Tag: Nico Collins extension

Texans ready for return of WR Nico Collins for season’s second half

Nico Collins is back for the first time in five games for the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans are eight quarters and counting without a touchdown in the second half.

That should change with the return or Nico Collins.

The Texans will have their leading man back on the sidelines for the first time since Week 5 in Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Collins isn’t looking to ease his way back in, either.
There’s reasons to believe that No. 12 will be the No. 1 talking point of the Tuesday morning talk show circuits.

“In order to pick back up, I got to ball out when the ball touches my hands,” Collins said earlier this week. “When the ball is in the air, I have to do something with it.”

It’s a tale of two halves for Houston this season. With Collins in the lineup, the Texans sit at 4-1. With him out, they’re 2-3. They’ve also been outscored 74-39 in the second half since Week 6.

It’s also affected C.J. Stroud’s stat line. Before Collins’ injury, the Texans were sixth in total offense (376.6 yards per game) and fourth in passing. Stroud ranked third in passing yards (1,385), tied for 10th in touchdowns (seven) and 10th in QBR (66.2).

Over the past five games, the Texans rank 24th in total offense (299 yards per game) and 16th in scoring (20 points per contest). Stroud currently ranks 13th in passing (2,371) and 22nd in QBR (54.7).

“I am very excited to have my guy back,” Stroud said. “I am just happy for him to be back with the team, be a part of the locker room again. They are in solitude, when players are injured, they are on their own. So I am glad he is just able to be around the guys again and be able to do the sport that he loves to play.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this week that Stroud needs to “cut it loose” on Monday night. That should be easier with the return of his No. 1 receiver.

Prior to the injury, Collins led the NFL with 567 receiving yards and ranked third in receptions with 32. By missing five games, his 113.4 yards per contest remains among the league’s best.

“Getting Nico back is always very great for all of us,” Ryans said. “Nico’s been one of our best players when he was healthy, so it’s great to have him back, great to have his presence and the energy that he brings and also the playmaking ability that he brings.”

Collins and Stroud’s connection could be the x-factor down the stretch for Houston before the bye week. After traveling to Arlington, the Texans return home for an AFC South showdown against the Tennessee Titans. After that, they hit the road to take on the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.

With three wins, the Texans would be back at 9-3 in the hunt for a top-three seed in the AFC, but everything starts with a win on Monday.

Everything ends with Collins crossing the goal line for the first time in a month.

“I feel like myself,” Collins said. “I’m feeling good.”

Nico Collins injury update is great news for Texans entering Week 10 showdown

Nico Collins could be in line to play on Sunday against the Detroit Lions after returning to practice.

Nico Collins is finally back.

Well, he’s at least practicing for the first time in nearly a month.

The Houston Texans activated the fourth-year pass-catcher off the injured reserve Friday morning prior to pracitce.

They will have 21 days to either activate him to the 53-man roster or place him back on the IR.

Collins plans on playing the remainder of the regular season, including potentially on Sunday when Houston plays host to the Detroit Lions. As C.J. Stroud’s top target, the Texans need him back for the home stretch if they plan on securing a top-three seed in the AFC Playoffs.

While Collins hasn’t practiced the past two days, that doesn’t mean he won’t play at NRG Stadium in Week 10 as Houston debuts its new “Battle Red” jerseys. Twice players have missed practice and returned in time for kickoff.

Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi missed back-to-back practices with a shoulder injury in Week 7 before returning to take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Tight end Dalton Schutlz missed two practices because of an ankle injury, yet still managed to suit up in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears.

Just because Collins is cleared to practice doesn’t mean he’ll play, either. The Texans know their offense funnels through the vertical star who posted career numbers in 2023 as Stroud’s top target.

Any setback could cost them wins in favorable matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars before the bye week.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Collins was “doing good” leading up to Wednesday’s practice. The tean planned on monitoring him throughout the week before making a final deciscion.

Collins, who led the NFL in receving yards (567) and ranked third in receptions (32) before being injured, will test out the hamstring during Friday’s drills. Houston will have two days to decide if he’s healthy enough to play on Sunday against the NFC favorites in what could be a potential Super Bowl preview.

Even if Collins is out, it’s a significant step in the right direction, something needed for Houston entering the second half of the regular season.

