The Houston Texans are expected to be aggressive in the trade market and free agency to boost the offensive side of the ball. After flaming out in the divisional round of the playoffs for the second straight season, the Texans are hoping to take a significant step forward next season, especially offensively.
After a breakout rookie campaign by CJ Stroud in 2023, the Texans failed to meet expectations last year, resulting in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's firing. Finishing the season as a below-average offensive unit both in terms of points and total offense, the Texans will also make changes to the personnel.
The wide receiver room is one area every Texans fan is hoping to see reinforcements in. Tank Dell will most likely be out for the entire season and Stefon Diggs is both coming off an ACL tear and hitting free agency.
With Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel both on the trade block, Houston should be suitors for both veteran pass-catchers. Samuel, due to his connection with DeMeco Ryans, could be a seamless fit. Ryans worked in San Francisco for a few years before becoming the Texans head coach.
A potential deal for Samuel would likely require a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
One complication in the matter is the fact that the 49ers would save more money if they traded Samuel after June 1. Trading him before the draft would cost them an additional $15.2 million in cap space. Whether they will prioritize that or getting an immediate pick in this year's draft remains to be seen.
The Texans only have six draft picks this season, having traded their sixth-round pick to the Steelers in the Kendrick Green trade. Dealing one more draft pick makes things difficult for the Texans, as it will limit their ability to find impactful rookies on team-friendly contracts.
In trades for Amari Cooper and Davante Adams, a third-round pick was sufficient. It is reasonable for that to be the case for Samuel as he enters the final year of his contract. Giving up a third-round pick plus signing a 29-year-old receiver to a lucrative, multi-year extension, may prove to be too much for the Texans. Whether GM Nick Caserio agrees with this sentiment remains to be seen.