Moving around is a tough proposition for anyone, even if they are a pro football player making millions of dollars. However, if Randall Cobb was going to go to his third NFL city in as many seasons, it better be a good opportunity.
According to Cobb, who met with the Houston media via a conference call on Friday, the Houston Texans were offering more than a three-year deal worth $27 million — they were offering a chance to recapture his high performance play with the Green Bay Packers.
“There were a few teams that made offers or showed interest,” said Cobb, who spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys. “Dallas and Houston were two teams that offered and it was a tough decision to make.
Hearing what my agent was telling me about Coach (Bill) O’Brien and the opportunity that he wanted to give me to kind of do some of the things that I did when I was back in Green Bay, was one of the one of the main reasons that I jumped at the offer.”
Cobb produced 470 catches for 5,524 yards and 41 touchdowns in his 105 career games with the Packers. In 2014, Cobb earned the lone Pro Bowl selection of his career as he hauled in 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns, all career highs for the former 2011 second-round pick from Kentucky.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson will need that level of performance from the 29-year-old from Alcoa, Tennessee, especially as the receiving corps lacks a true No. 1 due to the trading of DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson on March 16. One of Hopkins’ best skills was his ability to produce from the slot, which is right in Cobb’s wheelhouse.
If O’Brien is able to get Cobb to play at the high levels he did in Green Bay, the Texans’ passing game should still be taken seriously in 2020.