Texans receive unfortunate upate on Nico Collins’ status vs. Lions

The Houston Texans are now without Nico Collins for a second consecutive day leading up to their Week 10 showdown on Sunday Night Football.

Nico Collins’ status for Sunday night’s matchup against the Detroit Lions seems to be trending in the wrong direction.

The Houston Texans‘ fourth-year receiver did not practice for the second consecutive day during Thursday’s open period. He also hasn’t been activated from the injured reserve list, which isn’t ideal for a Houston roster in need of a secondary target for C.J. Stroud.

Players who don’t practice the first two days of the week usually are ruled out for Sunday’s matchup. Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards with 567 before being placed on the injured reserve list following a win over the Buffalo Bills, is probable to sit this one out in the debut of the new Battle Red uniforms.

It’s not impossible for a player for a player to miss two days of practice and then return for gameday. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi didn’t practice until Friday’s walkthrough before the Texans’ Week 7 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after dealing with a shoulder injury.

Tight end Dalton Schultz played after an ankle injury sidelined him for two days prior to Week 2’s primetime matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Both practiced on Friday, however, giving them a chance to show up on the injury report as “questionable.” Friday will be perhaps the most crucial day for evaluation.

If Collins is activated off the IR, there’s a chance, even if he’s limited in walkthroughs, that he could play. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Ryans was  “doing good,” but his status would be monitored throughout the week.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Is Texans WR Nico Collins the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year?

Houston Texans star receiver Nico Collins might find himself in the hunt for more hardware in 2024.

Nico Collins is currently the terrorizing defensive backs on Sunday afternoons as the NFL’s leading receiver. The gap between him and New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers doesn’t even create a conversation. 

But is Collins the top offensive name entering October? According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, he’s in the running. 

The fourth-year Houston Texans’ target was named third in the Offensive Player of the Year list, trailing Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Barnwell sees Collins as a constant security blanket for C.J. Stroud, often factoring in wins more than the quarterback. 

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“Collins has separated from the rest of Houston’s receivers and from everyone else in football. He’s being targeted at the league’s 22nd-highest rate, but what he’s doing with those targets is remarkable,” Barwell wrote. “He is 10 targets behind Nabers for the most of any receiver, but he tops the Giants wideout and everyone else by more than 100 receiving yards. He has four more first downs than anybody else, and the only wideouts converting targets into first downs at a higher rate are Chris Godwin and Chris Olave.”

Through four games, Collins leads all receivers with 489 yards and 30 catches. His yardage also marks the best start of a Texans receiver in franchise history, surpassing DeAndre Hopkins in 2018. 

Barnwell also mentioned that while Nabers remains the top target in volume, it’s moments that separate Collins as the top threat on the outside. 

“He’s also been at his best in key situations, leading the NFL in yards per route run on third down,” Barnwell wrote. “In an offense in which C.J. Stroud is spoiled with options, Collins is the guy the star quarterback invariably looks for when he needs a conversion.” 

Collins will have an opportunity to better his odds as the No. 1 offensive threat when the Texans play host to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at noon CT. 

Texans WR Nico Collins just getting started on record-setting season

Nico Collins could be in for the best season for a receiver in Houston Texans’ history.

Nico Collins is getting warmed up.

Three 100-yard games into the season are simply the new baseline and standard set for the fourth-year Houston Texans receiver as September ends.

“My standard is continuing to be me, continue to submerge in the deep end, block out distractions, continue to be myself, continue to find the things I need to work on, which is everything,” Collins said Sunday following a 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. “I feel like there’s always room for improvement on your game. My mindset, man, don’t get too comfortable.”

While Collins might not let himself get cozy, he’s at home as C.J. Stroud’s go-to target entering 2024. It’s been that way since Week 1’s win over the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It stayed that way Sunday as Houston improved to 2-0 in the divisional standing with a comeback win over a winless Jacksonville squad. Stroud completed  27 pass attempts for a season-high 345 yards and two touchdowns.

Twelve of those passes went to Collins for 151 yards and a 3-yard touchdown. Perhaps the more underlying fact is there were zero drops or turnovers.

“He always gives me confidence, just like I give him,” Stroud said of Collins. “He’s just a heck of a player. I’m super proud of him.”

