After the widely panned departure of three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, thanks to coach-GM Bill O’Brien, the starting Houston Texans receiving corps now consists of Kenny Stills, Will Fuller, and Randall Cobb. Each excels in complementary roles, but the reality is there no WR1 on the roster.
Houston’s first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft starts with the 40th overall pick in the second round. With a deep receiver class, the Texans stand a good chance of picking up a playmaker or two for this quasi new-look offense.
Here are three potential receivers the Texans could add at each stage of the draft:
Top pick: Laviska Shenault, Colorado
The elusive receiver’s stock dropped somewhat this past season due in part to injuries. However, there can be no denying his talent. Standing tall at 6-1, 227 pounds, he has great size which he uses to his advantage. One aspect of his game that jumps off the tape is how hard he is to bring down thanks to great strength and balance. Throw in the fact that he tends to fall forward and gain that extra yardage when brought down, and there is plenty to like off the bat. His hand-eye coordination is excellent, his athleticism is clear to see, and he has shown his versatility when used effectively in the wildcat setup.
A native of DeSoto, Texas, his durability is a concern as is his drop in productivity from 2018 to 2019. Nevertheless, his talent is clear as day and he is worth a shot especially when considering that he wouldn’t necessarily need to be a starter from day one.
Mid-round pick: Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
Far more Andre Johnson than DeAndre Hopkins, at 6-3 and 212 pounds the 21-year-old is hard to miss. A surprisingly athletic playmaker despite his Johnson-esque size and build, Edwards’ downhill speed is excellent. A tough player to cover given his range, he’s a strong 50-50 traffic receiver. He isn’t the crispest route runner and durability is a concern given past knee and foot injuries, but his potential is blatant thanks to a consistently productive and impressive college career. Expect him to go somewhere around the third round.
Mid/Late round pick: Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
First things first, this is where our choice for late-round pick should be but Gandy-Golden simply can’t be ignored. His agility and ability to adjust mid-air springs off the screen. At 6-4, 223 pounds he’s tall, rangy, but slender enough to where his athleticism allows him to make the contested throws. A hard player to bring down, he recorded 1,396 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year, placing him an impressive fifth in the nation. While it is hard to project his success in the NFL given that he was playing for a smaller school, his talent is evident and he is well worth Houston’s attention. Expect him to go somewhere around the late third/fourth round, could prove to be a steal.
