Report: Texans not expected to pursue wide receiver Mike Evans

The Houston Texans won’t sign high-profile wide receiver Mike Evans this offseason.

The connections have been easy to make for nearly a year and a half.

Mike Evans, the Galveston, Texas, native and likely future NFL Hall-of-Fame wide receiver was always going to hit free agency. The connections with the Houston Texans were inherently obvious between their ample cap space, rookie quarterback and need for offensive talent infusion if they want to compete in a top-heavy AFC conference.

Despite all that, though, it doesn’t sound as though the two are destined to be together. The Texans won’t pursue Evans this offseason, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson.

Financial concerns with the contract Evans seeks, trust in young receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and the team’s desire to work out an extension with Collins prior to the start of the 2024 campaign weighed into this decision, per Wilson.

This may be disappointing for fans who are hoping to see the Texas A&M legend join a Houston squad that will have Super Bowl aspirations in 2024. However, it very likely could be in the best interest of the team to spend those resources on defense and other positions as they’re planning.

Collins and Dell looked like legitimately capable starting NFL wideouts in 2023 with C.J. Stroud under center. Head coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense, despite bright spots, showed a far more desperate need for additional help.

It remains to be seen if the Texans’ lack of interest in Evans is indicative of their plans for the position as a whole this offseason just with regards to Evans. The legal tampering period for agents of free agents to speak with teams begins March 11, while free agency officially begins on March 13.

Texans WR Nico Collins on possible contract extension: ‘If it comes early, then it comes early’

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but he said he’s locked in on getting better.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins came into the 2023 NFL season with something to prove. Not just to the doubters and the naysayers who questioned his abilities, but also to become the No. 1 target for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Collins had dealt with a lot of adversity and a plethora of injuries that hampered his first two seasons. This season was important for Collins to prove to the Texans organization that he belonged – especially when head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio would inevitably talk about mapping out the team’s future.

The Birmingham, Alabama, native comes from a family where you let your actions speak louder than your words, and he did just that in his third year with 80 receptions on 109 targets for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. The production was enough that Caserio even mentioned the possibility of an extension at the NFL scouting combine this weekend. Collins is eligible and will enter the 2024 season in the final year of his rookie deal if he and the team don’t reach a long-term extension.

While Collins has reportedly expressed interest in a new deal, he isn’t focused on talking about a long-term deal right now. He knows that one more year of productive football will show the organization what he is truly worth, as he discussed with former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on “Airing it Out” on Fubo Sports.

 

“To be honest, I haven’t really talked to my agent about it,” Collins said when asked about a future contract extension. “I kind of know that it’s the end of my third [year], I’m up for free agency [next year]. But in my head, I’m locked in to where I feel like I need another year to prove to everybody what I can do. You know, ’cause the first two years I had, due to injury, that wasn’t my best me. So, I feel like after this [past] year, I’m kinda like, ‘Alright, I showed them a little bit. Boom.’ So, I feel like this year is going to be a little bit of a better year. Just mentally and physically, I know what to expect.

“I feel like I’m learning and getting better and growing. I’m just learning the game better. But if [the contract extension] comes early, then it comes early. But I feel like my mindset is to just go ball and let it play out how it plays out. I’m not chasing [the contract]. I want to get paid; everybody wants to get paid cause it’s a business. But you’ve just got to let it come to you. I know it’s coming, but I just feel like you gotta be patient. It’s a business, for sure, and I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove. I’ve got a lot more to prove, man.”

Collins became one of Stroud’s favorite targets throughout the season and their playoff run. It was surprising that the two developed the type of chemistry they had together, as Stroud knew precisely what type of production Collins could produce when they first met in person.

“I told him our first time ever working out together, ‘you’re a superstar,’” Stroud said during one of his weekly press conferences. “I never even snapped the ball in the league, but I just know good receivers. I played where we had tremendous receivers. I told him, my goal is to make you look as best as you can, to make you look like you.