With Collins’ dominance, history has been made in Houston. His 489 receiving mark is the most for a Texans’ receiver through the first four games of the regular season, surpassing DeAndre Hopkins’ 443 in 2018.

That year, Hopkins finished with 1,572 yards off 115 catches. Collins is on pace for 122 catches, 2,078 yards and 11 touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills arrive this Sunday.

“Nico is deserving of all the praise and all the credit that he’s getting,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s one of the top receivers in the league, and he’s showing it. He doesn’t have to talk about it. He’s just showing it by what he does on a game-to-game basis.

“He should be All-Pro, Pro Bowl, all those accolades should come to Nico because he’s shown it every single week.”

The Texans envisioned Collins being a constant target when they traded back into the third round to draft him out of Michigan in 2021. Given the state of the franchise, his first two years were decent, though he struggled to remain consistent due to health.

A new spark arrived in 2023. That was Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance and Heisman-worthy season at Ohio State. Stroud said by the end of his first OTAs, he knew Collins was a superstar.

“I feel like ever since then, he’s had a swagger and a confidence starting from last year, and it’s just rolling now,” Stroud said. “He’s been big for us.”

Stroud’s right. Last season while helping Houston end a four-year playoff drought, Collins posted career-highs in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,297) and touchdowns (8).

He was rewarded a new three-year, $72.75 million contract extension in the offseason and has lived up to billing through four weeks. During the Texans’ game-winning drive, he caught two passes for 33 yards, including a 26-yard reception to set up Houston and Jacksonville’s 27-yard line.

Stroud and Collins averaged 12.6 yards a completion. They’re averaging 16.3 for the year.

Everyone knows what’s Stroud’s ceiling. Collins’ potential still might remain a mystery, but he’s getting his chance to figure out how high the stock can rise.

“Nico’s been great since he was born,” Stroud said. “He just needed an opportunity.”

Texans walk away winners in Nico Collins deal following Brandon Aiyuk extension

Nico Collins might be the best bang for buck on the market among top receivers as the Houston Texans prepare for the 2024 season.

CeeDee Lamb was the talk of the NFL’s receiver market for all of five minutes before Brandon Aiyuk had to crash the party.

Aiyuk, the San Francisco 49ers star receiver who led fans and media down a wild, rickety goose choose with no end in sight throughout the entire offseason, finally agreed to a long-term deal with the team that drafted him four years ago.

The Pro Bowl pass-catcher signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2028 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s the same deal that has been on the table from the 49ers since Aug. 12, the day Ayiuk made it clear he was playing elsewhere.

Not to take away from Ayiuk’s payday, but Lamb held Cowboys’ fans in his clutches after not reporting to training camp in Oxnard earlier this month.

A holdout ensued until Jerry Jones finally waved the white flag and granted him a new four-year, $136 million deal that includes a $38 million signing bonus, the largest ever given to a wide receiver, and $100 million guaranteed.

Holdouts. Hostage situations. Trade offers on the table were only a myth by the time pen touched paper.

What a nightmare in Arlington and Santa Clara for two hopeful contending NFC franchises.

For the Houston Texans, a rising AFC organization built to win a conference title in 2024, their star receiver just walked into the building and agreed to his deal with zero complaints.

Amid countless pass-catchers getting paid, Nico Collins agreed to terms on a new three-year, $72.5 million deal that’ll keep him in Houston through 2027. Perhaps he’ll follow the same path as Andre Johnson and spend over a decade as the consistent No. 1 target at NRG Stadium while totaling back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

Much like Ayiuk and Lamb, Collins put together a season to remember while helping his quarterback post record-setting numbers en route to a postseason berth. As C.J. Stroud’s go-to target, the third-year 6-foot-4 target totaled a career-high 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and 8 touchdowns.

He joins an elite company as just the third player in franchise history to post 1,200 receiving yards in a single season. Johnson, who just was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one. Future Canton-bound target DeAndre Hopkins is another.

While Ayiuk and Lamb have constantly produced, no one knows what the future holds. The duo could once again thrive while serving as security blankets for Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott, respectively, while still producing in heavy-targeted offense.

They could also crash and burn while earning over $38 million annually.
Collins, who’ll earn $24 million annually, looks like a bargain buy regardless of his future outlook. As asking prices climb for targets, so does the annual salary.

