Houston Texans: 5 WR options better than Brandin Cooks in 2020 NFL Draft

4. Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado

Laviska Shenault Jr. is another player graded in the second round who at 6’1” and 227 pounds is said to be a “boom or bust” prospect, but he has shown signs of being a very capable wide receiver at the next level.

Shenault Jr. had a 40-yard dash time of 4.58, and while at the NFL Combine he also had 17 reps at the 225-pound bench press. Even Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said the following about the Colorado product, and those in charge of the Houston Texans draft hopefully know about Shenault Jr. as well:

"“Is both talented and stoic as a three-level threat with outstanding physical traits and ball skills…”"

What stands out with Shenault is the fact a month ago it was reported by Adam Schefter — in an ESPN.com article by Jeff Legwold — that Shenault would have surgery “to repair a core muscle injury.”

Unless a team reaches for him, Shenault just might be available at either 40th or 57th overall at the 2020 NFL Draft, but instead of being patient and overpaying for a wide receiver who may have already peaked as a wide receiver, the Texans could have rolled the dice and selected Shenault.

None of this of this is to say Cooks isn’t a solid NFL receiver, but it is more about either the Texans being one-and-done with him, or the fact he’ll be getting paid $12 million per season on a team that has to focus on paying the likes of Laremy Tunsil and Deshaun Watson lots of money in the very near future.