“I appreciate him just being a consistent, great friend to me, somebody I can just let my hair down with, and I think our chemistry shows on the field. Our friendship shows on the field. I’m super proud of that dude, man. It’s just the beginning for him.”

After his production this past season, Collins has put himself in the company of some of the top wide receivers in the league and was graded as the third-best wide receiver in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.

“I am not going to say nobody’s better than me,” Collins said when asked to name his top-five NFL wide receivers. “I’ve got that confidence. So, me [No. 1]. Then Mike Evans, for sure. I’ve been watching Mike Evans, and that’s who I model my game after. So, he’s up there. I like AJ Brown; AJ Brown’s a dog, for sure. I like [Justin] Jefferson; Jefferson’s great, and I like his game. Then Ja’Marr [Chase] and then I like Tee Higgins.”

Texans WR Nico Collins interested in extension this offseason

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins is ready to cash in after a career year in 2023.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins just came off a breakout season.

The third-year receiver, under new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and rookie phenom C.J. Stroud, caught 80 receptions on 109 targets for 1,297 yards, and eight touchdowns this past season. It was a huge performance that put Collins on the map nationally for fantasy football fans and helped Stroud have one of the most successful rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history.

Now, the Michigan product is ready to be paid and secure his future with the team.

KPRC’s Aaron Wilson reported on Friday that Collins is ready to pursue extension conversations now that he is finally eligible after his third season.

“That would be great,” Collins said on the prospect of signing a long-term deal. “I feel like that’s what everybody works for. I’m just going to let it come to me, whatever they decide, whatever they want to do. I’m going to let it ride. Me, I’m going to continue to get better and work on my game. If they want to negotiate, we can.”

It could potentially be an advantageous proposition for both parties.

Collins could secure an extension after a career season that came after two years where he struggled to stay healthy. His value might never be higher, either, if suffers another injury or has a less productive season.

For Houston, they could lock down Collins –who showed the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver – at a far cheaper price than what top receivers are currently finding on the market and lock in their top duo alongside 2023 rookie Tank Dell. Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins could all command monster salaries this offseason, and Ja’Marr Chase will be eligible in 2025.

It’s unclear what price Collins would currently fetch. The NFL’s best receivers are seeing upwards of $20 million per year and it’s quite possible that Collins would cost $25 million or more from another team if he was to hit unrestricted free agency after next season.

Fans will have to wait and see if the team can work out a deal with one of the first players that general manager Nick Caserio drafted. It’s very encouraging that the team appears well poised, both financially and relationally, to retain their best home-grown talent.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023 No. 5 Nico Collins

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is Nico Collins, who had a career year.

The Houston Texans had an extremely successful 2023 campaign.

They cruised to a 10-7 record under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and captured several accolades along the way. They won the AFC South and won a playoff game for the first time since the 2019 season. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud won PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, rookie edge rusher Will Anderson won PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, and even Ryans took home hardware with PFWA’s Coach of the Year.

With a revamped team effort that led to dramatic improvements compared to both the 2021 and 2022 Texans, it’s worth examining who created that impact this past season and what their future projects moving forward.

This series has taken a look at defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, running back Devin Singletary, rookie receiver Tank Dell, and veteran tackle George Fant, and upstart linebacker Blake Cashman.

Entering the top 10, we took a closer look at cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Christian Harris, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and budding shutdown cornerback Derek Stingley

Entering the top five, the Texans offense takes center stage with none other than standout third-year wideout Nico Collins.

Every NFL team’s receiving leader from the 2023 regular season

Each team’s leader in receiving yards from 2023

Look, we know the Carolina Panthers had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year—particularly on offense. But fair is fair, and we already gave you passing and rushing leaders.

So, let’s finish it out and run through each team’s leader in receiving yards from the 2023 regular season.

15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023: No. 13 Tank Dell

Up next in our “15 Most Impactful Texans of 2023” series is WR Tank Dell, whose promising rookie season was cut short due to injury.

The Houston Texans had an unbelievable year.