With Collins locked up for four more years, his annual price will only shrink in time. And by the time he’s up for a new deal, perhaps he’s reached the perennial All-Pro status as those now swimming in sums of cash.

Even if Collins never duplicates his 2023 success, his annual salary will be manageable compared to others. The rest of the league is on notice of the ever-changing resetting market for pass-catchers in an expanded salary cap era.

The 49ers have to see Ayiuk reach similar numbers to his 2023 production justify the contract.

The Cowboys must see Lamb be a 1,500-yard playmaker to warrant his deal.

The Texans need Collins to remain on the field.

Given the trajectory of contracts, Houston might have hauled in the best contract of the offseason surrounding a blend of talent and cost.

C.J. Stroud believes Texans have ‘this generation’s Andre Johnson’ on the roster

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud believes the Houston Texans have a clone of Andre Johnson on the roster with this one receiver.

It’s one thing to hype up teammates after a breakout season. It’s another to compare them to one of the top players at his position in league history.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud did a bit of both while acknowledging the greatness of future Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson during Tuesday’s press conference. After a breakout season from Nico Collins, he expects to see No. 12 channel his inner No. 80 moving into 2024 and beyond.

“When his number is called, he always makes a play,” Stroud said of Collins. “He’s a generational talent, like our age’s Andre Johnson, in my opinion, of just how fast he is, how he gets in and out of his braces, releases, how strong he is. I think last year was just a preview of what’s to come for him.”

Collins, a former third-round pick out of Michigan, lived up to the No. 1 receiver mantra once Stroud joined the roster last April. Two underwhelming years with insufficient quarterback play were replaced by career numbers in catches (80), receiving yards ( 1,297 yards) and touchdowns (eight).

The Texans believe Collins can have a similar impact to Johnson and former All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, and proved that with a three-year extension worth $72.5 million late last month. He’s on the right track to meet the lofty goals as he’s only the third player in franchise history to finish with 1,200 or more receiving yards in a single season.

“One thing I’m proud of for him is just the work has never stopped,” Stroud said. “He’s constantly in here working on his body, his hands, his mobility in the weight room. ”

The Johnson comparison could be cringy, but perhaps true in due time. Like Collins, the former Miami star only totaled one 1,000-yard season in his first three years due to incompetent quarterback play.

Remember though, passing was a second-tier approach compared to today’s game. Also, keep in mind that once Matt Schaub entered the building, the 1K marker became an expectation, not a happy story.

From 2006-13, Johnson compiled six 1,000-yard campaigns and six Pro Bowl nods. And the two years he didn’t was because of injury. Johnson was limited to nine games in 2007 and was only 149 yards short of surpassing the marker.

In 2011, he was limited to seven games and was a tad shy of 500 yards.

Collins, who’s locked in until 2027, will also be splitting reps as the No. 1 with two different playmakers this fall. Rookie Tank Dell was on pace for over 1,200 yards before suffering a broken leg in early December. To bolster Stroud’s passing attack, the Texans traded for four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs from Buffalo.

Since 2020, Diggs has led the NFL in receptions (445) and ranks fourth in receiving yards (5,372). That could change in Houston, but even with multiple weapons, the 30-year-old still averaged over 1,110 receiving yards per campaign in Buffalo.

Stroud, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, consistently turned to Dell in prime moments last season before the injury. The two have been in sync since throwing at the NFL combine in February 2023, and it’s not expected to change now with Dell back at full speed.

But Collins differs from the other two pass-catchers. He emulates something that made Johnson a staple of the 2000s: size. Johnson stood 6-foot-3 and terrorized defenders in the red zone.

Collins, who stands 6-foot-4, does much of the same.

“I watched him on tape before I got here,” Diggs said. “He is definitely one of the best receivers we got.”

Even if Collins doesn’t live up to the Johnson comp, Stroud and the Texans understand what type of player he is in the huddle and the locker room. He presents a humbleness and laid-back demeanor around teammates.

Stroud said Collins loved watching his teammates get their chance to feast. Even after signing a new deal, that persona remains a staple in practice.

“It’s a special feeling to see somebody who deserves to get paid and get what they deserve. I’m just really proud of him.”

