The Green Bay Packers offense has a dire need for a speedy receiver capable of stretching the field on a consistent basis. Whether the team addresses that need through the draft, free agency or via trade this offseason remains to be seen.
One name to keep an eye on is Houston Texans receiver Kenny Stills. Aaron Reiss of The Athletic believes Stills could be “the odd man out” in the Texans’ receiver room after a bevy of moves this offseason.
Houston signed Randall Cobb in free agency and acquired Brandin Cooks via trade from the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month. Former first-rounder Will Fuller figures to round out the team’s top three options at the position.
Stills, who turns 28 this month, was acquired by the Texans last season as part of the Laremy Tunsil trade from the Miami Dolphins. Entering the last year of his current contract, Houston can save $7 million in cap space with no dead money by releasing or trading Stills.
Trading for Stills would likely only cost a late-round draft selection. It also doesn’t hurt that Texans coach/general manager Bill O’Brien has a recent history of being trade-happy.
Though not a premiere receiver, Stills could play a valuable role for the Packers as a vertical threat. He ran 4.38 in the 40-yard dash coming out of college and has been a consistent deep threat his entire career.
According to Pro Football Focus, Stills was targeted 12 times on passes of 20 or more yards last season, catching nine of those for a catch rate of 75%, the highest rate in the league among receivers with at least 10 targets.
One of the biggest arguments for acquiring Stills lies with the fact that rookie receivers typically don’t make a major impact in their first NFL season. Over the past five years, receivers drafted in the first or second round have averaged just 459 receiving yards as rookies.
In seven seasons, Stills has recorded 299 receptions for 4,699 yards and 36 touchdowns, with a 15.7 yards per catch average. As a proven veteran, trading a sixth- or seventh-round pick for Stills, while taking on just a $7 million cap hit, could be a sneaky good addition for the Packers.
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