October 30, 2024 • 10 mins
Eric Edholm, lead draft writer for NFL.com, joins Next Up to preview the Houston Texans taking on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. The Texans are coming off a 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday; however, the win came with a cost as wide receiver Stefon Diggs tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. With Nico Collins already out for at least another week, general manager Nick Caserio might look to make a trade before the NFL deadline on Nov. 5. "It kind of depends on their outlook for Nico," Edholm said. "Costs aren't super high," as seen by the Carolina Panthers trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson and 2025 sixth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth-round pick. "There might be other options out there." Edholm also breaks down his NFL Week 9 power rankings that list the Texans at No. 8 behind the Minnesota Vikings.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let me go to the experts. I had to call
somebody to assist me with this. And now that Steph
Diggs is down coming out of week eight, we head
in the week nine.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I need to know.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Giving the arms race that's happening in the AFC, where
do the Texans stand?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
How would this thing look if the playoffs were coming
up this weekend? Let's go somewhere up in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Issue.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
You've seen his work on NFL dot com, drops by
the show every few months or so. Had to get
him in here because I've seen his power rankings. I
might yell at him too. Ericad Home, NFL dot com
Draft Guru does a great job writing columns their staff writer, Eric,
Good morning to you, sir. Are you as firing up
as I am?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yes, I am, and I expect nothing much. You've always
done a good job of pointing out where I missed
my bar spots. That's okay.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I like that, all right?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So before we get to your power rankings, cause I
find it interesting where you have the Texans. The news
breaks yesterday during lunch here in Central time zone.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
What we all here?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Steph Diggs is out and then five minutes late to
Deontay Johnson is leaving Charlotte and he's headed to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So really a two part question.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Your your thoughts on what the Texans are without Steph.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Should they add a wide receiver? Second part?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah, well let's do second part. First.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
You made an interesting comment that I want to kind
of circle back on. You said, we don't really know
when Nico Collins is coming back. That's true, we really
don't have a great idea. Now he could be activated
prior to the week ten game. That's always been, you know,
seemingly the target for him to come.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Back, but there's no guarantee of that happening.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
So I guess the answer to part you know, to
part one, what they're gonna look like and whether they
should make a move kind of depends on their outlook
for Nico.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Now, it's not to say you.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Couldn't add a like if you feel pretty confident that
Nico's going to be back we ten and you know,
and being good shit there, I think you could talk
yourself into all right, we'll get something out.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Of the guys we have. Maybe we need to add
one more receiver.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Doesn't have to be a big name, but it's awfully
tempting if you're willing to take on the salary to
see some of these prices for the receivers going right now,
I mean, costs aren't super high if you're willing to
part with a uh, you know, like a day two
pick for a for a quality receiver and a Day
three pick for a complimentary guy exactly that that it
(02:26):
wouldn't be worth you know, at least kicking the tires
and seeing what's out there. And I'm losing Deontay and
that possibility is tough, but you know there might be
other options out there.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So all right, if you're a city, if we are,
you and I we're just sitting out, we're at the
bar having a beer and we're acting like we're sitting
in Casario's chair. And I'll get to your power rankings
because we're going to back our way into this thing. Surprise, surprise,
you have the Ravens, the Bills, and the Chiefs ranked
ahead of the Texans in your power rankings. Going in
(02:59):
the week nine, All three of those teams in the AFC,
all three of those teams added a wide receiver, Like,
isn't that telling us something like shouldn't Nicko Sario be thinking, yeah,
I gotta go do something here. And I remind you, Eric,
Steph Diggs was on a one year deal, so they
were gonna have to draft the wide receiver position again
(03:19):
next year, whether it be through free agency or the draft.
So maybe I could go plug T Higgins if they
like him, and pay him his money, and now I
have Nico on T Higgins for the next three seasons.
I don't know, I'm just playing with the idea looking
around the rest of the AFC.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Oh sure, no, it doesn't hurt.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
I mean the sort of could you know, explore those ideas. Plus,
you know, you know there's no guarantee you're gonna be
able to get one of those free agents next year.
