Texans Expected To Trade WR Brandin Cooks In Offseason
The Texans are expected to accommodate wide receiver Brandin Cooks‘ standing trade request this offseason, as Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com reports. Houston received trade interest in Cooks prior to the 2022 trade deadline, but no one was willing to meet the club’s asking price.
As Wilson confirms, the Texans wanted at least a second-round pick in exchange for Cooks, while interested teams wanted Houston to pay down a significant amount of the receiver’s fully-guaranteed $18MM base salary for 2023. Those same considerations will still be factors in trade talks in the coming months, and Cooks acknowledges that any trade will need to make sense for the Texans and GM Nick Caserio, with whom he has a strong relationship.
“This situation, obviously has got to be a win-win for both sides,” Cooks told reporters Friday morning. “I think Nick understands that. We understand that. I think he’s trying to grow something here. As a guy going into Year 10 of my career, I want to be a part of a vision where everyone is on the same page and has a stable vision.”
Cooks, 29, used the word “stable” several times throughout the course of his remarks, and he said he would want to stay in Houston, “if the organization was stable in its approach and a stable operation, not just from a football standpoint, but from the every-day process.”
Clearly, he continues to be frustrated not just by the Texans’ lack of competitiveness during his tenure in Houston, but also by the team’s day-to-day operations. Shortly after the trade deadline passed, Cooks publicly expressed his frustration that he was not dealt to a winning club, and he stepped away from the Texans for a week, missing the team’s Week 9 contest against the Eagles. At the time, he also made reference to organizational changes that upset him — which may have included the dismissal of former EVP Jack Easterby — and he said, “I don’t know everything that goes through [Caserio’s] head.”
Despite those comments, Wilson’s report indicates that the mutual respect between Caserio and Cooks remains intact. However, Caserio himself may be on shaky footing with the franchise, and he may not be the one who decides whether to trade Cooks. Even if he is retained, it appears that the Texans are at least a year away from competing for a playoff spot, and the club could be looking for its third head coach in as many years in short order. As such, it is easy to see why Cooks wants out.
The former first-round pick of the Saints, who has already been traded three times in his career, has seen his production dip in 2022. After cracking the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first two Texans seasons, Cooks has just 52 catches for 593 yards this year. Of course, that can be easily explained by the club’s suboptimal quarterback situation — including a regression for second-year passer Davis Mills — the fact that Cooks is the clear-cut No. 1 option in an offense largely devoid of high-end skill-position talent, and the fact that he has missed four games.
Wilson still expects Cooks to have a healthy trade market, especially as teams are valuing WR talent more highly than ever.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/23
Today’s minor transactions heading into the final Sunday of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: DL Eric Banks, RB Ty’Son Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Hunter Bradley, S Josh Thomas
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Ali
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Tylan Wallace, CB Daryl Worley
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Brett Hundley, DT Rayshad Nichols
- Released: TE Nick Boyle, WR DeSean Jackson
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR John Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: C Sam Tecklenburg, WR Preston Williams
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Phil Hoskins, CB Josh Norman
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: S Adrian Colbert, CB Greg Stroman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Jake Browning
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Storey Jackson, LB Sam Kamara
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Wyatt Ray, LB Ray Wilborn
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jermar Jefferson, CB Jarren Williams
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Johnny Johnson III
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, S Trevor Denbow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Coy Cronk
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT David Moa, RB Larry Rountree
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Mike Glennon, LB Brennan Scarlett
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: DL Jonathan Bullard, TE Irv Smith (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ryan Connelly, G Kyle Hinton
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Calvin Munson, TE Matt Sokol
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Jack Heflin, QB Davis Webb
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: DE Bradlee Anae, WR Irvin Charles, OL Adam Pankey, S Will Parks, OL Eric Smith
- Placed on IR: OL Duane Brown, CB Brandin Echols, OL George Fant, OL Nate Herbig, S Lamarcus Joyner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Renell Wren
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: RB Elijah Mitchell (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Michael Dwumfour, CB Janoris Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Josh Onujiogu
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Alexander Johnson, WR Cade Johnson
- Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo, T Justin Skule
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
As the NFL determines how it will proceed with the postponed Bills-Bengals game, Week 18 is on as scheduled. The No. 1 overall pick remains in doubt, and seven teams enter the final week either 6-10 or 7-9. Several games will impact how the top 10 shakes out.
