As we approach the beginning of NFL free agency late Monday morning, the Houston Texans are still sitting on a few acute needs that they will likely address over the next week or so, in addition to fortifying those areas via the draft in late April. On the heels of season ending injuries to Stefon Diggs (now, a free agent) and Tank Dell (possibly out for 2025, as well), wide receiver remains a major need for this team.
It just so happens that, around the league, several wide receivers with very gaudy resumes, some injury concerns, and definite age concerns, have all become available. Diggs is one of them, but in recent days, he’s been joined by Buccaneers free agent WR Chris Gowdin, former Jets WR Davante Adams (released by the Jets), and Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf (requested a trade).
Texans GM Nick Caserio should be looking into all of these, at the very least, as a possibility to become a Houston Texan. As with most things in life, the Vegas sports books are weighing in on the likelihood for where each player may end up. Here are the odds on each of the four players highlighted above, along with thoughts on how things play out:
STEFON DIGGS, Texans free agent WR
Let’s start with the odds that Diggs could return to the Texans on a new deal after free agency begins next week. Here are the posted odds on the chances of that happening:
Will Stefon Diggs re-sign with the Texans?
Yes +110
No -150
This matches up with the scuttlebutt on the street. Diggs’ return is widely viewed as, at best, a coin flip’s chance he comes back here. If he does return, it’s likely with some level of “hometown discount,” because there are definitely teams out there who (a) could use Diggs and (b) have more money under the cap than the Texans do. Here’s the odds board:
Stefon Diggs Next Team
New England Patriotsย 3/1
Pittsburgh Steelersย 4/1
Dallas Cowboysย 5/1
Los Angeles Chargersย 7/1
Baltimore Ravensย 8/1
Las Vegas Raidersย 9/1
Green Bay Packersย 12/1
Kansas City Chiefsย 12/1
New Orleans Saintsย 14/1
Cleveland Brownsย 16/1
Jacksonville Jaguarsย 20/1
Those top three teams each make a lot of sense. The Patriots have money to burn and an acute need for a number one wide receiver. The Steelers seem like a really good head coach-player fit, with Mike Tomlin. The Cowboys would reunite Diggs with his brother, Travon.
CHRIS GODWIN, Buccaneers free agent WR
We will go through the same exercise with Godwin, to start out, as we did with Diggs, looking at the odds he returns to Tampa. Godwin, at -220 to return, is considered a much safer bet to stay with his current team than venture out somewhere else:
Will Chris Godwin re-sign with the Bucs?
Yes -220
No +160
Like Diggs, Godwin ended the season on injured reserve, so his market gets intriguing. Here is the odds board for Godwin’s next stop, if he doesn’t stay in Tampa:
Chris Godwin Next Team
Carolina Panthersย 5/2
Pittsburgh Steelersย 3/1
Las Vegas Raidersย 4/1
New England Patriotsย 6/1
Los Angeles Chargersย 8/1
Green Bay Packersย 12/1
Dallas Cowboysย 14/1
HOUSTON TEXANSย 16/1
The Texans are 8th on the board for Godwin. That feels aggressive. If the Texans are going to throw money at a receiver coming off an injury, they’ll just bring Diggs back, I would imagine.
DAVANTE ADAMS, free agent WR (released by the Jets)
In this article, Adams is the most intriguing one to me, largely because he’s played the best football of any of the receivers here over the last few years, and done so with largely subpar quarterback play. Here are the odds on where Adams may end up:
Davante Adams Next Team
Denver Broncosย 4/1
San Francisco 49ersย 5/1
New York Giantsย 6/1
Green Bay Packersย 6/1
Los Angeles Chargersย 7/1
Las Vegas Raidersย 9/1
Seattle Seahawksย 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelersย 12/1
New England Patriotsย 14/1
Dallas Cowboysย 16/1
Kansas City Chiefsย 18/1
Buffalo Billsย 20/1
Washington Commandersย 20/1
Los Angeles Ramsย 20/1
HOUSTON TEXANSย 22/1
Tennessee Titansย 25/1
There are many folks out there who believe that Adams will just wait to see where Aaron Rodgers signs, and then he will head there in free agency. Thus, you see the New York Giants, the favorite to land Rodgers, fairly high on Adams’ list. ย The Texans way down the list at 15th to land Adams is not a major surprise. He is going to fairly expensive, and the Texans are operating with limited cap money.
D.K. METCALF, Seahawks WR (requested a trade)
Metcalf recently requested a trade, and Seattle seems like they are going to acquiesce to Metcalf’s trade demands. here are the odds on where Metcalf could be headed:
DK Metcalf Next Team
Green Bay Packersย 3/1
New England Patriotsย 5/1
Las Vegas Raidersย 7/1
Pittsburgh Steelersย 7/1
Los Angeles Chargersย 8/1
Dallas Cowboysย 10/1
HOUSTON TEXANSย 12/1
Buffalo Billsย 14/1
Atlanta Falconsย 16/1
Denver Broncosย 16/1
Tennessee Titansย 18/1
This is the one I’m least enthused by for the Texans, largely because (a) Seattle reportedly wants a first and third round draft pick for Metcalf, and (b) once the trade is consummated, Metcalf is going to want a top of market contract extension, as he is in the final year of his deal he inked two years ago. Great player, but no thanks!
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