You know, I'll just wait till till March. The Scientifer,
well no, you know, like look at look at the
sweat the pass rusher in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
You know they traded for him last deadline.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Not even in contention, right, they weren't really. I guess
they nominally were at the end of the year. But
you know, would have taken a miracle for the Bears
to make the playoffs a year ago. But they understood that. Look,
we instead of trying to get to the front.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Of the line and free agency.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Let's make the move now, so that only amplifies it
for a team like Houston is clearly in the playoff race,
but as you said, arguably is running you know, at
best third, at worst maybe fifth or sixth in the AFC,
probably more. You know, I have them, like you said, fourth,
uh in the in the tier there.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But yeah, I mean it's a need position.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
It would make sense to to you know, you'd have
two guys who could run and catch the ball outside
their frame on the on the on the perimeter once
SNKO gets back and Tea just hypothetically, you know that
that would be an outstanding thing to have because I
don't know how much you can realistically count on John
(04:52):
Metchi's stepping into a big role. Complimentary roll sure, you know,
same with with Hutchinson. And we know Tank Dell's an
explosive guy. You know, he's you know, incrementally getting better
post injury, seen each game a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
It feels like even with the tough game up in
Green Bay, I mean.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Other than that, he's looked pretty good I think the
last few weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
But and some people are.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Saying it's one's short.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Some people are saying Robert Woods still has some tread
left for retires.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
My title game hopes hands on Bobby Trees catching a
ball from right.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I'm more apt to go get a receiver. All right.
To your power rankings, you have the.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Texans, and back to back weeks they stay flat from
week seven through week eight at number eight. Why do
you have the Texans at first glance, for example, ranked
behind the Buffalo Bills, who the Texans beat. You have
the Bills at three, and you moved them up two spots.
Let's start there, while you got the Bills ranked the
head of the Texans, giving the head dead.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I try to.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I try to factor in the head to head stuff
whenever possible. And obviously, when you have two teams with
you know, even records, that would certainly make sense. But
you know in their and their conference records gonna help
them out. I think they're five and zero against AFC
teams up to if I recall, so, I mean that
that's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
But if you want to take ask.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Me right now who I would take, who I would
bet on to make a bigger dent in the playoffs.
I didn't know Diggs was going to be out for
the season one hundred percent when I made that ranking,
but it didn't look great and I sort of aired
on the side of of concern, you know, so that
was factored.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
In a little bit as well. You win a game,
you lose a receiver.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
You know, you win a close game against a mediocre opponent, uh,
and lose the receiver. I'm not apt to move you
up most weeks, but yeah, I just think the Bills,
even even with their struggles in those two games against
Baltimore and Houston, overall body of work, you know, they
look terrific Sunday, and I think they're an explosive team
(06:55):
that can overcome mistakes. A little bit better maybe, But
I see your point, and I I face these questions
every week.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
You know, hey, we beat that team that's ahead of us,
why are we there?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
But there's a recency bias too that I have that
I factor in because you know, it's a one game
lead or one week league, one week at a time league.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I guess is the best way to say it. But
no question, things change fast.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The voice of Eric ed Holm, lead draft writer for
the NFL dot Com appreciate the expertise and the opinions
there will leave it on this one.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
If okay, if Steph Diggs had you.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Known he was out for the year when you did
these power rankings, you kept the Texans at eight. So
really I'm saying, moving forward, if everything were to stay
as is, would you still have the Texans at eight?
Would you be as optimistic as many of our listeners
and have everything is gonna be all right? We haven't
even talked about their guard or would you bump them
(07:54):
down with the subtraction of Steph Diggs from the lineup?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Hey, you mentioned the guards that you are too. I mean,
Ken Young Green's been.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
You know, they give him chances and it's just it's
it's tough watching the.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Same thing happen again and again.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I mean, it would have been great if Jared Patterson
could have played and you know, finished the game, and
who knows what a status is for Thursday. I would say,
you know, those situations your veer towards out. But yeah,
you know, let's let's see how the Texans do against
a totally desperate this is our last shot. We're probably
already dead, but who knows Jets team, right, now, because
(08:31):
you know, if they struggle in a one game situation
where they you know, like against the team that has
nothing to lose and you know it's basically their season tonight,
you know that that's obviously more concern. But to your
question specifically, I kind of figured he was out for
the year, but didn't really know when I pushed, you know,
(08:52):
publish on that thing.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It's gonna be tough. Do I like him more than Pittsburgh, Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I do.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Do I like him more than some of the other
AFC teams, Yes, But you know there's also that house
of cards element that scares me, where if you take
one key piece out, the whole thing can can fum up.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
And again I'm not overrating Steph.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
I know what he is at this stage of his career,
but you know, given where they're at, that was a
tough position to suffer.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
A big injury at Steph Digg still leading the Houston
Texans and receptions, I'll be it. Nico has been out
for three games. Second in receiving yards four ninety two,
tied for first with three receiving touchdowns and one rushing
touchdown to boom. All right, that is the time we
have for mister Eric Edholm. I appreciate him. He is
power rankings guru, NFL draft officionado for NFL dot com.
(09:42):
Dropping by next up to hang out with fleeting Gordy Eric.
