If Will Fuller hits the open market, the Houston Texans’ 2016 first-round receiver is going to be an intriguing available veteran.
According to Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield of the Touchdown Wire, Fuller ranks as the 15th-best player on their 2021 free agency rankings.
So, yes, Fuller has yet to play a full 16-game season, and you might be expecting more of the same in 2021 given his history. But he is coming off a career-year, with 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns, all of which represent career-high numbers. You can bet teams are willing to take their chances given what he offers in the passing game.
Fuller may be a product of playing with a great quarterback, unlike receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was great regardless of what warm body the Texans had under center from 2013-19. It doesn’t meant that Fuller can’t be a catalyst for a team’s offense; he can, but that team better have the right quarterback in place.
If the Texans trade Watson, it would behoove Fuller to leave Houston and latch on to a team that does have a competent quarterback. It doesn’t even have to be a situation like the Green Bay Packers with Aaron Rodgers. Fuller could land with the Cincinnati Bengals and a healthy Joe Burrow, and the former Notre Dame product would still have great relevance among NFL receivers.
If the Texans keep Watson, re-signing Fuller may not be that bad of an idea. However, in the final five games without Fuller, Watson was still able to make due with Brandin Cooks, Chad Hansen, and Keke Coutee. That is also not to mention that Randall Cobb is still under contract with the Texans for the next two seasons.
As one of the NFL’s top-20 free agents, Fuller should be able to find a second contract that validates his skills.
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