Texans should turn to loaded WR draft with DeAndre Hopkins gone

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 25: General view prior to the start of the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 25: General view prior to the start of the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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The Houston Texans need to take a look at the loaded wide receiver class of the 2020 NFL Draft to replace DeAndre Hopkins.

Houston Texans head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien decided it was the best for the team to move on without DeAndre Hopkins, and as hard as it may be, it’s time for the rest of us to do the same.

In what has to be the biggest shock of the offseason — even more than Tom Brady in Tampa — Hopkins was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson and two draft picks. Despite the hole Hopkins leaves at wide receiver, this upcoming draft is deep at the position.

The Texans have already added veteran Randall Cobb to help strengthen the position, but this is not a long-term solution, and Cobb will do more short and over middle of the field. This is great because that part of the field has not been exploited in the offense recently, but the team doesn’t have the big physical receiver that Hopkins was.

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Will Fuller and Kenny Stills may be the fastest combo of receivers outside of Kansas City, but Stills struggled to stay on the field last year, and Fuller has had problems with injuries since being drafted by the Texans. So, if the intent going forward would be to rely on them more heavily, that could be tough considering how often they’ve been on the shelf in the past.

There are several receivers in this draft that may not only be long-term solutions for Deshaun Watson and the offense, but immediate impact players. Aside from another surprising trade to move further up in the draft, the Texans won’t have an opportunity to take players like CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy. That said, there are still good players who could be available later.

Predicting the draft and where players may fall can be tough. Some experts seem to have made a career out being wrong every year, but here are some players that the Texans could have an opportunity to take with their first pick in the second round at 40th overall, or even later in the draft with the 57th overall pick.

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