As we continue our series we come to one of the last two positions where the Texans could consider a late addition through free agency. I want to reiterate the rules here. Particularly in light of the news that Nico Collins was given a raise, the Texans probably cannot afford more than one of these additions. We have already looked at edge rushers and running backs. Clearly, I am not advocating for a specific position here. We are simply looking at the possibilities and making the potential arguments
for each position. The Texans will ultimately decide and we as fans will have our preferences as well.
Obviously, the decision on which position to bolster depends on which position has the most acute need, but also who is actually available at those slots. We should start with evaluating the need for a wide receiver. The need at wide receiver is more of what I would call “bust protection.” Simply put, the Texans have a whole group of wide receivers and could go with the group they have in camp and be perfectly content. Things always look better on paper then they do in real life.
We start with Tank Dell. If Dell is the Dell he was in 2023 and 2024 then there is no need for another wide receiver. However, coming off of two disastrous knee injuries (one in 2023 and another in 2024) could zap Dell of some of his speed and quickness. If you take those two things away Dell becomes very ordinary very quickly. The rest of their hopes rests on the development of Jayden Higgins and Jayden Noel. Most players have a jump from year one to year two if they are going to have one. If either have a big jump then your problem is also solved. If neither of them make the leap then you have a problem.
I suppose this is a glass half empty outlook on this situation. If you have designs on the Super Bowl you sometimes have to feed that. What are the odds that Dell will be ineffective, Higgins won’t make a leap forward, AND Noel won’t become a reliable target? I suppose some might argue slim. I am not so sure. So, as we did before, we will look at three potential names available that could bolster the unit and protect the Texans in case they roll snake eyes.
Stefon Diggs
Key Stats: 85 catches, 1013 yards, 4 TD
The problem for Diggs has never been performance. It was never performance when he was here. If he had not torn his ACL he probably would have put up numbers similar to this in 2024. Furthermore, he managed to bounceback and particularly late in the season and throughout the playoffs. You could make a compelling argument that he will be better than this based on the distance away from his surgery and initial recovery.
Fortunately, the most likely result for Diggs is that he will begin to taper down his production. That is fortunate because there aren’t 100 targets available for a number two or three wide receiver. It might be in line for 60 or 70 targets and we know he will catch a high percentage of those and be the credible second threat in the offense. A Diggs also would be a credible first threat when Collins misses his customary two or three games during the course of the season.
That’s the good news. The bad news is all of the baggage. The Texans dealt with it before, but that was before his latest round of legal trouble. When you get Diggs, TMZ comes with him. ESPN comes with him. Page Six comes with him. Any team wanting to make that jump has to seriously weigh that. It didn’t seem to impact the Patruits negatively, but some of it was just coming out late in the season. You would be forgiven if you just said, “pass” and move on.
Deebo Samuel
Key Stats: 72 receptions, 727 yards, 5 TD, 17 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD
Samuel does not have the baggage that Diggs has, but this will be his third organization in three seasons. I am always a little leery when two different teams have decided they have had enough of your antics. Samuel offers a unique skill set that might actually be a better football fit for the Texans. He has the look of a possession type receiver which could fit well in the slot. He is also a guy that could potentially get two to three carries a game as a secondary rushing threat.
If we look at the Texans offense, the most likely result is that Higgins has a decent step forward as a boundary wide receiver, but that would leave Tank Dell and Jaylen Noel to fight over the slot position. I have a little less faith in those two to be that legitimate threat inside. The Texans system is not necessarily about having a true number one, number two, and number three option but having options at different points of the field and allowing the quarterback simply pick who is open that particular day.
Samuel has shown an ability to run after the catch in the past that makes him an intriguing possibility if the price is right. Obviously, that is what all three of these guys have in common. This has to be the right position and the price has to be right. Both Samuel and Diggs are at the point of their careers where they are trying to hang on for another season. If they choose they can take less and play a role with a winner. It remains to be seen if that is ultimately what they are after.
Keenan Allen
Key Stats: 81 catches, 777 yards, 4 TD
Allen is the oldest amongst these receivers, so he brings the least amount of upside. The venerable former Charger already has more than 1000 receptions on a brilliant career that started in 2013. This is a good news and bad news deal. The good news is that he comes with the least amount of baggage. Allen is probably the most mentally ready for the role he would be asked to play. He would be the very best choice if you were looking for a guy that would fit the SWARM mentality.
The bad news is that he probably has less in the tank than either of the other two players. However, if this is a risk/reward kind of deal then it very much makes sense to target an Allen because the whole idea is to minimize risk in the whole group. You’d be looking for the guy that would give you those 40-50 catches you thought you were going to get from Christian Kirk last season. The entire question comes down to who is mostly likely to give you THAT production?
Putting it all together
My preferences are probably coming in clear here, but that is because my thinking from the outset probably led me there. The flip side would be picking the guy that brings you the biggest upside or “something you currently don’t have.” Allen offers the former while Diggs and Samuel probably offer the latter. Samuel in particular not only offers a skillset the Texans don’t have, but also one that most teams in the league do not have. That by itself is intriguing.
Also, remember what we said at the outset. Picking between these three is only necessary if you believe wide receiver is most acute need on the roster. We have already tossed in edge rusher and running back as other possibilities. We will be adding cornerbacks next week. So, where does wide receiver rank in your pecking order of need? Would any of these three guys move the needle for you?
