Feb. 19, 2026, 4:52 p.m. CT
Pro Football Focus hasn’t always been kind to the Houston Texans, but they seem to be turning over a new chapter with the emergence of several young and promising foundational pieces.
PFF recently finished its top 101 players list for the 2025 season, naming the best players based on their metrics and on-field play. While players like cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have yet to be named, that doesn’t mean they won’t land in the top 25 when the list is released next week.
Do-it-all defensive back Jalen Pitre found his way into the top 101, ranking No. 35 overall ahead of defensive back Kamari Lassiter (No.55) and wide receiver Nico Collins (No. 50). Since the transition down toward the line of scrimmage, Pitre has been playing at a near MVP-level for the Texans‘ secondary.
“Pitre took another jump during the Texans’ collective defensive ascension in 2025,” PFF wrote. “His 84.4 PFF overall grade sat third among qualified safeties, and his 79.7 PFF run-defense grade was the 13th-best mark at the position. Pitre especially thrived in slot coverage: He ranked third among qualified slot defenders in passer rating when targeted (68.9) and permitted more than 50 yards in a game just twice.”
A star at Baylor, Pitre was looking like a lost cause on the back end of a secondary before the Texans elected to move him into the nickel position. The move paid off as not only has Pitre returned to his All-Big 12 identity, but he’s also been perhaps the league’s best slot defender.
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Still listed as a safety, Pitre is best used in man coverage against tight ends and running backs. Last season, he was only targeted 26 times in coverage and managed to net four picks and 12 pass deflections.
Already locked up on a three-year extension, it seems like Pitre’s slight adjustment has led to a massive uptick in his persona moving forward with the organization. An All-Pro season on the horizon? It’s not too late to say so.