The Houston Texans did not have a season that fans, media, or even the team itself were expecting. After an electric rookie season from C.J. Stroud, they went all in on adding pieces around him, potentially for a Super Bowl push.
However, injuries and a despondent offensive line paved the way for a mediocre sophomore campaign from Stroud. Now they’re essentially in the same place they were a season ago with a few key decisions to keep in mind. One analyst believes the path back to the Super Bowl is straightforward: keep giving Stroud weapons.
Texans Predicted To Find Insurance for Their Wide Receiver Room
in 2024, all three of Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins missed time due to varying degrees. It never allowed the offense to settle down, leading to a pedestrian year for the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Heading into next season, they have a few questions to answer.
Diggs is set to be a free agent coming off a torn ACL, and Dell is going to miss some time next season as well. As a result, Charles Davis of NFL.com believes the Texans need to find a consistent running mate for Stroud alongside Collins.
In comes Emeka Egbuka, who was a former teammate of Stroud during his time at Ohio State, who Davis believes is, “a clone of another former Ohio State wideout, Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba.” The need in Houston is clear, and Egbuka answers that bell.
“Houston needs a receiving threat to help WR1 Nico Collins, with Stefon Diggs hitting free agency and Tank Dell recovering from a second consecutive season-ending injury,” Davis said.
With their history, the move makes far too much sense. “Not to mention, Egbuka caught passes from C.J. Stroud at OSU.”
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In his two healthy seasons, the 2025 NFL Draft prospect easily cleared the 1,000 receiving yards mark and caught 24 total touchdowns in his time with the Buckeyes. If the Texans can get the kind of year Smith-Njigba just had for Seattle, they’d be more than happy campers. However, things could change now that the Texans have traded for Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The player Egbuka was compared to had a remarkable second year, tallying 100 receptions and 1,130 yards alongside six touchdowns. Coincidentally, the latest mock draft from PFSN too believes the priority has to be offense for the Texans.
However, with their selection, Brentley Weissman sees them going after Matthew Golden out of Texas instead: “Golden is a well-rounded receiver prospect who has the speed, quickness, and route-running ability to get open at all three levels of the field.”
And he fills the main role that Houston will be envisioning from him. “He has outstanding ball skills and body control and would be a great complement to Collins,” Weissman said.
With wide receiver the popular choice, it is going to come down to whoever Houston is more enamored with. However, both Egbuka and Golden are high quality draft picks and could add a ton of depth to the Texans wide receiver room.