The Houston Texans Should Stay Active In The Trade Market
The Houston Texans stay active in the trade market to build capital for the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Houston Texans are a team in a weird state of purgatory heading into the 2021 season. They made a few dozen signings in free agency to fill out the roster, mostly on one or two year deals. It’s a team that should be looking into starting as many rookies and young players as they can to see what’s in the cupboard, but as of now, no rookies are slated to start. The rebuild will be an odd one, and the Texans will have one of the oddest seasons in recent memory, with a rebuild on the way and little assets to make it happen.
The way to build assets is to stay active in the trade market. Houston just traded cornerback Bradley Roby to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a third round pick in 2022 and a conditional pick in 2023. In exchange, the Texans take on the majority of Roby’s salary so the Saints stay under the cap. Netting a third rounder in exchange for taking on salary is a perfect scenario for Houston.
The activity should remain high for the Houston Texans all season long. They have vets who can contribute in many situations around the league to help teams fill a hole or get over the top. Here are a couple that make plenty of sense.
(Obviously DeShaun Watson would net them a ton of picks, but with an investigation still going on, it still seems unlikely, so he’s not on the list.)
Texans Trade Mark Ingram to Ravens, Receive 6th Round Pick
This one would’ve made no sense a couple hours ago. Now that it looks like Gus Edwards has a torn ACL and is likely to head to IR with J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill, the Ravens need serious help at running back. They believe in Ty’Son Williams, and did sign Le’Veon Bell, but Ingram has the familiarity with that offense and could once again take the early down role with his processing and north-south toughness.
Texans Trade Brandin Cooks to Chiefs, Receive 3rd Round Pick
When Mohamed Sanu nets a second, and Will Fuller was being shopped for a third rounder, getting a third for Brandin Cooks should be no problem. The Chiefs are seriously lacking at wide receiver, and the hope is that Mecole Hardman breaks out and takes the WR2 reigns in his third season.
However, with a team that is Super Bowl or bust every year, why not take a look at a perennial 1,000 yard receiver in Cooks. Cooks fits the Chiefs vertical style and can thrive underneath as well in motion pre-snap and the quick passing game. He’s reliable and would give the Chiefs a true threat on the outside, while the Texans get a day two pick out of the trade to help the rebuild. Not to mention, Nico Collins get a shot to start.
Others could get moved down the line, like Tytus Howard or Whitney Mercilus if teams are desperate for help in the trenches for the stretch run. The important thing is, minus a few cornerstone players on the roster, the Houston Texans should continue to look to build this roster through the draft, and if that means acquiring loads of picks now for future success, it makes all the sense in the world.
Houston Texans fans will need to stay patient, but having a major 2022 NFL Draft haul because of some in-season trades would be a good place to start.