SAN DIEGO — Like few other NFL teams this offseason, the Houston Texans are as acquisitive as Richard Pryor's character in Brewster's Millions.

You know, the movie whose protagonist must spend $30 million in 30 days in order to inherit $300 million.

Shopping, shopping and shopping, the Texans have added no fewer than seven players to their projected starting lineups plus a few backups.

In addition, they made a trade involving four draft picks — three of them before the third round.

What's going on here?

Here's what: a year ago Houston obtained the NFL's version of a golden ticket when it drafted former Ohio State star C.J. Stroud second overall and saw him engineer one of the better seasons ever by a rookie QB.

Stroud, 22, represents an ultra bargain for at least three more years if he can maintain his high level of play

Any QB who plays well returns good value. Having Stroud on the relative cheap through 2026 stiffens the tailwind, enabling the Texans to devote larger slices of the salary cap to other positions.

A whole lot could go wrong, of course, but Stroud and the related NFL economics mean the AFC franchise has it best shot in a long time — perhaps ever — at building its first Super Bowl team.

General manager Nick Caserio's largest bets this offseason have brought in two decorated players: edge rusher Danielle Hunter, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Vikings whom they pledged $48 million in guaranteed money; and receiver Stefon Diggs, a 2020 All-Pro who's made the last four Pro Bowls and abetted the development of QBs Josh Allen and Kirk Cousins.

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