The Houston Texans have a trio for the future with C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins, but there’s still a sense that the offense needs one more weapon from the 2024 NFL Draft to be truly elite. Which 2024 NFL Draft WR prospects can complete the puzzle?
Houston Texans Need One More WR in the 2024 NFL Draft
Few NFL offenses have been more surprisingly potent than the Texans’ attack in 2023. Ahead of the season, with injuries on the offensive line and a rookie QB, many expected Houston’s offense to be a middle-of-the-pack unit, at best.
Under the oversight of Bobby Slowik, however, and behind Stroud’s MVP-worthy play, the Texans’ offense has been one of the top units in the league, particularly through the air.
Heading into Week 14, Houston was sixth in the NFL in yards per game and second in the NFL in passing yards per game, behind only Mike McDaniel’s Miami Dolphins attack.
Stroud, Dell, and Collins together have been the engine behind the Texans’ offensive success. But in Week 14, we got a sobering glimpse at life without Collins and Dell for the Texans. Dell was previously ruled out for the rest of the season, and Collins left the game early with a calf injury.
Granted, Houston was going up against a stalwart New York Jets defense, but the absence of Dell and Collins severely constricted Houston’s ability to move the football and spread out the secondary. And it put under the spotlight Houston’s need for another dynamic threat.
The Texans do have Noah Brown and Robert Woods, solid complementary threats. But before the Texans match the dynamism and durability of Kyle Shanahan-inspired attacks like the 49ers and Dolphins, they might need one more high-caliber wide receiver.
Who could they add at the WR position in the 2024 NFL Draft to close the gap, and ensure offensive success through 17 games?
2024 NFL Draft WR Options for the Texans
Currently in possession of the Cleveland Browns’ original first-round pick, the Texans are projected to pick 24th overall in Round 1, 50th overall in Round 2, and 95th overall in Round 3. Those numbers are subject to change, but they give an idea of the rough ranges Houston could pick, barring trades.
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The Texans have their WR1 in Collins and a dynamic vertical threat and separation machine in Dell. But they need a true three-level RAC and vertical receiver to put defenses in a bind. These wide receivers, at varying ranges, might provide what they seek.
Malik Nabers, LSU
The Texans would most definitely have to trade up if they wanted to acquire Malik Nabers. Nabers is a top-five prospect on my board, and in any class without Marvin Harrison Jr., he’d be the bonafide WR1. But if Houston can get into the top 10, he might be worth it.
Nabers, at 6’0″, 200 pounds, is the elite Shanahan-build receiver in this class. He’s a hyper-explosive and nuanced separator with throttle control and a stellar tracker on the vertical plane, but his contact balance and physicality make him a deadly RAC weapon.
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
An injury-riddled 2023 campaign prevented Emeka Egbuka from finding consistency and might’ve sunk his 2024 NFL Draft stock a bit. But on the same wavelength, his dip in production could make him a bargain for Houston in late Round 1 or Round 2.
At 6’1″, 205 pounds, Egbuka has a compact frame with wiry strength and an excellent mix of RAC balance and long-strider speed working through zones. He’s an incredibly intelligent route runner with sturdy hands, but the RAC element is what makes Egbuka a stellar fit.
Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
He’s a Group of Five prospect, so he doesn’t always get as much hype. But midway through Round 2, Malachi Corley would be a phenomenal pick for Houston. More than anything, the Texans need a three-level threat who can chew up yards over the middle. Corley is that.
At 5’11”, 210 pounds, Corley is an RB playing the WR position. He can separate on quick slants and brawl for additional yards with his elite contact balance. On top of that, he has 4.4 speed and has hit as high as 23 MPH on the GPS. He’s the perfect weapon.
Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington
Ja’Lynn Polk is only one-third of the Washington Huskies’ superlative WR trio, but he’s the one who best fits the Texans’ range and preferences. Rome Odunze will go too early, and Jalen McMillan doesn’t quite have the mass or RAC appeal that Houston needs.
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At 6’2″, 204 pounds, Polk is built well, and his elite explosiveness and throttle capacity enables him to gain late separation and convert on high-difficulty attempts. He’s agile after the catch, flashes manipulative tendencies as a separator, and his hands are made of steel.
Jamari Thrash, Louisville
If the Texans can’t come away with some of the names higher up on the list, Jamari Thrash could be an excellent consolation prize in Round 3. He’s not built as strong at 6’1″, 185 pounds, but he has size-defying strength in all phases, and that’s not all he brings.
Thrash is one of the smartest, most flexible, and most abrupt route runners in the entire class, with the speed to press into stems and bait DBs upfield. He can be implemented right away as a separator and vertical threat, and his physical creation ability is legit, too.
Malik Washington, Virginia
Malik Washington is one of the biggest sleepers in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he happens to be a very good fit for what the Texans need. In 2023, he logged 110 catches for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns, despite weeks of QB instability for the Virginia Cavaliers.
At 5’8″, 196 pounds, Washington is a densely built chain-mover with exceptional separation instincts, consistent hands, and a strong center of gravity in the RAC phase. He doesn’t have quite as much speed as Nabers or Corley — but he has enough, and he’s a Day 1 slot.
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