May 29, 2024 • 11 mins
KPRC reporter Aaron Wilson joins Next Up to provide more insight into the Houston Texans signing wide receiver Nico Collins to a three-year, $72.75 million extension that includes $52 million guaranteed with a maximum value of $75 million. "I saw it coming a long time ago," Wilson said. "It's a very good contract," and "it would have become much more expensive" if the Texans waited to let Collins explore free agency. Collins is now the seventh highest paid wide receiver currently in the NFL based on average annual value. "They're betting on his future." With Collins locked in, Wilson also discusses the futures of other current Texans, including Stefon Diggs, Tytus Howard, Christian Harris and more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Anytime we talk Texans around here,we got to make sure we listen to
the words from a guy that iswell connected at NRG throughout the rest of
the league. He is were Texansinsider won Aaron Wilson dropping by to give
us some insight on what's going on. Nico Collins is a very wealthy man.
(00:21):
He agrees to a new three year, seven to two point seventy five
million dollar extension that will keep himin the Texans uniform, we believe for
the next four seasons. Aaron,good morning to you. I know you've
been working. I have read yourwork from a Nico agreement standpoint. Were
you surprised where you want to start? Good morning, No, I was
(00:43):
not surprised. You know, Idon't say this often, but I saw
this coming a very long time ago, and approached Nico at the TriStar production
saying that heat then he would bevery open to extension talks this offseason.
And then I learned more as weheaded toward the Combine that it was an
(01:06):
eventuality, not a maybe, thatthis would happen. And then after doing
some more reported than Nick Cassario kindof unprompted brought it up and then he
falls through on his word to tryto get this done, and then they
did. They had an agreement inplace with Drew Rosenhaus, Jason Rosenhaus,
Mariyamatha, Nico Collins Agents, andit's a very good contract. It is
(01:30):
really strong in terms of the structure. He gets seventeen million to sign.
He also is now the seventh highestpig wide receiver in the NFL, so
he is right between a lot ofreally great football players at twenty four point
two five million average annual compensation.That's how everybody really ranks as your yearly
(01:53):
salary, how much do you make? So you got AJ Brown at the
top at thirty two million, andthen you've got Range where he's ahead of
Michael Pittman, Deebo Samuel and DKMetcalf and he's right below Devonte Smith.
And if he maxes his value,which is seventy five millions and you know
(02:13):
the most he can make on thiscontract, that he would match the Eagles
Devonte Smith. So you have areally good contract. I mean, yes,
he's behind Cooper Cup, Devonte Adams, Tyreek Hill, Aman Ross Brown,
and AJ Brown. But this isa good deal, especially when you
do it early, and I thinkit would have become much more expensive.
One of my other real takeaways fromthis. If they had waited, they
(02:36):
probably lose the player. Run areal risk when you let a player get
a look at free agency, becausethen you're at a bidding more. This
time, you're just bidding against yourselvesand what the agent and the player think
he's worth. And he came rightthere, right there, pretty much in
the middle of the top receivers,and they're betting on his future. They're
(02:59):
betting on the he can continue toproduce at the level he did last year
as a breakthrough season. I thinkit's a win win. I think he
should reward your good young players.This was one of Nick Caserio's first draft
picks when he got here, draftedDavis Mills, drafted Nico Collins. Obviously,
this is the best player from thatinitial draft class. It's a great
(03:23):
deal for him, it's a greatdeal for the team, and yet the
hope is he's only scratching the surfaceof what he can become. What do
you think this does On the otherside. Stefan Diggs, the newest edition,
who we did not see out onthe practice film for OTA's last week.
What does this do with him knowingthat they kind of reworked the deal
that he'll hit free agency after thisseason? Does this do anything in his
(03:46):
mind? Was do you think theycommunicated this with him? Hey, just
heads up, Nico Collins, We'regonna give him a big deal. And
how much does this help or hurtthe negotiations for the Texans to keep Stefan
Diggs here after the next after thiscoming season? Right, because great questions.
My understanding is that yes, hewas aware of the commitment and so
were you know, his representatives thatthey were going to make toward Nico Collins
(04:11):
that was already out there and wasnot refuted or really an issue for them
in switching teams. He just wantedto switch teams and like the Texans as
a destination. He's fine with bettingon himself. We'll hear from him publicly
at some point, hopefully this springbefore they adjourned for you know, the
(04:33):
summer and then training camp. ButI'd say that they still have just as
good as shot at signing him ifthey want to. He'll be a year
older. See how the chemistry experimentworks. You know, he's had,
you know, some situations with Buffaloand Minnesota, where the honeymoon doesn't last
(04:54):
that long. In this case,I think it's going to click, but
it may just wind up being aone year rental. I think it's one
of the reasons we haven't spoken tohim is that his tenure with this team
may not be long term. Thathe's here to try to get them over
the top in the playoffs and essentially, you know when we say in the
(05:17):
old days, like you're a mercenarykind of a gun for higher situation.
