Tag: Texans receiver

Texans WR Brandin Cooks advises Randall Cobb to ‘go back home’ to Packers

Houston Texans WR Brandin Cooks believes Randall Cobb should “go back home” to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks believes teammate Randall Cobb should return to the Green Bay Packers.

There was speculation on Monday that the Packers could re-acquire Cobb as part of their efforts to make peace with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Cooks weighed in on the matter Tuesday, the day before the Texans’ first practice of training camp, and advised the former Pro Bowl receiver to return to the club that drafted him in the second round from Kentucky in 2011.

“You meet people and they become family right away!” Cooks tweeted. “@rcobb18 go back home and set it off,” with the emoji of a bow and arrow, which is part of Cooks’ theme as “The Archer.”

Part of the complication with sending Cobb back to Green Bay is the contract former coach and general manager Bill O’Brien gave him — three years, $27 million, with $18 million guaranteed. Cobb is scheduled to count $10.4 million against the Texans’ salary cap in 2021.

The Texans were also looking forward to Cobb and Cooks providing leadership for the receiving corps.

“Those two guys are definitely the leaders of the group,” receivers coach Robert Prince said on June 8. “First, both of them are willing to take coaching. Some of the techniques that we’re doing now are different than what they’re used to and they’re buying in, which helps with the whole group.

“But also, some of the routes, they do have a little bit of nuances to them. We’ll watch Randall on some of the slot routes and say, ‘hey, what were you thinking here?’ He does a great job of giving input and the key is making something that was difficult look easy and simplifying it. That’s what we’re trying to do with some of the things.”

The club traded with the Chicago Bears for wideout Anthony Miller, giving the team options with Cobb.

Texans trading for Bears WR Anthony Miller

The Houston Texans have traded for Chicago Bears receiver Anthony Miller.

The Houston Texans are adding another weapon to their passing game.

According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Texans are trading with the Chicago Bears for former 2018 second-round pick Anthony Miller.

Miller was entering the final year of his rookie deal. Going to Houston gets Miller going on a new start that may have been inevitable anyway after the conclusion of the 2021 season.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Texans and Bears swapped late-round picks.

Houston’s receiving corps is crowded with Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, third-round rookie Nico Collins, Chris Conley, Chris Moore, Donte Moncrief, Keke Coutee, Alex Erickson, Tawan Taylor, and Isaiah Coulter.

Miller caught 134 passes for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns in his 47 career games with the Bears, 17 of which he started.

Houston Texans 2021 player profile: WR Donte Moncrief

Donte Moncrief is on his seventh NFL team. Can the journeyman receiver make a big contribution to the Houston Texans?

When the Houston Texans begin their 2021 campaign inside NRG Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars in September, Donte Moncrief will be on his sixth team in three years. Despite becoming an NFL journeyman over the past few seasons, Houston could become Moncrief’s best destination to re-establish himself as a quality NFL receiver since his four-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts.

Moncrief spent a few weeks in November with the New England Patriots, no doubt familiarizing himself with then-director of player personnel, Nick Caserio, who is now the Texans’ general manager. Moncrief is another one of the sundry free agents on prove-it deals in Houston. The 27-year-old has a chance to show what he can bring to a Texans roster eager to build a winning culture.

Houston Texans 2021 player profile: WR Keke Coutee

2021 is a make or break year for Houston Texans receiver Keke Coutee.

Keke Coutee’s career with the Houston Texans is the definition of perseverance. Injuries and the lack of confidence from his head coach kept Coutee in and out of Bill O’Brien’s doghouse through the first two years of his career.

In 2020, he missed seven of the Texans’ first eight games before the loss of Randall Cobb (injury) and Will Fuller (suspension) resulted in Coutee ending the year as Houston’s No. 2 receiver.

After having the most productive stretch of his career, there is a chance Coutee can obtain playing time in 2021 despite the position overhaul under new general manager Nick Caserio.

Houston Texans 2022 NFL draft target: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks

If the Houston Texans want to make their receiving corps younger, they need to look to Arkansas Razorbacks wideout Treylon Burks.

The Houston Texans will have some decisions to make at the end of the 2021 season.

Wideouts Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb will have potential outs in their contracts. Cooks can be designated a post-June 1 cut, but will have to pay $2.5 million in dead money against the salary cap. Cobb can be cut sooner, but Houston will have to pay a comparable $2.5 million in dead money.

Former 2018 fourth-round pick Keke Coutee will be out of a contract by that point. Chris Conley will also be out of a contract.

The openings for a rookie wideout will be there. What general manager Nick Caserio will have to consider is how much the Texans want to give up to provide a younger complement to 2021 third-round pick Nico Collins.

If the Texans are looking for a playmaker, they ought to keep in mind Arkansas Razorbacks receiver Treylon Burks.