After three consecutive, dreadful campaigns in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, they turned things around in a big way under first year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

In a season that saw players step up across the board, it’s a fruitful exercise to look at who made the biggest impact on the Texans making such a dramatic leap and if they’re likely to repeat that same type of performance in 2024.

This list is counting through the Top 15 Most Impactful Texans, with Sheldon Rankins and Devin Singletary already receiving well-deserved nods. Now, attention turns to the explosive rookie wide receiver Tank Dell.

Texans believe 2023 season is stepping stone for an even brighter future

The Texans fell short in their AFC Championship bid, but an impressive 2023 season has laid the groundwork for a bright future in Houston.

BALTIMORE – – As time was winding down in the AFC divisional game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, many Texans players had a different look about them.

Of course, one look was of disgust because they did not want to end their season with an embarrassing 34-10 loss to the Ravens on national television. They had overcome too much adversity in helping repair the team’s image after a disastrous three seasons, where they combined for only 11 wins, a win total Houston matched this season after defeating the Cleveland Browns in the wild card game last week.

No, the look they had was as if they were looking into the future at what they could soon become in the next two to three years with head coach DeMeco Ryans, a future franchise quarterback in rookie C.J. Stroud, and a bunch of young pieces that will become building blocks for Houston. It was the nucleus that the Ravens used over three years ago as they put together a team around superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson, who could potentially win his second NFL MVP award in four years once the votes are counted.

“I feel like this was a stepping stone,” Texans wide receiver Nico Collins said after the game. “We have seen what this team can do and what this team is about. I feel like it’s only the beginning; feel like it’s a lot of hungry people in this locker room that are willing to leave it all out there. You know, it isn’t the way it ended, but it is what it is. [We’ve] got to get ready for next year.”

Only Texans players believed they would participate in the 2024 NFL playoffs coming out of training camp. Many thought they had the talent to make a Super Bowl-type run like the Cincinnati Bengals did in 2021. That is where the “Why Not Us” mantra began. It was a phrase that many players used when speaking to the media about the expectations of the upcoming season. They continued to utter it until the clock ran out at M&T Bank Stadium in the loss to the Ravens, which officially ended their season.

Although there will be no more football to play next week, Texans players began to ponder the next season in the visiting team’s locker room. Yes, many players were disappointed that they couldn’t get the job done against the best team in football, a team they had on the ropes tied at 10 at the half. But they knew the adversity they had overcome and immediately contemplated a new mantra for the 2024 NFL season.

“Run It Back!”

That would be fitting for a team that relied so much on an outstanding rookie class that outperformed expectations. With the proper draft picks, re-signing some key free agents, and a ton of cap space heading into the offseason, it is difficult not to believe that they can contend for an AFC Championship next season.

“Shoot, tomorrow,” said quarterback C.J. Stroud when asked when the Texans would be ready to repeat the phenomenal run of 2023. “Like I told y’all before, pressure is a privilege, and it’s hard to stand up here. It may seem easy, but it’s hard. I worked hard; I appreciate you guys for the whole year.

“I think the foundation we set is a hard one built on a rock like DeMeco always talks about. I’m going to continue to work my tail off next year to make the city of Houston proud, to make my family members proud, make God proud.”

ESPN NFL Matchup: X’s & O’s film on the Texans offense

Here’s an exclusive look at the Houston Texans offense with ESPN NFL Matchup.

Darius Butler from ESPN NFL Matchup took a look at the Houston Texans offense on film this week. They like to use misdirection to create advantages for their skills players.

Head Coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik deserve credit for leading the Texans to such an impressive offensive showing versus the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wild.

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The Texans will need to move Baltimore Ravens linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen if they want to be effective in the AFC Divisional. Stopping Texans HB Devin Singletary is essential in this game. Let’s take a look at more Texans film below.

The Ravens know they’re dealing with a different C.J. Stroud this time around

The Ravens were able to contain C.J. Stroud in Week 1 of the regular season, but they know they’re dealing with a different Stroud in the divisional round.

We all know now that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is one of the most remarkable rookies ever to play his position in professional football. But Stroud’s NFL debut had its rocky moments. Let’s take you back to Week 1 of the 2023 season, when Stroud had to face the Baltimore Ravens’ multi-faceted defense in Baltimore.