I think he'll be a key figure. I think he'll be a positive force
for the team. I don't thinkhe's going to have the run INDs that
he had in Buffalo. I thinkit's going to be a fairly smooth year
as long as he's getting the footballand getting you know, his line share
(05:40):
of the carrier of the targets too. When you think about Stefan Diggs,
he has a lot on the linetoo, because if this doesn't run well,
then he's not going to make thekind of money he's making this year
on the open market. So Ithink it's kind of behove him to fit
(06:01):
in. I think he will.I think he already is, and he
has been around a little more thanyou know. There are things that we're
not at that he's been around for. But you know, when you think
about Stefan, I just don't thinkit affects that. It's an easy,
like kind of thing to draw thatline. But I don't think anything's changed
(06:23):
since they've changed the contract. That'swhen the change was made. Not Nico
collinscandal. That's the voice of ourTexans insider. His name is Aaron Wilson.
We all follow him on social mediaat Aaron Wilson Underscore. NFL Guys
back working out over at NRG today, tomorrow and Friday, And I misspoke
(06:43):
yesterday. Mandatory Minicamp coming up nextweek. So it's just OTA's and guys
working out this week and thinking aboutthe cap moving forward and how the dominoes
may fall. Gordy brings up StephDiggs. Who else in the building now?
I mean Nick Asarios in the twoseasons I've been here because Aio is
spending some money. Who else hasgot some itchy left palms over there that
(07:08):
may be looking for a check comingtheir way next and all the Texans in
position after making all these deals tobe able to pay somebody, whoever that
individual is. I don't see anobvious extension candidate until some of these other
guys become eligible. So looking ahead, they're Stingley junior and that'll be extremely
(07:28):
expensive. If you look at acornerback deal, like he'll get at the
top of the corner market. Soyou know, some of these guys get
well into the over twenty million peryear, could be twenty five. It
could be very expensive. It couldbe like Niko's deal. You know,
it could be wide receiver, elitewide receiver. Kind of money or more
(07:50):
wouldn't surprise me. I mean,look at what Sauce Gardner probably will get,
and Stingley's gonna want something very similar. I think it's going to be
kind of a you know, realinteresting to monitor those two talks. Who
jumps out there first. So that'sinteresting for next offseason because he'll be eligible
after three years for an extension.I think they'll want to do that.
(08:13):
I think he'll be interested as longas the money's right in doing a new
deal with them. I think there'srestructure candidates. There's Titus Howard, there's
you know, things you can dowith that contract if you feel like you
need to clear up some space downthe line. Christian Harris comes to mind
as someone a little bad. Yeah, yeah, once he's you know,
(08:37):
once he's eligible. So you needthree years completed to become eligible, just
like Nico did so. But Idon't know if every single guy, just
because they are eligible, is goingto to get one. Usually it's a
special case when the player has reallyexceeded their rookie contract. So Christian last
(08:58):
year took a big step forward toand out playing the rookie contract and earning
a new deal. What off theball linebackers make now, you know,
a good contract is already there.You know, he's Alshai here. Most
teams have trouble having to off theball guys making a lot of money.
You saw that with Patrick Queen rightand Will Kwan Smith with the Ravens.
(09:20):
So one guy has to leave,one guy gets the bag. But you
know, I think there are waysto be flexible because Nick Casario and Angel
Brown, they've done a good jobof navigating the salary cap and creating some
flexibility when they need to. Also, a lot of these deals guys aren't
making big money. You know,look at like a good football player,
(09:43):
like a Desmond King. He's undera small contract, and you know it
does fall into that concept of noteverybody can be paid equally. You've got
to have some bargains on your roster, and King is one that jumps out
to me. There are no someother value guys and there I mean you
look at those Shack Mason, he'sa good guards, makes good money,
(10:07):
but they didn't break the bank forhim. You know, you have some
expensive players like Larry Hunsel and eventuallyyou're gonna have a CJ. Stroud contract.
