Houston Texans: Jordan Akins needs to be an impact player

For the Houston Texans to have success during the 2021 NFL season, one of the players on offense who will need to make an impact is Jordan Akins.

The tight end is entering his fourth season with the Texans after being a third-round pick in ’18, and since then he’s shown at times his ability to be a starter for this franchise. Now with Darren Fells, Jordan Thomas and others gone from the team, this upcoming season is the chance Akins deserves, and that is to be the main No. 1 focus at tight end.

Sure, it would be nice for Akins and the Houston Texans offense if Deshaun Watson somehow returned as the starting quarterback of the franchise, but that isn’t going to most likely happen due to all the varying reasons off the field, so this means hopefully Akins is able to work with the next quarterback in line that being Tyrod Taylor.

In his three seasons with the Houston Texans, Akins has been active for 45 games, starting 20 of those, but never more that nine starts in any given season his first three years on the job. Last season, Akins played in 13 games and made just five starts, and in that ’20 season he made 37 receptions on 49 targets for 403 yards and one touchdown.

Akins averaged 10.9 yards per reception in ’20, which was lower than his 11.6 ypr average of ’19, a season where he caught 36 passes (55 targets) for 418 yards and two touchdowns. ‘In 18, as a rookie, the tight end had 17 catches (25 targets) for 225 yards.

Again, Akins has always had to share the role of tight end with a different number of players, and even with this upcoming season, that could be the case as well. The Texans would be smart to give a majority of the reps with the starting offense to Akins this offseason in camps because with ’21 being his fourth season, they really need to see what he can accomplish as the main tight end option.

The Texans have invested a lot of time and money in Akins, and he’s worked hard in his time with the Houston Texans. Year four with the franchise would be the perfect time for a breakout season for Akins, as he’ll not have to play behind Fells, and now he’s the veteran on this offense.

Houston Texans: Don’t forget about Kahale Warring

Remember in 2019 when the Housto Texans selected Kahale Warring, a tight end from, San Diego State University? His first season was a wash due to injury.

In ’20, Warring’s first season on the field in the regular season with Houston, the tight end was active for seven games, making no starts. When Warring did play, he was targeted seven times, making three receptions for 35 yards and no touchdowns.

There are also Pharaoh Brown, Brevin Jordan, Ryan Izzo, Anthony Auclair and Paul Quessenberry listed on the Houston Texans tight end depth chart via OurLads.com, but Warring and especially Akins are the two who just draw a lot of interest for untapped potential they can bring to this team in ’21.

The Houston Texans need Akins and another tight end to really break out for the Texans’ offense, and no matter who is the quarterback is when Week 1 arrives, Akins and the rest of the tight ends will be a very great importance because a successful offense in today’s NFL has production from their tight ends.

In this rebuild by Houston, getting the production out of Akins is going to be very important, and if that doesn’t happen, it just might hamper the flow of the entire offense.

My guess for Akins and the ’21 season is this … he’s going to have his breakout season and be a positive for the Texans in a season that might not have a lot of positivity in the overall standings.