Before the 2026 NFL draft, trade rumors regarding Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins began to surface.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio quickly shut down those rumors, telling whoever reported that information to “shove it.”
“Teams call all the time and ask about players. We’re not trading Nico Collins,” Caserio said in late April. “Whoever reported it or whatever information that they had, they can shove it. We’re not trading Nico.”
Collins is likely happy with this decision, according to comments he made over the weekend.
“I love the Texans,” Collins said, via team insider Aaron Wilson. “I got drafted here. It’s somewhere I want to end. I love the city, the people, the community. There’s a lot of great positive vibes coming out of the city of Houston. So, it’s definitely a place I would like to retire.”
Collins joined the Texans franchise as a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4 WR notched at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons, earning back-to-back Pro-Bowl selections. Last year, he reeled in 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns through 15 games appearances for the Texans.
Collins signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract extension with the Texans in May 2024. He’s the NFL’s 18th highest-paid WR in terms of average annual compensation, and he should be due for a pay raise considering his importance in the Texans’ offense.
Collins hopes to continue his consistent improvement into the 2026 season.
“Not get complacent, not get comfortable, continue to find the things I need to improve on,” Collins said. “Even though you have success, it’s still not good enough, continue to aim for the stars and continue to be the best version of yourself every day.”