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Tag: Nico Collins

  • Which Houston Texan Is Most Likely To Win an NFL Award in 2025?

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    One of the byproducts of having a capable NFL team for which to root is the numerous individual awards campaigns for the upcoming season. When your team stinks (like, say, the 2021 and 2022 Texans), there are no individual accolades coming for any of the players. When your team is good (like, say, this season’s Texans), then awards possibilities abound.

    It’s fun to root for your team to win the division, conference, or a Super Bowl, but it’s also fun to see your favorite players win individual hardware, like C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson winning the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, respectively, back in 2023.

    Now comes the individual hardware possibilities for 2025, and the Houston Texans are all over the odds board with six different players in four different categories. So let’s talk some gambling hypotheticals — if I had $100 to wager on these categories, here is the order in which I’d wager, based on betting value:

    DeMECO RYANS – Coach of the Year, +2500
    Don’t get me wrong, I think DeMeco Ryans is one of the best coaches in the NFL, but the formula for winning the Coach of the Year Award typically entails one of two routes — either you’re a first year head coach whose team overachieves, a formula that almost won Ryans the award in 2023, or you’re the head coach of one of the top two or three teams in the NFL. I like the Texans in 2025, but I wouldn’t; vet on them going 14-3 or something like that.

    NICO COLLINS – Offensive Player of the Year, +1800
    Nico Collins was on pace for an historical season early last year, before pulling his hamstring in Week 5. He was headed for an 1,800 yard receiving year. Hell, his first play back from injury, he took a 77 yard screen to the house, but it was called back on a penalty by Laremy Tunsil. I tink Collins can contend for this award, but his injury history hurts the cause. He’s missed at least a few games each season, and I can’t take that chance on it happening again in 2025.

    CJ STROUD – Most Valuable Player, +2500
    This time a year ago, Stroud was among the too four candidates for the MVP award, but we know how 2024 went for Stroud. He was good, but not great, and got no help from his offensive line. That’s the big question — can Stroud’s offensive line play well enough and protect him well enough to contend for the MVP award. I think they can, but not to the degree where I’d take Stroud for MVP over any of the Texans’  Defensive Player of the Year candidates.

    DEREK STINGLEY – Defensive Player of the Year, +6000
    It’s hard for a cornerback to win the Defensive Player of the Year award without a slew of interceptions. Stingley has garnered five picks in each of the last two seasons, but if I had to guess, defenses are going to avoid throwing his way this season. Stingley might be better than he was last season, but with fewer picks. That’s a formula for having the best Pro Football Focus score for a cornerback, but not a formula for wining Defensive Player of the Year. Still, at 60 to 1, I’d throw my $100 down on Stingley before the others preceding him here.

    DANIELLE HUNTER – Defensive Player of the Year, +8000
    I don’t love Hunter’s chances at this award, as he always seems to be fighting against a system that underrates him, but at 80 to 1, if he has a 17 sack season, or something like that, and the Texans are the one or two seed in the AFC, Hunter could make a great case.

    WILL ANDERSON – Defensive Player of the Year, +1200
    I love Will Anderson, and I love his chances of making another big leap in this third season, similar to what he did in his second season. I’ve never covered a player more hyper focused on improvement in the offseason, and I’ve never covered a player who can identify so specifically the things he needs to do to improve. Anderson is going to have a monster year. For purposes of this exercise, the safest pick (by the odds) is the best pick.

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

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    Sean Pendergast

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  • Six Houston Texans Land in NFL Top 100 Players

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    For the Houston Texans, the 2025 NFL season will begin on Sunday, September 7 in Los Angeles against the Rams. Around the league, most experts are fairly certain of a few things regarding the Texans — they should be clear favorites to win the AFC South, the offensive line can’t be worse than it was in 2024, and DeMeco Ryans is one of the bright, young coaching stars.

    Where the Texans fit into the fabric of Super Bowl contenders, though, is very much up for debate. On most odds boards, they sit somewhere between 10th and 15th to win the whole shebang. However, if upper level, core talent on the roster is a deciding factor, the Texans should perhaps be higher up the list.

    To wit, if we believe NFL players to be greater experts as to what constitutes “good at football” than non-players in the media, then the NFL’s Top 100 Players ranking, which is determined by votes of around 1,000 players, is great news for the Texans.

