Texans trade up to snag Nico Collins at No. 89

The Houston Texans made a trade with the Carolina Panthers to move up and select receiver Nico Collins out of Michigan in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 89th overall.

The Texans have lost DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller in consecutive offseasons. The remaining wideout group of Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Chris Conley, Keke Coutee, and Andre Roberts is solid, but Houston lacks long-term options at the position.

The uber-athletic Collins is only the second pick of the draft for the Texans after they took quarterback Davis Mills earlier in Round 3.

Draft profile

Key stats (2019): 37 receptions, 729 yards, 7 TDs, 19.7 YPC

Getting excited about Collins and his NFL outlook is easy. Michigan receivers are always tough to evaluate because the team's offense caps their opportunities. But there's actually not as much uncertainty here as one may expect. Collins is the rare big-bodied contested-catch darling who also possesses vertical speed. He's limited in other areas, and Collins may not move well enough laterally to separate on in/out-breaking routes. But he still offers incredible value with his rare and specific skill set. As a receiver who's too big for most cornerbacks, and too fast for those closer to his size, Collins has the potential to be a matchup nightmare.