The Houston Texans have become one of the NFL’s most exciting young teams, thanks largely to quarterback C.J. Stroud’s breakout performance. After leading the team to back-to-back 10-7 seasons, Stroud has cemented himself as the future of football in Houston. However, despite all their recent success, the Texans fell short of making a deep playoff run last season, revealing one clear need: more firepower on offense.
With Stefon Diggs entering free agency and concerns lingering over Tank Dell’s knee injury, the Texans could be in the market for another game-changing weapon. And now, a bold prediction from ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggests a potential blockbuster move that could give Stroud the most dangerous receiver duo in the NFL.
Houston Texans Predicted to Reunite C.J. Stroud With His College Star
In ESPN’s latest set of bold offseason projections, Schatz envisions the Texans pulling off a massive trade for New York Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson — Stroud’s former teammate at Ohio State. The idea isn’t just about adding talent; it’s about reigniting chemistry that once lit up college football.
“Wilson was clearly unhappy in New York last season, but he’s a very talented young wide receiver,” Schatz wrote. “He has three straight 1,000-yard seasons, which is even more impressive considering the quarterback play the Jets have had. In 2021, Wilson had 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns at Ohio State with C.J. Stroud as his quarterback.
The Texans can’t be sure whether Tank Dell’s knee will be healthy next season, and Stefon Diggs is a free agent. Other teams have had a ton of success reuniting college teammates, such as Joe Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase or Tua Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle. Why not do the same thing in Houston with Stroud and Wilson? The 25th selection and a Day 2 pick in 2026 should get this trade done.”
Why Garrett Wilson Would Be a Perfect Fit for Houston
Bringing in Wilson would be a massive upgrade for a Texans offense that finished last season with a PFSN Offense+ rating of 64.8 (D). Despite Stroud’s impressive growth in just his first two seasons as a pro, Houston’s passing attack lacked consistency, which is something Wilson could help fix immediately.
At just 24 years old, Wilson has already proven himself as one of the NFL’s top young receivers, putting up over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons despite being saddled with subpar quarterback play in New York. His precise route-running, reliable hands, and ability to create separation would perfectly complement Tank Dell’s speed and big-play ability.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Offseason With PFSN’s Offseason Manager
Pairing Stroud with his former college target could elevate Houston’s offense to elite status. With the defense already showing promise (an 80.9 PFSN Defense+ rating, B-), adding a star receiver like Wilson could turn the Texans into legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
A move like this would give Houston one of the league’s most dangerous offensive duos, following in the footsteps of success stories like Burrow and Chase in Cincinnati.