    As it turns out, according to this year’s poll, the Texans have six of the top 58 players in football, with Derek Stingley, Jr. being the sixth and final Houston Texan revealed this week at number 18. If I’m correct on forecasting who the remaining players are on the countdown to be unveiled between now and next week, this means the Texans will end up with the second most players (6) in the top 58 spots, behind only the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (7).

    Let’s look at the six Texans in this ranking, and forecast whether they will each live up to their ranking this coming season:

    58. JOE MIXON, RB
    I was mildly surprised that Mixon showed up in the Top 100 at all, let alone as high as 58th. It’s not that Mixon wasn’t a key cog for the Texans last season, but I just never watched him and thought “Wow, there’s only 57 guys on earth better than Joe Mixon.” As for the upcoming season, Mixon’s early season injury is going to make it awfully tough for him to replicate his 2024 numbers, both due to rust and the sheer math of missing games. I’d predict a fall out of the Top 100 for Mixon next year.

    46. WILL ANDERSON, Jr., EDGE
    Anderson has made the Pro Bowl in both of his NFL seasons thus far, and if camp is any indication, Anderson is primed for a big leap this season. I think Anderson is a prime candidate for Defensive Player of the Year this season, and I think, if healthy, it’s a lock he ascends into the Top 25 players in football in next year’s rankings.

    39. C.J. STROUD, QB
    Stroud entered the rankings last year at a practically unprecedented 20th coming off his historic rookie season. Statistically, as well know, Stroud backslid in 2024. However, the fact that he only dropped to 39th overall shows me that his peers see Bobby Slowik and the 2024 offensive line as the culprits in that regression. That said, I have no idea which direction Stroud’s ranking goes this coming season. If he descends, it means that the line was probably still an issue, but if returns to the Top 20, the Texans might have gone to the Super Bowl.

    32. NICO COLLINS, WR
    Collins makes his flirrst appearance in these rankings at 32nd overall, and that’s having missed five full games and most of two others. Collins only played ten full games in 2024, and still finished with over 1,000 yards receiving. When he hurt himself in Week 5, he was on his way to the greatest receiving season in Texans history, which is saying something for a franchise who employed Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. I think Collins ranking is attached at the hip to Stroud’s, and could go either way a year from now.

    25. DANIELLE HUNTER, EDGE
    Hunter has been everything the Texans couple have asked for when they signed him in free agency before the 2024 season, having finished with a dozen sacks, and as you can see in the video above, numerous plays where the person he is tackling looks like they might not get up. Hunter has been fantastic. He is also getting older, but shows no signs of slowing down. I could see Hunter and Anderson flip flopping spots in next year’s ranking, with Hunter sliding into the 40’s and Anderson rising into the 20’s.

    18. DEREK STINGLEY, Jr.
    Stingley’s living up to his status as third overall pick in the 2022 draft has been, aside from Stroud’s establishing himself as a franchise QB, the most important development for this roster, and thus, the Texans’ return to relevance (and hopefully, this season, return to prominence). If healthy, Stingley might be establishing a permanent home among the top 20 players in the sport. He is that good.

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

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    Sean Pendergast

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  • Detroit Lions Catch HUGE Break for Upcoming Matchup vs. Houston Texans

    Detroit Lions Catch HUGE Break for Upcoming Matchup vs. Houston Texans

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    The Detroit Lions have caught a significant break heading into their Week 10 matchup against the Houston Texans, as Texans star wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL, according to a report from Ian Rapoport. Diggs, who suffered the knee injury during Houston’s Week 8 game, has been one of the Texans’ biggest offensive threats this season.

    Although the Texans will be without Diggs, they expect the return of Nico Collins, their standout wide receiver, who has missed time due to injury. Before his setback, Collins was emerging as a major offensive weapon, posting 32 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns in just five games. His return will be a crucial addition for the Texans as they face a Lions defense that has been formidable this season, even while adjusting to the absence of Aidan Hutchinson, who was sidelined with a leg injury.

    With the Texans losing Diggs and the Lions aiming to stay atop the NFC North, Detroit’s defense will focus on containing Collins, who could be leaned on heavily by Houston’s offense. The Lions, who have steadily improved in pass defense, will look to continue their defensive dominance to make a playoff push and maintain their winning record.