Nico Collins gives high prasie to new Texans WR Stefon Diggs

Nico Collins might only be five years younger than Stefon Diggs, but there’s a sense of ageism between the two Houston Texans receivers.

Nico Collins respects his elders, which apparently includes new Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and newest member of the Texans’ passing game, looks to be the last piece for Houston a run to the postseason. He’s been consistent since being drafted out of Maryland in 2015, dominating the AFC over his four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

Why does 2015 ring a bell for Collins? That was his sophomore season at Clay-Chalkville High School out in Pinson, Alabama, though Collins said he’s been watching Diggs since his time in middle school.

“He’s been very successful in his league, man,” Collins said last week of Diggs. “And for him to be in the room with us, man, and a teammate of mine, of everybody, man, just the success he’s had on the field, man, there’s no better feeling. You can pick his brain, pick how he moves, how he thinks.”

While 30 doesn’t seem old in the big picture, it’s not young in NFL lingo. Diggs, who enters his 10th season in the pros, already has proven how dangerous his skill set is when left alone in coverage, especially during his time as Josh Allen’s top weapon in Buffalo.

Collins, 25, recently cashed in on a new three-year, $72.5 million extension. He’s entering Year 4, but keep in mind that he was entering his freshman year at Michigan when Diggs hauled in a catch from Texans’ backup QB Case Keenum for what would go on to be the Minneapolis Miracle.

That was 2018. Two years later, Diggs was traded to Buffalo and became the NFL leader in receptions (127) en route to an All-Pro honor in 2020. He also has six consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns and has led all receivers in catches (445) since 2020.

And Diggs is already playing for a new deal after signing two contracts in 2018 and 2022, respectively. Most players — especially receivers — are on shelf life after their rookie contract is up, let alone playing for a fourth deal entering the offseason.

Maybe Diggs isn’t a fan of being the old man in the locker room, but he won’t be alone catching passes from C.J. Stroud. While perhaps a staple of the offense, Diggs is splitting targets with Collins and breakout rookie Tank Dell, who finished with over 700 receiving yards in 11 games last season.

The Texans also brought back tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year contract and traded for Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon earlier this offseason.

Collins knows his target shares may dwindle, but adding Diggs might be worth it if Houston can get back into the postseason.

“Him being a part of the room, joining the field with him. sharing the field with him, just picking his brain, we push each other,” said Collins.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium Tuesday for a three-day camp before taking an extended break until training camp begins in late July.

Justin Jefferson’s new contract proves Texans got a steal with Nico Collins’ extension

The Houston Texans were wise to lock up Nico Collins last week, just days before Justin Jefferson received his lucrative four-year contract.

It was never a question of whether Justin Jefferson would become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, but rather whether Minnesota would be willing to pay.

Both questions were answered Monday morning with the agreement of a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed. He’s sticking around in Minneapolis through 2028, resetting the receiver market.

For the San Francisco 49ers, the price just went up for Brandon Aiyuk.

For the Dallas Cowboys, welcome to a starting point in talks with CeeDee Lamb.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, if there were any talks of keeping both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, those talks just ended before they could pick back up.

The trio of receivers are looking to be compensated for their efforts in three-plus years, but also might be able to tack on a few extra dollars given the influx market.

For the Houston Texans, any concerns about paying top dollar for a top receiver ceased last week when Nico Collins inked a three-year deal worth $72.5 million.

And thankfully for them, it happened before Monday’s megadeal for Jefferson. That’s a conversation and headache worth avoiding in 2024.

Collins, the Texans’ third-round pick and first hit of the Nick Caserio era, has all the makings of a legitimate No. 1 target, hauling in 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.

Collins presented problems for opposing defenses last season. In 15 games, the former Michigan standout ranked sixth in passer rating (128.4) when targeted and sixth in catch rate (73.9%) on in-breaking routes. He also totaled 275 yards on routes over 25-plus yards downfield.

And he’s only one-third of the problem at NRG Stadium this fall. If cornerbacks aren’t locked on him, they’re on WR Tank Dell, who had a breakout rookie season.

Not him? Well, maybe they’re targeting four-time Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs, who joined the franchise in a trade this offseason. And if Collins is blanketed, that means someone else is open.