We'll appreciate you, brother. I probably won't bother you until
somewhere around December where we get what is it, three
games in fifteen days something like that, Gordy, three games
in twelve days. That's just absolutely brutal. So I probably
get you on somewhere around then. Keep doing good work, brother, Thank.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
You so much.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Thank you, Happy Halloween. Talk to you a couple of
months and do that.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Do that, man, We appreciate you,
Let me go to the experts. I had to call
somebody to assist me with this. And now that Steph
Diggs is down coming out of week eight, we head
in the week nine.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I need to know.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Giving the arms race that's happening in the AFC, where
do the Texans stand?
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
How would this thing look if the playoffs were coming
up this weekend? Let's go somewhere up in Chicago.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Issue.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
You've seen his work on NFL dot com, drops by
the show every few months or so. Had to get
him in here because I've seen his power rankings. I
might yell at him too. Ericad Home, NFL dot com
Draft Guru does a great job writing columns their staff writer, Eric,
Good morning to you, sir. Are you as firing up
as I am?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yes, I am, and I expect nothing much. You've always
done a good job of pointing out where I missed
my bar spots. That's okay.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I like that, all right?
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So before we get to your power rankings, cause I
find it interesting where you have the Texans. The news
breaks yesterday during lunch here in Central time zone.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
What we all here?
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Steph Diggs is out and then five minutes late to
Deontay Johnson is leaving Charlotte and he's headed to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
So really a two part question.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Your your thoughts on what the Texans are without Steph.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Should they add a wide receiver? Second part?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Yeah, well let's do second part. First.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
You made an interesting comment that I want to kind
of circle back on. You said, we don't really know
when Nico Collins is coming back. That's true, we really
don't have a great idea. Now he could be activated
prior to the week ten game. That's always been, you know,
seemingly the target for him to come.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Back, but there's no guarantee of that happening.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
So I guess the answer to part you know, to
part one, what they're gonna look like and whether they
should make a move kind of depends on their outlook
for Nico.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Now, it's not to say you.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Couldn't add a like if you feel pretty confident that
Nico's going to be back we ten and you know,
and being good shit there, I think you could talk
yourself into all right, we'll get something out.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Of the guys we have. Maybe we need to add
one more receiver.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Doesn't have to be a big name, but it's awfully
tempting if you're willing to take on the salary to
see some of these prices for the receivers going right now,
I mean, costs aren't super high if you're willing to
part with a uh, you know, like a day two
pick for a for a quality receiver and a Day
three pick for a complimentary guy exactly that that it
(02:26):
wouldn't be worth you know, at least kicking the tires
and seeing what's out there. And I'm losing Deontay and
that possibility is tough, but you know there might be
other options out there.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
So all right, if you're a city, if we are,
you and I we're just sitting out, we're at the
bar having a beer and we're acting like we're sitting
in Casario's chair. And I'll get to your power rankings
because we're going to back our way into this thing. Surprise, surprise,
you have the Ravens, the Bills, and the Chiefs ranked
ahead of the Texans in your power rankings. Going in
(02:59):
the week nine, All three of those teams in the AFC,
all three of those teams added a wide receiver, Like,
isn't that telling us something like shouldn't Nicko Sario be thinking, yeah,
I gotta go do something here. And I remind you, Eric,
Steph Diggs was on a one year deal, so they
were gonna have to draft the wide receiver position again
(03:19):
next year, whether it be through free agency or the draft.
So maybe I could go plug T Higgins if they
like him, and pay him his money, and now I
have Nico on T Higgins for the next three seasons.
I don't know, I'm just playing with the idea looking
around the rest of the AFC.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Oh sure, no, it doesn't hurt.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
I mean the sort of could you know, explore those ideas. Plus,
you know, you know there's no guarantee you're gonna be
able to get one of those free agents next year.
You know, I'll just wait till till March. The Scientifer,
well no, you know, like look at look at the
sweat the pass rusher in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
You know they traded for him last deadline.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Not even in contention, right, they weren't really. I guess
they nominally were at the end of the year. But
you know, would have taken a miracle for the Bears
to make the playoffs a year ago. But they understood that. Look,
we instead of trying to get to the front.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Of the line and free agency.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Let's make the move now, so that only amplifies it
for a team like Houston is clearly in the playoff race,
but as you said, arguably is running you know, at
best third, at worst maybe fifth or sixth in the AFC,
probably more. You know, I have them, like you said, fourth,
uh in the in the tier there.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
But yeah, I mean it's a need position.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
It would make sense to to you know, you'd have
two guys who could run and catch the ball outside
their frame on the on the on the perimeter once
SNKO gets back and Tea just hypothetically, you know that
that would be an outstanding thing to have because I
don't know how much you can realistically count on John
(04:52):
Metchi's stepping into a big role. Complimentary roll sure, you know,
same with with Hutchinson. And we know Tank Dell's an
explosive guy. You know, he's you know, incrementally getting better
post injury, seen each game a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
It feels like even with the tough game up in
Green Bay, I mean.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Other than that, he's looked pretty good I think the
last few weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
But and some people are.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Saying it's one's short.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Some people are saying Robert Woods still has some tread
left for retires.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
My title game hopes hands on Bobby Trees catching a
ball from right.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I'm more apt to go get a receiver. All right.
