The Texans signed Robert Woods just before the legal tampering period began, and they are continuing to add to their receiver room. Noah Brown is heading to Houston, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets.
This will be an intrastate relocation for the seventh-year veteran, who has spent his entire career with the Cowboys. Brown will leave Dallas for a one-year contract in Houston. The 225-pound wideout is coming off a career year and will be part of an evolving Texans wide receiver puzzle, one that is unlikely to include enduring trade candidate Brandin Cooks.
As the Cowboys waited on Michael Gallup and James Washington to return from injuries, and attempted to develop third-round pick Jalen Tolbert, Brown served as their top CeeDee Lamb complement for an extended stretch. Brown finished the season with 43 catches for 555 yards and three touchdowns. That number was second-best, by a wide margin, for Cowboys wide receivers last season. Brown had previously never topped the 200-yard mark in a season, and the Texans will pay a bit to see if Brown can replicate his performance.
Serving as one of the Cowboys’ top special-teamers over the past six seasons, Brown saw his responsibilities diminish here as his receiving role expanded. Brown, 26, saw action on at least 47% of the Cowboys’ special teams plays from 2018-21. His three receiving TDs last season were the first of his career.
This will likely be a low- to mid-level accord with the Texans, who are still sorting out their receiver situation. Cooks has held a standing trade request since before last year’s trade deadline, though that went on hold for a few months with trades not part of the late-season equation, and the Texans are planning to accommodate him. Cooks and DeAndre Hopkins remain the top wideout trade chips, though it is worth monitoring the Broncos’ receiver situation.
The Texans now have Woods, Brown and Nico Collins in place as experienced receivers. They also are readying for 2022 second-round pick John Metchie‘s debut. The Alabama product is expected to play for the Texans this season, after seeing his would-be rookie year interrupted by a leukemia diagnosis.
The Texans are making some nice little moves. Now let’s see if they can nail the big moves.
I’d trade Brandon Cooks to the Ravens for Tylan Wallace and a 3rd/4th round pick.
I’d also move on from Nico Collins and draft a receiver in 1st round as a long term partner for whoever they draft at QB. Ideally it would be Cj Stroud + Smith Njigba in the mold of Burrow/Chase, Tua/Waddle
Why would you want to move on from Collins and seek out Tylan Wallace?
At best Collins is a good # 3. Or decent # 2. Reminds me a lot of Malcolm Floyd of the Chargers. He’s got 2 years left on his rookie deal so I’d deal him for more draft assets. Roster needs a lot of love. In a pretty thin WR market I’d definitely make him available.
Aside from John Metchie III Texans don’t have much depth in terms of slot guys. Tylan Wallace would be for depth. Kind of a throw in for Cooks. I don’t see them getting much more than a 3rd for Cooks
Ideally Texans draft a true # 1 and move on from Cooks and acquire a pick or 2 (3rd and a 6th, 3rd and a 5th).
1st round WR, Metchie, Brown, Woods and picks from Cooks and Collins goes towards bettering the roster elsewhere.
A good #3 or decent #2 with size to play on the outside and two years left on his rookie deal sounds like a great thing to hold onto when you have a new QB coming in and a thin receiver corps. Brown might only top out as a 4th. The draft is full of receivers who will fit best (or only) in the slot. Plenty of free agents like that too. Receivers with size are much harder to find this offseason. And I think if Wallace had much to contribute, he would have seen the field for the Ravens a whole lot more, especially given their receiver problems the last couple of years.