Two of the most iconic players in Houston Texans history have hung up their cleats over the past eight days. Tennessee Titans wideout Andre Johnson announced his retirement on Monday, a week after Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster did the same.
Which raises the question: Who is the best player in the Texans' 15-year history?
Johnson joined the Texans a year after they were founded in 2002, playing 12 years and earning seven Pro Bowl selections along with two first-team and two second-team All-Pro selections. He tallied nearly three times more receiving yards (13,851) with Houston than the next-most by any player (Owen Daniels, 4,617) in team history.
Foster, however, is the franchise's all-time touchdown leader, with 68 (to Johnson's 64). He played seven seasons for the Texans, earning four Pro Bowl trips and being named first-team and second-team All-Pro once each. Foster led the NFL in rushing yards, scrimmage yards and total touchdowns in 2010, before leading the league in TDs again in 2012.
A current Texan has a compelling case as well. Last season, defensive end J.J. Watt joined Lawrence Taylor as the only players in NFL history to collect three Defensive Player of the Year awards. In his first five NFL seasons, Watt received four Pro Bowl nods and four first-team All-Pro selections.
So who's your pick?
Watt is on injured reserve after his second back surgery in a span of 10 weeks, but his career path should make him a shoo-in answer to this question eventually. His 76 career sacks are already 23 more than anyone else in Texans history (Mario Williams). Since sacks became an official stat in 1982, only Reggie White (81.0) tallied more through his first five seasons than Watt (74.5).
-- David DeChant