Yeah, and we know that's getTJ. Stroud. You know,
Oh everything changes when Stroud gets paid. Ask them you may they may not
be as popular a destination because ofwhat ones up happening is there's just not
(10:30):
a lot of cap left. Youstart paying guy, I mean, this
could be sixty million a year.It's crazy. It's crazy to stay the
NFL for more intel. What's goingon with the Texans as again? OTA's
continue this week. You got mandatorymini camp. Next week we will be
hearing all the site sounds. Youstay locked right here to seven ninety where
you can see the blog on sportsseven ninety dot com as well. Was
the free iHeartRadio app of one AaronWilson underscore NFL we got a slide A
(10:56):
does we appreciate your work? Brother, fantastic job yet again. Thanks guys,
great talking all right, take you
Anytime we talk Texans around here,we got to make sure we listen to
the words from a guy that iswell connected at NRG throughout the rest of
the league. He is were Texansinsider won Aaron Wilson dropping by to give
us some insight on what's going on. Nico Collins is a very wealthy man.
(00:21):
He agrees to a new three year, seven to two point seventy five
million dollar extension that will keep himin the Texans uniform, we believe for
the next four seasons. Aaron,good morning to you. I know you've
been working. I have read yourwork from a Nico agreement standpoint. Were
you surprised where you want to start? Good morning, No, I was
(00:43):
not surprised. You know, Idon't say this often, but I saw
this coming a very long time ago, and approached Nico at the TriStar production
saying that heat then he would bevery open to extension talks this offseason.
And then I learned more as weheaded toward the Combine that it was an
(01:06):
eventuality, not a maybe, thatthis would happen. And then after doing
some more reported than Nick Cassario kindof unprompted brought it up and then he
falls through on his word to tryto get this done, and then they
did. They had an agreement inplace with Drew Rosenhaus, Jason Rosenhaus,
Mariyamatha, Nico Collins Agents, andit's a very good contract. It is
(01:30):
really strong in terms of the structure. He gets seventeen million to sign.
He also is now the seventh highestpig wide receiver in the NFL, so
he is right between a lot ofreally great football players at twenty four point
two five million average annual compensation.That's how everybody really ranks as your yearly
(01:53):
salary, how much do you make? So you got AJ Brown at the
top at thirty two million, andthen you've got Range where he's ahead of
Michael Pittman, Deebo Samuel and DKMetcalf and he's right below Devonte Smith.
And if he maxes his value,which is seventy five millions and you know
(02:13):
the most he can make on thiscontract, that he would match the Eagles
Devonte Smith. So you have areally good contract. I mean, yes,
he's behind Cooper Cup, Devonte Adams, Tyreek Hill, Aman Ross Brown,
and AJ Brown. But this isa good deal, especially when you
do it early, and I thinkit would have become much more expensive.
One of my other real takeaways fromthis. If they had waited, they
(02:36):
probably lose the player. Run areal risk when you let a player get
a look at free agency, becausethen you're at a bidding more. This
time, you're just bidding against yourselvesand what the agent and the player think
he's worth. And he came rightthere, right there, pretty much in
the middle of the top receivers,and they're betting on his future. They're
(02:59):
betting on the he can continue toproduce at the level he did last year
as a breakthrough season. I thinkit's a win win. I think he
should reward your good young players.This was one of Nick Caserio's first draft
picks when he got here, draftedDavis Mills, drafted Nico Collins. Obviously,
this is the best player from thatinitial draft class. It's a great
(03:23):
deal for him, it's a greatdeal for the team, and yet the
hope is he's only scratching the surfaceof what he can become. What do
you think this does On the otherside. Stefan Diggs, the newest edition,
who we did not see out onthe practice film for OTA's last week.
What does this do with him knowingthat they kind of reworked the deal
that he'll hit free agency after thisseason? Does this do anything in his
(03:46):
mind? Was do you think theycommunicated this with him? Hey, just
heads up, Nico Collins, We'regonna give him a big deal. And
how much does this help or hurtthe negotiations for the Texans to keep Stefan
Diggs here after the next after thiscoming season? Right, because great questions.
My understanding is that yes, hewas aware of the commitment and so
were you know, his representatives thatthey were going to make toward Nico Collins
(04:11):
that was already out there and wasnot refuted or really an issue for them
in switching teams. He just wantedto switch teams and like the Texans as
a destination. He's fine with bettingon himself. We'll hear from him publicly
at some point, hopefully this springbefore they adjourned for you know, the
(04:33):
summer and then training camp. ButI'd say that they still have just as
good as shot at signing him ifthey want to. He'll be a year
older. See how the chemistry experimentworks. You know, he's had,
you know, some situations with Buffaloand Minnesota, where the honeymoon doesn't last
(04:54):
that long. In this case,I think it's going to click, but
it may just wind up being aone year rental. I think it's one
of the reasons we haven't spoken tohim is that his tenure with this team
may not be long term. Thathe's here to try to get them over
the top in the playoffs and essentially, you know when we say in the
(05:17):
old days, like you're a mercenarykind of a gun for higher situation.
