The Houston Texans are in an enviable position, as they have built a young and competitive roster with a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal. The team even made it to the NFC Divisional Round in 2023, and DeMeco Ryans’ squad has their eyes set on a bigger prize: winning the Super Bowl.
To do this, the Texans must add an impact player to their defensive backfield. This will help fix a weak passing defense that surrendered nearly 250 yards per game last year. Pass defense is really the only true weak spot the Texans have, and if they can fix this, they’ll be in great position to compete for Lombardi trophies.
Wide receiver isn't a huge need, but the Texans don’t feature a true number-one option for CJ Stroud to throw to. In many ways, this makes it even more impressive what he was able to do last year. To reach their ultimate potential, though, Houston should look to add a young playmaker with star potential at the receiver position.
The Bengals feature a talented but disgruntled young playmaker who has flown under the radar due to the talent around him. If Houston pulls the trigger on a deal to acquire him, he could quickly realize his potential with Stroud and the Texans.
Keep reading to find out which cornerbacks the Texans should have their eyes on and who this mystery receiver is.
Marshon Lattimore
Lattimore is dominant when healthy but he has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. He also has an expensive contract that could end up being an anchor around the team’s neck if he’s unable to perform and provide the level of production that the team expected when they signed him to the lucrative deal.
Rumors that the Saints were at least willing to trade Lattimore only got louder after New Orleans selected Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry early in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
McKinstry certainly isn’t at Lattimore’s level yet, and he might never reach the heights that the former Buckeye has reached in the NFL. However, in a worst-case scenario, McKinstry will at least blunt the impact that losing Lattimore will have on the team. The Ohio State product is likely to command an expensive return on the trade market, which could help the Saints retool and potentially even find his successor.
The real question is this: do the Saints believe that Lattimore can stay healthy, and that they can contend with him and his cap hit on the roster? If they do, it makes sense to keep him. However, his health has been trending in the wrong direction in recent years and the team appears to have made steps to prepare for life after Lattimore.
Regardless of what is said publicly this suggests a trade could be likely in the near future. So, if Lattimore has struggled to stay healthy, why should the Texans bank on his health? The reason lies in the types of injuries that he has suffered. They have been largely freak injuries that could happen to anybody at any time. They don’t indicate any long-term issues with particular tendons or muscle groups.
The bottom line is this: Houston needs help in the secondary, and it’s much safer to gamble on a dominant player with health concerns finding a way to stay healthy than it is to gamble on a below-average player suddenly figuring it out and becoming a star. The Texans desperately need difference-makers in their secondary, and when healthy Lattimore is absolutely a difference-maker.
James Bradberry
If the Texans would rather go for a cheaper and safer option with less upside, James Bradberry could be a worthwhile target. Bradberry was dominant at one point, but he’s certainly past his peak. However, he’s an instinctive and intelligent player who can still find a way to get the job done.
Perhaps most importantly, Bradberry can be had for significantly less in trade negotiations than Lattimore. Where the negotiations for Lattimore’s services will likely begin at a minimum of one first-round pick, one second-round pick, and an impact starter, Bradberry can likely be had for a third, or even possibly a fourth-round pick. At best, he would likely fetch a second-rounder and a fifth-rounder.
Bradberry isn’t a long-term solution, but he’ll stabilize the team’s secondary in the short term and allow them to compete. It’s critical for a team to take advantage of their opportunities with a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, and Houston has to move fast to make the most of their opportunities before Stroud takes up a significant chunk of their salary space.
Tee Higgins
Stroud had an incredible rookie year, but he could benefit from a clear-cut number-one option to throw to. The Texans are in an enviable place, but they should be greedy and go get a top pass catcher for Stroud.
Higgins has flown somewhat under the radar, but that is understandable given that he is playing second fiddle to superstar Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati. The 2020 second-round pick has made it clear he is unhappy and publicly requested a trade. if the team obliges, Houston should look to make a move for the former Clemson star. Higgins also shouldn't be prohibitively expensive to trade for. He could likely be acquired for a second-rounder and a sweetener or two.
The Tennessee native is an extremely physical player who dominates at the catch point and has enough speed to beat defenders deep consistently. He still needs to improve his route tree and he's far from a finished product. However, his ability to win 50/50 passes gives him a solid foundation to build on and he would quickly become Stroud's favorite receiver in Houston.
