The Houston Texans are not ignoring in-state Big 12 talent when it comes to the prospect of improving their receiving corps.
The AFC South champions met with Texas Longhorns receiver Devin Duvernay at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The meeting was only informal, and the Texans are permitted to have as many informal meetings with the 337 attendees.
The real limitation is formal meetings, which don’t take place until after the media interview sessions with the prospects. The Texans are limited to 45 of those.
Nonetheless, the informal meeting with Duvernay indicates the club is evaluating all options at wideout. Currently, DeAndre Hopkins is atop the receiving corps, but there is some ambiguity. Kenny Stills is a jack-of-all-trades wideout who caught 40 passes for 561 yards and four touchdowns in his 13 games for Houston, five of which he started. Stills had to fill in for Will Fuller as a deep threat as the former 2016 first-round pick was limited to 11 games. Furthermore, intended slot receiver Keke Coutee was active for nine games as he battled injuries and also fought for playing time. Nonetheless, it was a role Stills would have to step into.
If the Texans choose to release Fuller, they would save $10.2 million in salary cap space. However, they would have to fill his spot on the roster, either with a free agent or in the draft.
In the case of Coutee, there could be a chance he doesn’t get to play his third season with the Texans. Braxton Miller, a 2016 third-round receiver, similarly had trouble with availability with 21 games played of his possible 36 over the first two seasons. The Texans cut him at the end of the 2018 preseason as they trimmed their roster down from 90 to 53.
Taking a look at Duvernay allows the Texans to see if there are better options available to retool their receiving corps. At 5-11, 210 pounds, Duvernay doesn’t have a stereotypical slot build, and he brings physicality and aggression to the position. Nonetheless, slot is a position he loves to play.
“You go deep, you go short, you get in the screen game, be in the backfield, things like that, I like doing that, things to get the ball in your hands early, make a play, run after the catch,” said Duvernay.
That element is missing from the Texans’ passing game, and Duvernay could finally manifest that production — if Houston is interested.