According to NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, Burks reminds him of Tennessee Titans receiver A.J. Brown.

He reminds me of: A.J. Brown. I remember watching Brown torch the SEC from the slot. Brown is a little more explosive than Burks, but both guys play with tremendous physicality and toughness. They aren’t afraid to work in traffic and they become special once the ball is in their hands. Brown has already established himself as a premier player at his position in the NFL. I don’t believe Burks has quite the same upside, but I see him developing into a solid No. 2 target at the next level.

Jeremiah also says that Burks has the ability at 6-3, 232 pounds to still be athletic enough to function in jet sweeps and reverses — a la Deebo Samuel with the San Francisco 49ers.

Burks will be tested every week as the Hogs play in the SEC West, which means they will see the likes of Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M. Arkansas also plays Georgia, which gives Burks another opportunity to go against the best in the conference.

Can Texans WR Brandin Cooks have a Pro Bowl season in 2021?

If the Houston Texans have a candidate who can make his first career Pro Bowl, receiver Brandin Cooks is the likeliest player.

The Houston Texans may have the worst odds in the NFL to win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2021 season, but it isn’t unlikely that they could have a couple players make their first career Pro Bowl.

According to Marc Sessler of NFL.com, the likeliest player in Houston to earn his first career Pro Bowl is receiver Brandin Cooks.

Slim pickings on a Texans roster littered with a flood of new faces on low-wattage, one-year deals. Houston is mired in extreme transition with little overt hope come September. Cooks, though, sits in good position to produce as the leading man inside a wideout room featuring Donte Moncrief, Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee. With five 1,000-yard campaigns in the past six seasons, Cooks will be leaned on by an offense destined to spend Sundays toiling from behind — no matter who plays quarterback.

If Cooks isn’t able to have another 1,000-yard season with a new quarterback, as he was able to do in 2017 with Tom Brady, 2018 with Jared Goff, and 2020 with Deshaun Watson, then the former 2014 New Orleans Saints first-round pick will be a great presence in the locker room.

“Brandin’s been great with the group,” receivers coach Robert Prince told reporters on June 8 on a Zoom call. “First of all, he shows those guys the right way to practice. That’s where it starts. He’s a great leader, but the way he practices, he’s not a talker only. He’s a doer and all you’ve got to do is watch how he practices.

“As far as in meetings, he’s very engaged. He asks the right questions and he’s willing to take coaching. If your top guy’s willing to do that, then it’s easy for the other guys to follow.”

Cooks caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and six touchdowns through 15 games last season, all of which he started.

Texans WR Randall Cobb to take part in NFL Network ‘Player’s Choice’ programming July 6

Houston Texans receiver Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) is taking over the programming July 6 on NFL Network with #PlayersChoice.

NFL Network is turning over its programming to Randall Cobb.

The Houston Texans receiver is taking part in “Player’s Choice” on July 6. For that broadcast day, after “Good Morning Football,” all of NFL Network’s programming will be nothing but shows selected by Cobb.

Here is a look at the programs Cobb picked out.

Houston Texans 2021 player profile: WR Chris Conley

Chris Conley is looking for a fresh start with the Houston Texans, who are counting on him to be their new deep threat.

Whether it was the number of former New England Patriots Nick Caserio employed or Miles Smith joining Lovie Smith as a linebacker coach, familiarity appears to be the one word that summarizes several acquisitions the Houston Texans made this offseason.

Among the players reuniting with a familiar face inside NRG Stadium is wideout Chris Conley. Before becoming the head coach of the Texans, David Culley served as a wide receiver coach for the Kansas City Chiefs that featured a rookie Conley from Georgia. Could rekindling an old flame with the Texans result in Conley becoming another solid pass option for Houston next season?

Houston Texans 2021 player profile: WR Randall Cobb

Randall Cobb provides the Houston Texans with a slot threat. How will Cobb perform with the uncertainty at quarterback?

Randall Cobb’s first season with the Houston Texans came to a premature end after sustaining a toe injury during a Week 11 victory over the Patriots. Ahead of the 2021 season, Cobb is fully healthy. But the development of the Houston Texans’ younger receivers could result in not seeing the field too much for the soon-to-be 31-year old wideout from Tennessee.

Here is a peek into what awaits Cobb ahead of the Texans’ 2021 season.

Houston Texans 2021 player profile: WR Brandin Cooks

Receiver Brandin Cooks may be the only reliable skill position player in the Houston Texans offense.

Brandin Cooks has always been one of the most underrated players in the league since entering the NFL in 2014 as a member of the New Orleans Saints. As Cooks prepares for his second campaign with the Houston Texans, the former Saint could have another year where his talents go unnoticed.

Here is a look into what to expect from Cooks ahead of the Texans’ 2021 season.