Sitting at 2-5 heading into their Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Houston Texans need something to feel as if their season isn't lost.
But let's say the Texans fall short on the road against the winless Bolts and move to 2-6. Does a fire sale happen over the next 48 hours ahead of the NFL's trade deadline involving players who could be veiwed as non-long-term players beyond 2026?
There's been speculation that the Texans could move some pieces, most notably former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Other names, like offensive linemen Braden Smith and Waytt Teller, along with tight end Foster Moreau, have been floated out there without an significant momentum behind the deals.
But where does wideout Nico Collins fall in all this?
Could he be on the move to a team in the AFC should Houston lose and be the price for the future?
For starters, the Texans should just move Collins because they're losing. The former Pro Bowler and three-time 1,000-yard receiver is still under contract through 2027 and would be an asset for Houston's hopeful turnaround next season once it fixes the woes in the trenches.
Welcome back to the end zone, Nico Collins.@DALvsHOU on FOX/FOX One
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Vc3ml22f0x
But Collins' status remains a mystery largely because of his future. Would he want to re-sign in Houston and finish out the prime of his tenure with the team that drafted him? Could he be willing to test the market once his deal expires and try to hop on with a contender?
It's not just Collins, either. The Texans recently traded a 2027 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals to reunite C.J. Stroud with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Even if he fails to meet the high bar initially set coming out of Ohio State, one would have to assume that if the franchise was willing to give up that much draft captial, they'll be opting in on his fifth-year deal, thus keeping him around through 2028.
And with Houston having Harrison, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel under contract for two more seasons, could that make the top target expendable for a team willing to pay top dollar? Keep in mind that Houston must come to terms with Stroud on an extension this offseason to keep the annual salary low, so freeng up cap space is essential.
Still, what would it take for the Texans to move Collins? Surprisingly, more than some would think.
For any deal to get done, a first-round pick would have to be in play. At his peak, Collins is a consensus top-10 wideout in the league. You don't ship them off for simply shedding cap space unless it's on a rebuilding team with an expiring contract.
Next, the team would have to come from the NFC side. Most have linked Collins to Kansas City, mainly because the former dynasty under Patrick Mahomes needs to land a legitimate No. 1 receiver if it plans on making a run back to the Super Bowl. But why would the Texans trade their best weapon to a team that could be in their way of making a run next season? Remember, Collins has two years on the deal, so Kansas City would have him locked up through next winter.
Nico Collins Should DEMAND More From the Texans 🚨 #nicocollins #nfl #texans pic.twitter.com/Gyy6A2vF0u
— Locked On Texans (@lockedontexans) October 29, 2026
The final barrier to be moved is overpay. So many teams are desperate to add marquee names at the deadline, but there aren't enough teams willing to negotiate for face value. So, for Texans general manager Nick Caserio, that phone could ring for days by teams wanting to know about Collins, but if he's going for face value, why move him?
Now, should a team from the NFC — the San Francisco 49ers come to mind — offer a 2027 first-round pick, and a future second- and fourth-round pick, that could change the tune. If they upped the deal to three picks on Day 1 and 2 next April, Caserio would at least have to consider all his options beyond Collins.
That's the only way a deal like this could happen. The right team from the right side of the league for the right price for a receiver who still has plenty ahead. Houston also could revisit a trade surrounding Collins in the offseason as he enters the final year of his deal, where perhaps the price drops, but not enough to make it a bargain for other teams.
Collins, who currently has 24 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns, could explode in the second half following Noel's season-ending injury, thus only preserving his value entering 2027.
Nothing should be off the table for the Texans if they lose on Sunday in L.A. Still, Houston shouldn't sell low to free up cap space, especially with a talent like Collins.
For now, expect the Pro Bowl receiver to finish the 2026 season at Reliant Stadium. After that?
Let's revisit in February.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Could the Texans actually trade Pro Bowl WR Nico Collins at the deadline?