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    W.G. Brady

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  • Receivers Extended Around The League – Eagles One Step Ahead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Receivers Extended Around The League – Eagles One Step Ahead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    When you get things done ahead of 31 other teams in the league, there’s always a reward.

    For Howie Roseman and the Eagles, it’s a sigh of relief knowing your star players under contract for the next 2-6 years. And they’ve managed to save MILLIONS while doing so.
    Back in April, the Eagles extended multiple players. Now that the ink has dried on those contracts. It was about time the rest of the league got around to paying some of the other superstars.

    Eagles Remain Ahead

    In April, the Eagles signed their star receivers to two massive extensions.

    • April 15th,  DeVonta Smith, 3-year, $75M + 5th year option
    • April 25th, A.J. Brown, 3-year, $96M

    These contracts don’t come without merit, below has been the duos stat line the last two seasons.

    • DeVonta Smith – 33GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 14TD
    • A.J. Brown – 34GP, 2,952Rec Yards, 18TD

    While these may have been the first few receivers to be paid this off-season, they certainly weren’t the biggest paydays handed out in recent signings.

     

    This Weeks Extensions

    In the last few days. Multiple receivers have gotten contract extensions with their current team, including:

    Let’s see how these recent contracts compare with base stats of the following two seasons in comparison to the Eagles duo

    • Nico Collins – 24GP, 1,778Rec Yards, 10TD
    • Jaylen Waddle – 31GP, 2,370Rec Yards, 12TD

    When comparing to the Collins deal things might look great. Keep in mind that’s only 1 season with C.J. Stroud as the Texans Quarterback. Things might change in the upcoming season as well, with the addition of Stefon Diggs as well as the hopeful return for Tank Dell’s sophomore season.

    The same goes for looking at Waddle’s deal. Similar to DeVonta Smith who’s in a WR2 role behind Brown/Tyreek Hill. DeVonta Smith has put up similar numbers (108 less yards) and will be getting paid nearly $10M less across the 3 years of his deal. With these new contracts for star studded teams, which receiver would you rather in this scenario?

     

    Past Deals

    Of course these weren’t the only Receivers to break the bank this off-season, in fact multiple have already seen their new deals come through, including:

    • March 11th, Michael Pittman Jr, 3-year, $70M
    • April 24th, Amon-Ra St. Brown, 4-year, $120.01M
    • March 13th, Calvin Ridley, 4-year, $92M

    Of course with their payday, comes the stats. How does this other batch of receivers hold up to the last 4?

    • Michael Pittman Jr. – 32GP, 2,077Rec Yards, 8TD
    • Amon-Ra St. Brown – 32GP, 2,676Rec Yards, 16TD
    • Calvin Ridley – 17GP, 1,016Rec Yards, 8TD

    Even if Calvin Ridley had played the 2022 season. His numbers would still be somewhere between Pittman and DeVonta Smith. Depending on what team he had gone to, Ridley could have surpassed the 1,200 mark with ease.

    With all these receivers being under contract for the next 3-5 Years. You’d think that means the rest of the big names due in the upcoming year have seen new deals? For some, that’s not the case.

     

    No Contract In Sight?

    Also from the 2021 Draft class with Smith and Waddle, is Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase. Entering his 4th season, Chase has put up the following his last two years as a Bengal:

    • Ja’Marr Chase – 28GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 16TD

    Without a contract, the Bengals have exercised their $21.8M 5th year option for the following season. It will be hard to deny Chase of an extension. Even without Joe Burrow for lengthy periods, Chase has still been able to have success.

    But in the NFC, there’s two more names struggling for a payday.

    • CeeDee Lamb – 34GP, 3,108Rec Yards, 21TD
    • Justin Jefferson – 27GP, 2,883Rec Yards, 13TD

    Seeing every other team continue to lock up receivers might be good for the players, but certainly not the teams. A.J and Amon-Ra’s deals are going to be the closest comparison for this duo to get paid. And if they’re trying to takeover the #1 and #2 spot for highest paid receivers, teams will be looking to pay north of $30M to keep these players under contract.

     

    After all the deals and carousel doors of acquiring younger receivers, what contracts would you offer these players who might be left still bargaining for a deal come next off-season?