I think he'll be a key figure. I think he'll be a positive force
for the team. I don't thinkhe's going to have the run INDs that
he had in Buffalo. I thinkit's going to be a fairly smooth year
as long as he's getting the footballand getting you know, his line share
(05:40):
of the carrier of the targets too. When you think about Stefan Diggs,
he has a lot on the linetoo, because if this doesn't run well,
then he's not going to make thekind of money he's making this year
on the open market. So Ithink it's kind of behove him to fit
(06:01):
in. I think he will.I think he already is, and he
has been around a little more thanyou know. There are things that we're
not at that he's been around for. But you know, when you think
about Stefan, I just don't thinkit affects that. It's an easy,
like kind of thing to draw thatline. But I don't think anything's changed
(06:23):
since they've changed the contract. That'swhen the change was made. Not Nico
collinscandal. That's the voice of ourTexans insider. His name is Aaron Wilson.
We all follow him on social mediaat Aaron Wilson Underscore. NFL Guys
back working out over at NRG today, tomorrow and Friday, And I misspoke
(06:43):
yesterday. Mandatory Minicamp coming up nextweek. So it's just OTA's and guys
working out this week and thinking aboutthe cap moving forward and how the dominoes
may fall. Gordy brings up StephDiggs. Who else in the building now?
I mean Nick Asarios in the twoseasons I've been here because Aio is
spending some money. Who else hasgot some itchy left palms over there that
(07:08):
may be looking for a check comingtheir way next and all the Texans in
position after making all these deals tobe able to pay somebody, whoever that
individual is. I don't see anobvious extension candidate until some of these other
guys become eligible. So looking ahead, they're Stingley junior and that'll be extremely
(07:28):
expensive. If you look at acornerback deal, like he'll get at the
top of the corner market. Soyou know, some of these guys get
well into the over twenty million peryear, could be twenty five. It
could be very expensive. It couldbe like Niko's deal. You know,
it could be wide receiver, elitewide receiver. Kind of money or more
(07:50):
wouldn't surprise me. I mean,look at what Sauce Gardner probably will get,
and Stingley's gonna want something very similar. I think it's going to be
kind of a you know, realinteresting to monitor those two talks. Who
jumps out there first. So that'sinteresting for next offseason because he'll be eligible
after three years for an extension.I think they'll want to do that.
(08:13):
I think he'll be interested as longas the money's right in doing a new
deal with them. I think there'srestructure candidates. There's Titus Howard, there's
you know, things you can dowith that contract if you feel like you
need to clear up some space downthe line. Christian Harris comes to mind
as someone a little bad. Yeah, yeah, once he's you know,
(08:37):
once he's eligible. So you needthree years completed to become eligible, just
like Nico did so. But Idon't know if every single guy, just
because they are eligible, is goingto to get one. Usually it's a
special case when the player has reallyexceeded their rookie contract. So Christian last
(08:58):
year took a big step forward toand out playing the rookie contract and earning
a new deal. What off theball linebackers make now, you know,
a good contract is already there.You know, he's Alshai here. Most
teams have trouble having to off theball guys making a lot of money.
You saw that with Patrick Queen rightand Will Kwan Smith with the Ravens.
(09:20):
So one guy has to leave,one guy gets the bag. But you
know, I think there are waysto be flexible because Nick Casario and Angel
Brown, they've done a good jobof navigating the salary cap and creating some
flexibility when they need to. Also, a lot of these deals guys aren't
making big money. You know,look at like a good football player,
(09:43):
like a Desmond King. He's undera small contract, and you know it
does fall into that concept of noteverybody can be paid equally. You've got
to have some bargains on your roster, and King is one that jumps out
to me. There are no someother value guys and there I mean you
look at those Shack Mason, he'sa good guards, makes good money,
(10:07):
but they didn't break the bank forhim. You know, you have some
expensive players like Larry Hunsel and eventuallyyou're gonna have a CJ. Stroud contract.
Yeah, and we know that's getTJ. Stroud. You know,
Oh everything changes when Stroud gets paid. Ask them you may they may not
be as popular a destination because ofwhat ones up happening is there's just not
(10:30):
a lot of cap left. Youstart paying guy, I mean, this
could be sixty million a year.It's crazy. It's crazy to stay the
NFL for more intel. What's goingon with the Texans as again? OTA's
continue this week. You got mandatorymini camp. Next week we will be
hearing all the site sounds. Youstay locked right here to seven ninety where
you can see the blog on sportsseven ninety dot com as well. Was
the free iHeartRadio app of one AaronWilson underscore NFL we got a slide A
(10:56):
does we appreciate your work? Brother, fantastic job yet again. Thanks guys,
great talking all right, take you
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