Dell, who nearly broke Andre Johnson’s team receiving yardage record by a rookie, is locked up through 2026. So is Dalton Schultz. And Collins, who now averages just over $24 million in annual salary, will be here a year later, the same time quarterback C.J. Stroud enters the final year of his rookie deal.

By that point, $24 million will look puny compared to the lucrative deals for players who could end up having weaker production.

Who knows if Collins’ breakout 2023 season is his ceiling? When on the field, he’s dealt with inadequate quarterback play that factored into 11 wins over three years.

Injuries don’t help his case, either. Collins missed 12 games in three seasons, including two this past season. Should he miss games, Houston now can turn to Diggs or Dell.

Still, the Texans are betting on Collins’ upside. They see a receiver who won’t turn 30 until after his second contract and hasn’t been able to stay on the field consistently.

What would Collins’ numbers be if he played in December? Over 1,300 yards with 10 scores and 100 receptions? How much more would he have wanted now entering a contract year?

At this point in their careers, teams know what to expect from Mike Evans, A.J. Brown and Calvin Ridley, who each received significant deals in the offseason. Collins’ upside remains unknown as he enters all top 10 conversations among pass-catchers entering 2024.

That’s a good thing. It’s terrifying, but a positive thing when talking about Collins’ potential. He might be worth $24.1 million.

He might be worth more but on a team-friendly deal. Given his mild attitude internally, it’s hard to imagine Collins’ having a problem with his current contract regardless of what others around him are making.

Jefferson will be paid, but his hopes for getting to a Super Bowl reside in the hands of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Lamb should get a deal done soon, but who knows what happens to Dallas with Dak Prescott’s contract up in the air.

Aiyuk will get his money, but will it be from San Francisco? The same goes for Higgins, who has yet to sign his franchise tag tender. Who knows if the Bengals’ Super Bowl window is open even with Chase paid up?

The Texans have a receiver who is happy, compensated and locked up on a roster ready to go for a run through the postseason.

That seems like a win all around.

Texans’ receiver duo ranked among best in NFL by PFF

According to PFF, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs are bonafide top 32 receivers entering the 2024 season. Did Tank Dell make the cut?

Nico Collins is a newly-paid man and Stefon Diggs has the most receptions since 2020. Combined, the Houston Texans have one of the top duos at pass-catchers entering 2024. 

Pro Football Focus tends to agree, though the publication might not be ready to call Houston home to the top trio in the sport. 

According to PFF, the Texans have the third-highest ranked duo in the NFL after acquiring Diggs from the Buffalo Bills earlier this offseason. Sam Monson ranked the top 32 receivers heading into June, with Diggs appearing just outside the top 10 at No. 11 and Collins debuting at No. 15. 

Diggs, who posted four consecutive 1,10-yard seasons, was knocked down a few notches after underwhelming in the second half. Still, PFF praised him for being one of the top route-runners heading into his age-30 season. 

Stefon Diggs is coming off a rough second half of the season and is 30 years old. On the other hand, he is a year removed from a dominant season with over 1,400 receiving yards and a 90.1 overall PFF grade. With more help around him in Houston, one of the most crafty veterans in the league could have a bounce-back season. – PFF 

Collins, who recently was given a three-year, $72.5 million extension, was one of the biggest risers after his breakout season with C.J. Stroud. He should only continue to blossom now with another year under his belt. 

Nico Collins had a phenomenal breakout year last season with C.J. Stroud throwing him the football. He trailed only Tyreek Hill in yards per route run (3.10), and caught over 50% of his contested targets. – PFF

Last season, Collins became the third receiver in Texans’ history to finish with over 1,200 receiving yards in a single season. The other two? Hall of Famer Andre Johnson and former All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins. 

Houston believes that. Collins, 25, still has his best years ahead. When healthy, the former Michigan product has been a consistent playmaker across the middle of the field, dropping only 10 passes in three seasons. 

As for rookie sensation Tank Dell, the verdict remains out on his long-term status. He proved to be a reliable No. 2 weapon opposite Collins entering 2024, but a broken leg suffered in early December sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023 season. 

Dell, last year’s third-round pick out of Houston, could end up being one of the top No. 2 targets in the league when healthy, but he also could see his production take a dip with Diggs on the roster. Time will tell if the trio can live up to the billing as the next great trio in the NFL. 

So far during OTAs, everyone seems to be on the same page.