Having lost nine straight, the Bears (3-13) are a half-game behind the Texans (2-13-1) for the No. 1 overall pick. Houston last held that draft slot in 2014, while Chicago has not picked first since 1947. The Texans are also playing a Colts team they tied in Week 1; Indianapolis enters Week 18 on a six-game skid. Conversely, the Bears face a Vikings squad that still has a path to the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
Week 17 also brought clarity on the NFC South. Although the Buccaneers have disappointed, their comeback win over the Panthers secured the franchise’s third straight playoff berth. That will mean Tampa Bay’s pick will check in no higher than 18th overall, while the Carolina and New Orleans slots could land in the top 10. The loser of Saturday’s Jaguars-Titans game would also see their draft slot rise several positions. Four of the five traded picks remain in the top 12, with the Seahawks’ spot (via the Broncos) still slotting highest — behind only the Texans and Bears’ positions.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2022 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is how the draft order looks entering Week 18:
- Houston Texans: 2-13-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-13
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-12
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-11-1
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-10
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-10
- Carolina Panthers: 6-10
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Tennessee Titans: 7-9
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- New York Jets: 7-9
- Washington Commanders: 7-8-1
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-8
- Green Bay Packers: 8-8
- Detroit Lions: 8-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 8-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8
- New England Patriots: 8-8
- New York Giants: 9-6-1
- Baltimore Ravens: 10-6
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-6
- Cincinnati Bengals: 11-4
- Minnesota Vikings: 12-4
- Dallas Cowboys: 12-4
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers)
- Buffalo Bills: 12-3
- Kansas City Chiefs: 13-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-3
Texans To Evaluate HC Lovie Smith After 2022 Season
The Texans will “evaluate the future” of head coach Lovie Smith at the end of the 2022 campaign, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. As we heard last month, there appears to be a real chance that Houston will be conducting an HC search for the third consecutive year.
Given the team’s 2-12-1 record, that should not come as much of a surprise. Still, it’s not as if Houston came into the season with championship aspirations, and it would be difficult to imagine any head coach doing much better with a roster that is generally lacking in impact talent, including at the quarterback position. And after making David Culley a one-and-done HC at the end of the 2021 season, the team would be eating a great deal of dead money for departed coaches if it were to move on from Smith now.
Smith, 64, is in the midst of his third stint as an NFL head coach. He operated as the Bears’ HC from 2004-12, a run that included a Super Bowl appearance, and he also served as the Bucs’ HC from 2014-15. Following his tenure in Tampa, he returned to the collegiate ranks as the University of Illinois’ head coach from 2016-20, and he was a part of Culley’s first (and only) staff last year, when he agreed to become the Texans’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
After Culley was fired, it appeared that the Texans had narrowed their search for his successor to Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, and recently-retired quarterback Josh McCown. Smith emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become Houston’s choice to replace Culley, and while GM Nick Caserio predictably denied as much, one wonders if Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL played a role in the team’s decision to go in a different direction.
If Smith is fired, Gannon could again find himself on Houston’s shortlist. McCown, meanwhile, has no NFL or college coaching experience of any kind, but he has now interviewed twice for the Texans’ HC post, and multiple other clubs have reached out to him to discuss a coaching position. Caserio could well consider him again in the event the club parts ways with Smith, but Caserio himself may not be around to spearhead another coaching search.