To your power rankings, you have the.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Texans, and back to back weeks they stay flat from
week seven through week eight at number eight. Why do
you have the Texans at first glance, for example, ranked
behind the Buffalo Bills, who the Texans beat. You have
the Bills at three, and you moved them up two spots.
Let's start there, while you got the Bills ranked the
head of the Texans, giving the head dead.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I try to.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
I try to factor in the head to head stuff
whenever possible. And obviously, when you have two teams with
you know, even records, that would certainly make sense. But
you know in their and their conference records gonna help
them out. I think they're five and zero against AFC
teams up to if I recall, so, I mean that
that's a good thing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
But if you want to take ask.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Me right now who I would take, who I would
bet on to make a bigger dent in the playoffs.
I didn't know Diggs was going to be out for
the season one hundred percent when I made that ranking,
but it didn't look great and I sort of aired
on the side of of concern, you know, so that
was factored.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
In a little bit as well. You win a game,
you lose a receiver.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
You know, you win a close game against a mediocre opponent, uh,
and lose the receiver. I'm not apt to move you
up most weeks, but yeah, I just think the Bills,
even even with their struggles in those two games against
Baltimore and Houston, overall body of work, you know, they
look terrific Sunday, and I think they're an explosive team
(06:55):
that can overcome mistakes. A little bit better maybe, But
I see your point, and I I face these questions
every week.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
You know, hey, we beat that team that's ahead of us,
why are we there?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
But there's a recency bias too that I have that
I factor in because you know, it's a one game
lead or one week league, one week at a time league.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I guess is the best way to say it. But
no question, things change fast.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
The voice of Eric ed Holm, lead draft writer for
the NFL dot Com appreciate the expertise and the opinions
there will leave it on this one.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
If okay, if Steph Diggs had you.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Known he was out for the year when you did
these power rankings, you kept the Texans at eight. So
really I'm saying, moving forward, if everything were to stay
as is, would you still have the Texans at eight?
Would you be as optimistic as many of our listeners
and have everything is gonna be all right? We haven't
even talked about their guard or would you bump them
(07:54):
down with the subtraction of Steph Diggs from the lineup?
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Hey, you mentioned the guards that you are too. I mean,
Ken Young Green's been.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
You know, they give him chances and it's just it's
it's tough watching the.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Same thing happen again and again.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I mean, it would have been great if Jared Patterson
could have played and you know, finished the game, and
who knows what a status is for Thursday. I would say,
you know, those situations your veer towards out. But yeah,
you know, let's let's see how the Texans do against
a totally desperate this is our last shot. We're probably
already dead, but who knows Jets team, right, now, because
(08:31):
you know, if they struggle in a one game situation
where they you know, like against the team that has
nothing to lose and you know it's basically their season tonight,
you know that that's obviously more concern. But to your
question specifically, I kind of figured he was out for
the year, but didn't really know when I pushed, you know,
(08:52):
publish on that thing.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It's gonna be tough. Do I like him more than Pittsburgh, Yes?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I do.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Do I like him more than some of the other
AFC teams, Yes, But you know there's also that house
of cards element that scares me, where if you take
one key piece out, the whole thing can can fum up.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
And again I'm not overrating Steph.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
I know what he is at this stage of his career,
but you know, given where they're at, that was a
tough position to suffer.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
A big injury at Steph Digg still leading the Houston
Texans and receptions, I'll be it. Nico has been out
for three games. Second in receiving yards four ninety two,
tied for first with three receiving touchdowns and one rushing
touchdown to boom. All right, that is the time we
have for mister Eric Edholm. I appreciate him. He is
power rankings guru, NFL draft officionado for NFL dot com.
(09:42):
Dropping by next up to hang out with fleeting Gordy Eric.
We'll appreciate you, brother. I probably won't bother you until
somewhere around December where we get what is it, three
games in fifteen days something like that, Gordy, three games
in twelve days. That's just absolutely brutal. So I probably
get you on somewhere around then. Keep doing good work, brother, Thank.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
You so much.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Thank you, Happy Halloween. Talk to you a couple of
months and do that.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Do that, man, We appreciate you,
Popular Podcasts
Good Game with Sarah Spain
Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, reporters, or celebrity fans.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Crime Junkie
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.