C.J. Stroud explains why he initially ignored texts regarding Stefon Diggs trade

"I didn't really know (about the trade) and I woke up and my boy Chase B. texted me. He was like 'How you feelin' bro?' I was like 'I'm good fam, how are you?'" Stroud said. "I had seen like five texts like that and then I woke up for real this time. I was kind of like half-awake texting in bed. (I) woke up, brushed my teeth, washed my face, you know. And then I (saw) the news on Instagram and was like 'Oh shoot, that's what they (were) talking about.'"

After just 11 wins over three seasons from 2020-22 (including an AFC-low three victories in 2022) Houston hired DeMeco Ryans as its head coach and selected Stroud with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Texans shocked the league by winning the AFC South at 10-7 and blowing out the Cleveland Browns in the AFC wild-card round.

Houston's campaign ended with a 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, but the future looked bright for the Texans entering the offseason.

The team has made huge additions in recent weeks, trading for 2021 Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon while signing four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Danielle Hunter, former All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend and others.

The biggest move was the Diggs trade though, a deal that many are saying makes the Texans Super Bowl contenders.

The Maryland product has been consistently great over his first nine seasons. Diggs has played in at least 13 games every year of his career and only missed one contest during his four campaigns in Western New York.

Diggs has made four straight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2020. He's recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in six consecutive seasons, at least 100 catches in five of his last six years and six touchdowns or more every season since 2017.

Diggs is expected to take the field with fellow starters Nico Collins and Tank Dell in three-wide sets in the fall, giving the Texans one of the most talented group of receivers on paper.