If the Texans elect to retain Smith, Rapoport and Pelissero indicate that other staffing changes could be on the horizon. Houston presently employs Pep Hamilton as its offensive coordinator and Frank Ross as its special teams coordinator. The team does not have a defensive coordinator, with the defensive-minded Smith holding those duties and calling defensive plays.
The NFL.com duo says the Texans will consider Smith’s entire body of work when making their decision, including the club’s recent stretch of improved play that features narrow losses to the playoff-bound Cowboys and Chiefs and a victory over the Titans.
NFL Injury Rumors: Week 17 Updates
Updates to injury questions heading into the Sunday slate of games:
- Cardinals star receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss this Sunday’s game in Atlanta with a knee injury, according to the team’s final injury report. The injury seemed to appear from nowhere late this week and, with the Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention, it would not be a surprise to see Hopkins sit for the remainder of the season. Quarterbacks David Blough and Trace McSorley will have to rely on Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, A.J. Green, Robbie Anderson, Pharoh Cooper, and recently promoted Andre Baccellia in the meantime.
- The Commanders will have to face Cleveland tomorrow without running back Antonio Gibson, according to the team’s official Twitter account. With Gibson out due to an ankle sprain, Washington will likely continue to rely heavily on rookie starter Brian Robinson. Veteran running back Jonathan Williams will likely find himself in an increased role tomorrow, as will elevated practice squad back Jaret Patterson.
- Despite returning to practice this week, 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel is unable to play this weekend against the Raiders, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy will have at least one more week depending on the likes of Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Ray-Ray McCloud, tight end George Kittle, and running back Christian McCaffrey without Samuel. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that there’s “a chance” Samuel will be able to return next week.
- Buccaneers right tackle Tristan Wirfs reportedly aggravated his ankle injury last week against the Cardinals, but according to Jenna Laine of ESPN, Wirfs intends on playing regardless. Tampa Bay is also hoping to get starting left tackle Donovan Smith back for tomorrow’s game against the Panthers. If Smith does play, it will be the first time the two have appeared in a game together since a Week 12 loss to the Browns.
- The Texans have confirmed that two starters are no longer in question to play this weekend as right tackle Tytus Howard and rookie left guard Kenyon Green are both expected to play against the Jaguars, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Howard had to clear concussion protocol in order to play this weekend and successfully did so. Green has missed Houston’s last two contests with an ankle injury but has reportedly improved considerably. Backup interior lineman Jimmy Morrissey was unable to clear concussion protocol and will be unable to play this Sunday.
Texans LT Laremy Tunsil Eyeing Market-Setting Extension
One of the few bright spots for the Texans this season has been the continued high-level play of their top offensive lineman. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil plans to turn his 2022 performance into a noteworthy raise during the coming offseason. 
The 28-year-old made it clear that he intends to become the league’s highest-paid left tackle, as detailed by ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. That position has consistently been the top-ranked amongst all offensive linemen, with only Colts guard Quenton Nelson joining three blindside blockers at the $20MM-per-year mark. Tunsil is already one of them, owing to his three-year, $66MM extension signed in the spring of 2020.
“I don’t know who’s the highest right now, maybe Trent [Williams] at $23 [million], but I want to top that,” the former first-rounder said. “[I] always want to reset the market. Perfect opportunity to reset the market. Everything is lining up as far as my contract to how I’m playing. Everything lining up perfectly.”
Tunsil has been named a Pro Bowler for the third time in his four seasons spent in Houston. He has played every snap this year, an encouraging sign of durability which comes after he was limited to just five games played in 2021 by a thumb injury. The former Dolphin had strung together three nearly identical campaigns before that in terms of PFF grades, and he has taken a step forward in that regard in 2022.
Tunsil has posted an overall grade of 79.9 this year, the highest mark of his career. That rating places him 12th amongst all qualifying tackles, but his pass protection grade (91.8) is the highest at the position. He has allowed just one sack and 12 pressures this year, though penalties (10 accepted) have once again been an unwanted factor in his performance.