     

     

    Photo Credit: Rich Schultz / AP Photo

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • With Diggs Trade, Houston Texans WR Corps is Now Best in the NFL

    With Diggs Trade, Houston Texans WR Corps is Now Best in the NFL

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    There are so many things pertaining to the Houston Texans that are prefaced with “I can’t believe it was only a year ago that ______”, and most of them feel like the time that’s lapsed is about ten years. The last year has been a whirlwind of improvement, success, and newfound swagger.

    With that in mind, and in the aftermath of the Texans’ earth shaking trade for Stefon Diggs last week, today’s facet of the Texans whose rapid improvement I would like to examine is indeed the wide receiving corps. Let’s go back a year ago, to Pro Football Focus, and take a look at where the Texans ranked in terms of receiver quality:

    32. HOUSTON TEXANS

    The Texans bring up the rear in these rankings with no go-to player in the passing game on their roster. I like Robert Woods as a WR2 or WR3, but not as a WR1. I also like Noah Brown, but not as a WR2. The same can be said for Nico Collins.

    John Metchie III could be a good player for Houston, but there is a big unknown with him missing all last season. They did sign tight end Dalton Schultz in free agency, which was a good signing. But his presence raises the floor more than it elevates the ceiling. It’s still very much a rebuilding offense in Houston.

    Yep, they ranked 32nd in the NFL, a league that contains 32 teams. In other words, their receiving group was believed to be the worst in all of football. As it turns out, the pundits (because PFF was not alone) were WAY off. They didn’t see Nico Collins’ ascension coming, and they didn’t see Tank Dell coming. Those two alone would get the Texans up into the upper third of receiver groups heading into 2024.

    But then along comes Stefon Diggs, and the world changes. DRASTICALLY. In fact, this certainly gives the Texans the best trio of wide receivers on one team in the NFL. I’ve listed below the ten teams that have receiver trios that are worth arguing against the Texans’ top three, in no particular order:

    MIAMI — 1. Tyreek Hill, 2. Jaylen Waddle, 3, Brazton Berrios
    TENNESSEE — 1. Calvin Ridely, 2. DeAndre Hopkins, 3. Traylon Burks
    CINCINNATI — 1. Ja’Marr Chase, 2. Tee Higgins, 3 . Trenton Irwin
    PHILADELPHIA — 1. A.J. Brown, 2. DeVonta Smith, 3. DaVante Parker
    CHICAGO — 1. D.J. Moore, 2. Keenan Allen, 3. Tyler Scott
    MINNESOTA — 1. Justin Jefferson, 2. Jordan Addison, 3. Trent Sherfield
    TAMPA BAY — 1. Mike Evans, 2. Chris Godwin, 3. Trey Palmer
    LA RAMS — 1. Cooper Kupp, 2. Puka Nacka, 3. Tutu Atwell
    SEATTLE — 1. D.K. Metcalf, 2. Tyler Lockett, 3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
    SAN FRANCISCO — 1. Brandon Aiyuk, 2. Deebo Samuel, 3. Jauan Jennings

    My “back of the cocktail napkin” argument for the Texans having the best trip is that (a) I feel that Diggs and Nico Collins as a top two are close enough to the other top duos to where they’re in the same neighborhood, and (b) subsequently, if we take Tank Dell, as the Texans’ number three wide receiver, he smokes all of these other number three guys on the list.

    To wit, here are the yardage and touchdown totals for Dell and the number three guys listed above:

    Dell — 709 yards, 7 TD
    Smith-Njigba — 624 yards, 4 TD
    Atwell — 483 yards, 3 TD
    Parker — 394 yards, 0 TD
    Palmer — 385 yards, 3 TD
    Irwin — 316 yards, 1 TD
    Jennings — 265 yards, 1 TD
    Berrios — 238 yards, 1 TD
    Burks — 221 yards, 0 TD
    Scott — 168 yards, 0 TD
    Sherfield — 86 yards, 1 TD

    Dell is better than ALL of these guys, and he did it in just 11 games, before having his season cut short by a broken leg. This is all evidence of the incredible job that GM Nick Caserio has done in flipping this roster around. Just tremendous.

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

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    Sean Pendergast

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