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.
This series has already taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and Devin Singletary, and rookie Tank Dell. Today, attention turns towards right tackle George Fant.
Background
George Fant was signed to the roster in late July originally to serve as a backup to Houston’s franchise tackle duo in Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard. He had played the three years prior with the New York Jets and signed to a very reasonable one-year, $4 million contract as almost a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ player in the effort to protect C.J. Stroud.
Sources: Free agent OT George Fant is signing with the #Texans.
I’m told the former #Seahawks’ and #Jets’ starter is fully healthy entering the 2023 campaign. Houston gets more protection up front for C.J. Stroud. pic.twitter.com/nE9GareUEo
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 28, 2023
Instead of playing as a backup, Fant was quickly thrust into the starting lineup once Howard, who was signed to a three-year, $56 million extension just a few weeks earlier, broke his hand and was forced to miss the beginning portions of the season.
Fant took the right tackle spot and didn’t look back.
2023 Performance
Fant held down the right tackle spot as the full-time starter for nearly all of 2023.
He missed just two games and provided above-average tackle play during the breakout rookie season of his quarterback, Stroud. His seamless transition into the right tackle role was not only pivotal for Stroud but also the offense as a whole despite having little time on the team or time to practice with the rest of the unit before preseason.
Fant comes in high on this list as Houston’s offensive line picture would have been entirely different without his services in August. It could have meant severe instability at one of the tackle spots and, instead of a strength, a potential weak point for defenses to target.
Watch his play here against Myles Garrett.
Stroud to Collins connection is just getting started 🔥
📺: #CLEvsHOU on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jM781VisSx pic.twitter.com/hSD2KYeKi3— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2024
He may not have played as strong as Laremy Tunsil, but he was pivotal in protecting Stroud’s right side and stopping edge defenders to allow for some of the longer-developing passing concepts that Bobby Slowik’s offense thrived in.
Without Fant, it’s unclear what Houston’s dynamic passing attack may have ultimately looked like instead.
2024 Projection
Fant is an unrestricted free agent entering the 2024 offseason.
It is unclear whether or not the team will bring him back, as financially they’ve made two massive commitments between Tunsil and Howard and will likely want to play them at their natural positions. General manager Nick Caserio may decide Fant’s skillset is worth having again in 2024 unless another injury is to happen.
Houston, thank you 🤘🏾🫶🏾
— George Fant (@GeorgeFant74) January 23, 2024
In all likelihood, Houston fans probably won’t see Fant in 2024. There will be higher bidders for him on the market with the intent to make him a full-time starter and see the benefits that Stroud saw as a rookie.
He may not be part of what coach DeMeco Ryans continues to build, but their ability to build this quickly would not have been possible without his efforts at right tackle last season.