The Ole Miss product has one year remaining on his big-ticket deal, but no guaranteed money remains after this season. Tunsil’s cap hit is scheduled to reach $35.2MM in 2023, and Houston would see $18.5MM in relief by cutting or trading him. Long-term security – along with a figure which sets him ahead of both Williams and David Bakhtiari in terms of annual compensation- will therefore be his target in the spring. The rebuilding Texans are currently projected to have just under $47MM in cap space next year, which should afford them more flexibility than most teams.
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, much is still to be decided both in terms of playoff positioning and the order of the upcoming draft. Five teams are still eligible to land the top pick.
The Texans remain in pole position to hold the No. 1 spot, but their win over the Titans (coupled with the Bears’ losing streak extending to eight games) leaves Chicago just a half-game away. The fact that the Bears would likely select a defensive player rather than a quarterback with the top pick adds considerable intrigue to the potential implications of them ending up with that slot.
With the Browns continuing to struggle even with Deshaun Watson back from suspension, there is a distinct possibility that four first-rounders which changed hands (including Cleveland’s top 2023 pick, part of the package they sent to Houston for Watson) land in the top 10. Another premium selection would obviously soften the blow of losing out on the No. 1 spot from the Texans’ perspective, should that take place.
The final Wild Card spot in each conference is still being contested by several teams, resulting in a logjam of 7-8 squads in the middle of the order. Several head-to-head matchups will be played out between those clubs, which could lead to plenty of change in their positioning over the next two weeks. The race for both the AFC and NFC South titles will also have a significant impact on the final order, given the average (at best) record each division’s winner will have at the end of the regular season.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2022 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is how the draft order looks entering Week 17:
- Houston Texans: 2-12-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-12
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-11
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-10-1
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-10
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Carolina Panthers: 6-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Seattle Seahawks: 7-8
- Tennessee Titans: 7-8
- New England Patriots: 7-8
- New York Jets: 7-8
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-8
- Green Bay Packers: 7-8
- Detroit Lions: 7-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 7-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7-8
- Washington Commanders: 7-7-1
- New York Giants: 8-6-1
- Los Angeles Chargers: 9-6
- Baltimore Ravens: 10-5
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers through Dolphins)
- Dallas Cowboys: 11-4
- Cincinnati Bengals: 11-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 12-3
- Minnesota Vikings: 12-3
- Buffalo Bills: 12-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-2
Next year’s draft will feature a 31-pick first round. The Dolphins’ penalty for the Tom Brady–Sean Payton tampering scandal cost them their 2023 first-round choice
Texans Activate S Grayland Arnold, Place WR Nico Collins On IR
Today, the Texans used their final allowed activation from the injured lists to return backup safety Grayland Arnold to the active roster from injured reserve, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26. Making room on the active roster, Houston placed second-year wide receiver Nico Collins on IR. 
Arnold originally signed as an undrafted free agent to Philadelphia in 2020, making his NFL debut as a rookie with the Eagles. After appearing in four games only playing on special teams, Arnold finally appeared on an NFL defense in Week 16 of his rookie season and followed it up with his first and only career start. The next year, Arnold failed to make the team’s final 53-man roster and was released from the practice squad days before the regular season. Arnold signed with the Texans shortly after, spending most of the season on the practice squad. Since joining Houston last season, Arnold has appeared in nine games, almost exclusively on special teams.
The loss of Collins should really hurt an already struggling Houston offense. In his sophomore season, Collins was building off of a strong rookie year. After catching 33 balls for 446 yards and a touchdown last season, Collins had just surpassed his rookie numbers, racking up 37 receptions for 481 yards and two touchdowns this season. He’s been Houston’s No. 2 wide receiver all season, with increased responsibility in the four games missed by the team’s leading receiver Brandin Cooks.