The Ravens won, 25-9, and Stroud completed 28 of 44 passes for 242 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 78.0. Stroud took five sacks. He was pressured on 25 of his 54 dropbacks, completing 11 of 17 passes for 78 yards. He attempted two passes of 20 or more air yards, completing neither. And play-action wasn’t a strength at that point, as Stroud completed four of eight play-action passes for… 26 yards.

“Honestly, just really the little things,” Stroud said after that game, when asked what he learned from the experienced. “It was football at the end of the day. Just getting out of the huddle, getting the plays clean, getting guys lined up and getting the play clock, things like that. I think those are the things that kind of hindered us a little bit. And then, just being more efficient in the red zone. So those are things I would definitely get better on.”

Yeah… so far, so good. Since Week 2 of the regular season, and including his demolition of the Cleveland Browns’ top-ranked defense in the wild-card round, Stroud has become the NFL’s most efficient deep passer, with 35 deep completions in 59 attempts for a league-high 1,213 yards, nine touchdowns, no interceptions, and a league-high passer rating of 143.2. With play-action, he’s completed 77 of 117 passes for 1,416 yards, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 128.7 — only Brock Purdy (141.0) of the San Francisco 49ers has a better play-action passer rating than Stroud’s. And when under pressure since Week 2, Stroud has completed 71 of 137 passes for 903 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 80.0.

The Ravens have seen more than enough to know that the C.J. Stroud they handled in Week 1 is no longer that guy.

“Well, we were really impressed the first game, too,” defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said Wednesday. “We knew going into the game that — if you remember me talking about it back then – we didn’t feel like you were going against a rookie at that point. So, you’re just seeing the natural progression over the course of the season just being more comfortable in the system. You can tell the system’s growing around [C.J. Stroud], and they’ve evolved as we have as well. I think that’s what you’re seeing, but [I] definitely have a lot of respect for what they’re doing and how he operates.”

“You would think, but not really,” edge-rusher Odafe Oweh said this week, regarding whether Week 1 will be a guide for anything. “I feel like [the Texans] are a whole different team, [and] C.J.  is a whole different quarterback. I feel like we woke them up, and we matured them, and he’s been balling ever since. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and everything, but I feel like everyone on that team is a little different. In the playoffs, obviously, people play harder, so we’ve got to come with a different energy as well.” 

Linebacker Roquan Smith agreed.

“I think they’re definitely improved, but so are we when you look at it. Yes, they do a lot of good things. [No.] 26 [Devin Singletary] is running the ball well. [No.] 7 [C.J. Stroud] is very accurate, and then [No.] 12 [Nico Collins], the receiver, is definitely coming on. The offense is definitely clicking, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re prepared for it, and we’re ready to go to war regardless of who it’s against, and they’re the team that’s coming in here. Business is business handled.” 

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys get into how Stroud is different, and what the Ravens will need to do to at least contain him.

You can watch this week’s episode of “The Xs and Os,” featuring all the most important matchups of the divisional round, right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to “The Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

and on Apple Podcasts.

Ravens will face Texans in divisional round of AFC playoffs

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will face off in the divisional round of the playoffs in a rematch of a Week 1 meeting

The Ravens are back from their first-round bye, and they know their opponent after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Thanks to the dominant play of Josh Allen, Baltimore will host the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium in a rematch of a 25-9 season-opening win.

In that game, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 28 of 44 passing attempts for 242 yards in his NFL regular-season debut but didn’t lead any touchdown-scoring drives.

Odell Beckham had two catches for 38 yards as he deferred to the rookie Zay Flowers in his debut.

Playing in his first game after a ten-month absence, Lamar Jackson was 17-22 passing for 169 yards and one interception while finishing with a 79.5 rating.

Jackson looked rusty at times but was efficient, had 38 yards rushing, and avoided nasty hits.

This is a different Houston team, and the Texans are flying high after dismantling the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round opener.