HOUSTON – One by one, the Texans’ wide receivers busted past coaches’ blocking pads as they honed their technique at escaping press coverage.
Of course, Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins was at the front of the line.
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Between Collins’ speed and towering presence at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds as the clear go-to guy for quarterback C.J. Stroud as the headliner of a new-look receiving corps, the Texans’ offense could be extremely dangerous.
Although there’s been a lot of change, including the exit of Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs in free agency to the New England Patriots and a likely season-ending knee injury suffered by Stefon Diggs, the Texans have replenished the position.
They’re arguably deeper and more competitive than a year ago, especially factoring in the arrival of veteran slot receiver Christian Kirk and drafting imposing rookie Jayden Higgins, nearly as big and tall as Collins, and speedster Jaylin Noel from Iowa State.
Although it’s a ton of change at receiver, nearly as dramatic a reboot as the overhauled offensive line, there’s a lot of opportunities for new offensive coordinator Nick Caley to dial up an extensive playbook to capitalize on their skills.
“Nick is a playmaker, man,” Collins said. “He knows how to get the playmakers the ball. Great situation, so I can’t wait to really get going on Sunday’s and for the offense to keep clicking. Right now, we’re in the learning stage. New offense, new words, new terminology, so we have to digest that but once we do that man we’re clicking.
“This is where we learn the offense and learn the little things: football. This is where we find the little things that we need to work on and work on our craft so Sundays are easy. I’m glad that Nick Caley is here. He is dicing things up right now. For the offense, we have to continue to slow it down and learn it, so that we can go out there and operate and have fun doing it.”
The first option is obviously Collins, the Texans’ $75 million man who was named to his first Pro Bowl last season despite missing five games with a strained hamstring. He still caught 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season and another 12 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown in the playoffs on 16 targets. In four career playoff games, Collins has caught 23 passes for 367 yards and two scores on 33 targets.
Collins, two seasons after a breakout year with 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns, is firmly established as a true No. 1 wide receiver.
“It feels crazy, but it’s also a blessing,” Collins said. “It shows you that time flies, but also it’s a blessing to be in this position. There are a lot of guys that are looking up to me, so it’s only right for me to go in and do my best work.
“Go in and do one percent and be better than I was yesterday. Be a great leader and be the guy that everyone is looking up to. It’s only right that I come out here and get better each and every day and that’s my goal.”
Acquired in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round selection, Kirk was originally scheduled to be released. Instead, the former Texas A&M Aggies standout stayed in the AFC South division with a trade to join the defending division champions. The Texans made it clear the NFL scouting combine that wide receiver was an area of emphasis.
“It hurt us down the stretch, not having Stef, not having Tank,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “You need those playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. It enhances your ability to move the football down the field and score points.”
Kirk, 28, is a shifty former Arizona Cardinals second-round selection.
Kirk was limited to 25 catches for 320 yards and a touchdown last season in eight games as his season ended on injured reserve after breaking his collarbone. He’s fully healthy now.
“Slot magician man,” Collins said. “Slot magic, man, he is in the slot going crazy. That’s one guy you need. Just another playmaker. Another guy in the offense that’s going to make plays and that’s one of them.”
When healthy, Kirk has been ultra-productive, though. Kirk has caught 404 career passes for 5,176 yards and 29 touchdowns.
He caught a career-high 85 passes for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, his first season in Jacksonville, dipping to 57 catches for 857 yards and three touchdowns the following season.
So far, Kirk has been a major hit with his smooth transition to the Texans.
“Everything, everything has impressed me,” Ryans said. “His work ethic, what he brings to the field, his leadership and just his advice. He is a guy that you need to get advice from. He has been around this game for a long time.
“So, it’s only right that you learn from him. I’m glad he is a part of this unit and glad he is a part of this team. It’s only right that we build and keep going.”