With some doubting that Cooks will return at all this year, the Texans could go the rest of the season without Cooks and Collins. With rookie second-round pick John Metchie already out for the year, this would leave the Texans with a receiving corps composed of Chris Moore, Phillip Dorsett, and Amari Rodgers for the final few games of the season. The team did add receiver Malik Turner to their practice squad today, perhaps in anticipation for the extended absences in their receivers room.
Updated 2023 NFL Draft Order
Christmas Day’s Broncos-Rams matchup will pit two of the league’s most disappointing teams against one another, and the Seahawks and Lions will have a vested interest in this contest. The loser of this game will give one of the latter teams — via the Russell Wilson and Matthew Stafford trades — a better chance of landing a top-three pick in next year’s draft.
At 1-12-1, the Texans are cruising home. The Bears are on their heels, potentially set to become the team that selects the 2023 draft’s first non-quarterback. But eight four- or five-win teams reside behind these two, providing some intrigue for fanbases whose squads are not moving toward the playoffs.
The NFC South’s plunge toward becoming perhaps the worst division in NFL history carries draft stakes as well. The Falcons, Saints and Panthers each have five wins, and Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia (via the Saints’ pre-draft trade this year) would see those picks land in the top 10 as of now. The division-leading Buccaneers would see their draft slot check in no higher than 19th. Should one of Tampa Bay’s challengers vault the current first-place team in the standings, the Bucs would see their 2023 first-round slot rise considerably.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2022 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is how the draft order looks entering Week 16:
- Houston Texans: 1-12-1
- Chicago Bears: 3-11
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)
- Seattle Seahawks (via Broncos)
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-10
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-9-1
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-9
- Carolina Panthers: 5-9
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Saints)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 6-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 6-8
- Houston Texans (via Browns)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 6-8
- Green Bay Packers: 6-8
- Seattle Seahawks: 7-7
- New England Patriots: 7-7
- New York Jets: 7-7
- Detroit Lions: 7-7
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-8
- Tennessee Titans: 7-7
- Washington Commanders: 7-6-1
- Los Angeles Chargers: 8-6
- New York Giants: 8-5-1
- Baltimore Ravens: 9-5
- Denver Broncos (via 49ers through Dolphins)
- Dallas Cowboys: 10-4
- Cincinnati Bengals: 10-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 11-3
- Minnesota Vikings: 11-3
- Buffalo Bills: 11-3
- Philadelphia Eagles: 13-1
Next year’s draft will feature a 31-pick first round. The Dolphins’ penalty for the Tom Brady–Sean Payton tampering scandal cost them their 2023 first-round choice.
Texans Place RB Dameon Pierce On IR
Dameon Pierce‘s season has come to an end. The Texans have placed the rookie running back on injured reserve, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
Pierce suffered a high ankle sprain during Houston’s Week 14 loss to the Cowboys, although initial reports indicated that the injury was mild. It was believed that the rookie RB may only have to miss a game or two, which wouldn’t necessitate a move to IR. Instead, the Texans decided to shut down Pierce for the year.
The fourth-round rookie has quickly established himself as an offensive focal point in Houston. He’s started all 13 games for the Texans, and he leads all rookies with 939 rushing yards. In total, the Florida product has contributed 1,104 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. With Pierce out for the final four games, the Texans will likely turn to Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale to lead their RB room. Royce Freeman will also be signed to the active roster, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth are also heading to IR, per Yates. Stingley, the third-overall pick in this year’s draft, hasn’t played since Week 10 while recovering from a hamstring injury. He started each of his nine appearances for the Texans this season, collecting 43 tackles and one interception. After starting the season in Kansas City, Stallworth got into one game for Houston in 2022.
There is some good news on the injury front. According to Wilson (on Twitter), the Texans have also activated defensive lineman Jon Greenard from IR. Greenard had eight sacks in 12 starts last season, and he started each of Houston’s first four games this year before landing on IR. To round out their moves, the Texans signed defensive back Jacobi Francis to the 53-man roster and have promoted defensive back Will Redmond and tight end Mason Schreck from the practice squad.