The NFL’s trade deadline is November 2nd. Could the Houston Texans be active participants in it?
The NFL world knows that the Houston Texans are in a rebuilding mode. General Manager Nick Caserio has started to make his impact on this team by having a great preseason- which led to a competitive team (minus the Buffalo game, let’s not talk about that).
The Houston Texans and Caserio need to maximize draft capital. There are three other players not named Deshaun Watson that could easily yield a decent draft pick or two in return. As a result, these players we’ll cover are in no particular order- just ones that can help the Texans really initiate this rebuilding process that they want to be in.
Trades are no strangers to the Texans organization. In fact, Caserio had once made three cornerback/ defensive back-related trades in eight days back in August. The most likely finish of this team will have them inside the Top 10 of the NFL Draft.
With such a golden opportunity ahead, trading one of these players away (or all of them, especially if the Texans just want to hit the “abort mission” button on the 2021 season) can help yield more capital to potentially find the next franchise player at that position.
It’s also required to purge out the unwanted players from the Bill O’Brien era who don’t fit with David Culley’s system. This list does not directly imply that they don’t fit.
These players have been fan favorites for a while, and some are just getting started in their time in Houston. These three players give the Houston Texans quite a bit of intrigue at the NFL trade deadline.
Houston Texans first candidate: OL Max Scharping
Max Scharping has been one of the best, but quite offensive linemen in the league since being drafted in 2019. The Green Bay, Wisconsin native could actually be shipped off to his hometown of Green Bay as their insurance plan for Guard/Tackle Elgton Jenkins, who currently is on the injury report for the Packers.
In their last three postseason appearances, the Packers have allowed Aaron Rodgers to be sacked a total of 20 times. With David Bakhtiari still scheduled to return from a torn ACL later this season, the Packers could certainly use more depth.
Jenkins moved to left tackle after Bakhtiari and his backup, Rick Wagner went down with injuries last year. So that would leave second-year man Yosh Njiman as the only healthy LT at this point. Now moving from RG to LT is a world of a difference, but that’s if Green Bay would need that to happen.
Having Scharping play LG isn’t too hard to learn, and from my experience at the collegiate level playing both guard spots helps make you more well-rounded. So what would the trade look like?
Houston gains a 4th round pick and the 6th round pick that was originally sent in the Anthony Miller trade, which ultimately became the Ka’Darr Hollman trade. This is essentially recouping one pick and gaining a decent one as well.
For Green Bay, they get one of their native sons back to play in Lambeau (which doesn’t happen that much) and added depth to see if they can finally break through the NFC Championship wall.
Houston Texans second deadline candidate: WR Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks has had a very interesting career when it comes to the trade market. Cooks is the second-most traded player in NFL history (traded three times), only behind Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson (respect the rec specs!) who was traded four times.
It would be a record-tying transaction for one of the better receivers in the league. Cooks has shown that even in the Houston Texans offense he can still put up numbers. That reason alone on top of his skill set makes him a great trade candidate.
So where would the Oregon State product go?
Sources: #Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster had surgery last night on his injured shoulder and is out for the season. The procedure was successful. A tough loss for a Pittsburgh offense that is showing signs of hitting its stride.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 11, 2021
Pittsburgh desperately needs to replace Juju Smith-Schuster
With Ben Roethlisberger seemingly putting himself into the “retirement pasture”, the Pittsburgh offense is just spinning its wheels. Pittsburgh has been too reliant upon rookie running back and first-round selection Najee Harris to produce in the passing game and as a result, they own a 2-3 record and sit in last place in the division.
The AFC North is traditionally known for defensive play. That isn’t so much the case in 2021, as Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson have supercharged their respective offenses. Adding Cooks would be a phenomenal add. Cooks’ speed would stretch the field and let Chase Claypool continue to garner huge YAC (yards after the catch) and get him into open space.
Here’s what a potential trade would be:
Cooks would be a great addition for a team that’s never had a losing season under Mike Tomlin. The Steelers’ last losing season came in 2003 when the team finished with a 6-10 record. It remains to be seen if this can help the meltdown that’s happening in Steel City right now.
Houston gets a third-round pick here just because Pittsburgh is desperate for another pass catcher.
Justin Reid caps off our final Houston Texans potential deadline trade
Justin Reid has been a Stanford standout for the Houston Texans. Just like his teammate (Scharping), Reid has quietly been one of the better players at his position. Reid has 2 interceptions and 20 tackles on the season and can keep track of receivers downfield.
It would pain Houston Texans fans to see him traded away, sort of how another former Texans safety left the team a few years ago. This time, It’s Reid who joins Tyrann Mathieu in Kansas City to help out their deep secondary.
Daniel Sorenson’s decline has proven insurmountable for Mathieu to handle on his own. This is where Reid comes in to help lock down the other half of the field for the Chiefs defense that desperately needs some coverage sacks to help out their pass rush.
Reid is arguably the Texans’ best defensive player, and potentially the best player on the team. That’s why the Chiefs have to pay up here to get Reid. This would be the one that would be least likely to happen- as the Texans would have to dot their i’s and cross their t’s before pulling the trigger on this trade.
If not a second-round pick, then the lowest Caserio should take is a third-round choice. It may just be the time for the Houston Texans fire sale. Will anyone of the 31 teams be a buyer?