The Texans’ top wide receiver is looking forward to a leadership role with Higgins and Noel.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the arrival of Higgins and Noel. Higgins (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) is a classic big wide receiver who has drawn comparisons to Collins. Noel has an extensive background as a speedy slot receiver who excels after the catch and on special teams.
Having two towering wide receivers on the field at the same time represents a potential matchup nightmare for defenses.
Collectively, Collins, Kirk, Higgins and Noel could form a highly productive group catching passes from Stroud.
“That boy is nice, man,” Collins said of Higgins. “Both rookie receivers, the type of guys we’re bringing in our playmakers. It’s an honor to share the field with them and it’s only right that we go out there and get each other better.
“Learn from each other and talk to each other about the route that we see and anything that they need to work on. I’m here, I’m here for them to lean on and I’m here to learn from him as well. That’s the only way you can improve on your game. Just having an open mindset and being a learner.”
It’s a highly competitive situation at receiver in the battle for playing time and roster spots between Justin Watson, former All-Pro returner Braxton Berrios, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III.
Growing up in Alabama, Collins looked up to several wide receivers as role models. That included Mike Evans, Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones. As a rookie, he gleaned knowledge from Brandin Cooks. It’s a mentoring role he embraces.
“Man, it’s a blessing,” Collins said. “It’s crazy how time flies. It’s a blessing to be in this position, man. It’s only right for me to lead by example. I know they’re gonna push me, I’m gonna push them. That’s the only way we can get better and we’re gonna shine on Sundays.
“So, push each other and let them boys know, let the DBs know what’s up. I can’t wait to join the guys, man. I’m excited to get back with them boys, for sure.”
A year ago, Collins signed a three-year, $75 million maximum value deal a year ago that included a $17 million signing bonus
To help the Texans acquire more players, he restructured his contract earlier this offseason to create $9.8 million in salary cap space, per a league source, as the Texans converted his $13.5 million base salary into a $12.33 million signing bonus. His original salary cap figure was $18.441 million for the 2025 season, and it’s now down to $8.577 million. His new base salary: $1.17 million, fully guaranteed. He’s due up to $625,004 in per game active roster bonuses at a rate of $36,755 available per game.
To spread out the impact of the salary-cap maneuver, the Texans added void years of $40 million in 2028 and 2029.
Collins signed his new contract last year coming off a career breakthrough season during which he caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 regular season games. In two playoff games, Collins caught 11 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown with nine first downs on 17 targets.
Last season, the Texans won the AFC South division title again and Collins set a franchise playoff record with 122 receiving yards in a playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers on seven receptions as he surpassed DeAndre Hopkins’ playoff single-game record.
Before his leg injury, Collins was on a torrid pace to finish the season with over 100 catches and 2,000 receiving yards.
Collins has ascended from a somewhat below-the-radar third-round draft pick from Michigan into one one of the top receivers in the NFL.
“It means a lot,” he said. “If you got to a grocery store, somebody might recognize you. It’s part of it. You’re out here making plays for the city. Your hard work will come to notice. Lucky for that, that’s what hard work comes to.
“I love the attention, man. I don’t mind it at all. I love giving back, taking pictures for the fans. Just glad to give back to the city, glad to be in this position.”
Since the Texans’ final game, a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in January at Arrowhead Stadium. Collins and his teammates have had a lot of time to reflect on their second consecutive AFC South divisional round defeat.
The Texans are 0-6 all-time as a franchise at that stage of the postseason as the only team in the AFC that has never reached the conference championship game. All of that has built more motivational fuel for a football team eager to take the next step in Ryans’ third season as head coach.
“Yeah, I feel like it’s a chip on our shoulders,” Collins said. “We’ve gotta be hungry every year, that’s the mindset. I feel like our locker room is full of dawgs. I feel like we’re never satisfied. There’s no reason to be satisfied until we get to that goal.
“Fell short, same spot, twice. Lost to the same team, so we know the feeling. We know what it takes not to get to the feeling again. Every day, we’re head down, one foot in front of the other and we’re gonna work every single day.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
