The Houston Texans kick off the first round of their OTAs on Wednesday. The three phases of the offseason program will be followed by the mandatory minicamp on June 10-11, before the team reconvenes for training camp in late July. During this stretch, the team will have a better idea of how they want to build out the 53-man rotation for the season.
One of the toughest position battles will take place in the wide receiver room. The Texans saw sweeping changes among that group, losing Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods and signing Christian Kirk, Justin Watson, and Braxton Berrios, while drafting Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
WR Justin Watson Can Be the OTA Standout the Texans Are Looking For
With the rookies rightfully garnering the majority of the attention, one Texans signing has gone under the radar. Watson, a three-time Super Bowl champion, can quietly end up being an OTA standout.
Last week, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans identified Watson as a player who has impressed him so far in his offseason workouts. Praising his work ethic, Ryans singled out Watson as someone who has stood out before the OTAs. This gives the former Chiefs WR a leg up as more eyes will be on him during the team's offseason program.
Watson needs to continue this trend to make the final cut. John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, and Berrios are competing for the final spots in the WR room. As the veteran with a ton of experience, including in the postseason, Watson provides something the rest of the Texans receivers don't have. At the same time, he is coming off a disappointing season after establishing himself as a solid WR4/5 for Kansas City in previous seasons.
Considering the underwhelming stints Metchie and Hutchinson had so far in their careers, Watson might have the edge over them as things stand right now. He has to continue impressing during the OTAs, however, to guarantee his spot.