Is receiver still an area of need for the Houston Texans? Even though the club added Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks to replace DeAndre Hopkins, it very well could be.
According to Patrick Conn of the Draft Wire, the Texans may need to use one of their seven picks in the draft, including two in the top 100, to address receiver.
Despite the fact that the Texans added Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, wide receiver is still a top need for Houston. The loss of DeAndre Hopkins will leave a huge void for this team. Cooks has had issues with staying on the field in recent years despite being traded multiple times for top picks. The team needs to find a dependable target for Deshaun Watson. Especially when you consider both Cobb and Cooks have had issues staying on the field over the years.
If the Texans were to use their 40th overall pick in the second round, a name to watch would be Denzel Mims from Baylor. Mims is an aggressive receiver who would battle with opposing cornerbacks and make tough catches. The former Bear may also see playing time as Cooks, Cobb, Will Fuller, and Kenny Stills each missed playing time in 2019.
If Houston wants to use a later pick, a name to watch for would be Jalen Reagor from TCU. Though Reagor had a down season with the Horned Frogs in 2019, he chose to use the opportunity of a dysfunctional passing game to accentuate some of his other traits, such as setting the edge in run-blocking. Reagor, like Mims, who he worked out with to get ready for the NFL Scouting Combine, knows that one of the subtle ways to wear down an opposing cornerback is to smash into him as a run blocker. The physicality will wear down the cornerback and makes it easier to run routes against him. That’s the “hidden yardage” part of the game Reagor comprehends and would impress coach Bill O’Brien.
The Texans have options in the receiver-deep draft if they still believe wideout is a need.