Whether it's now or later, the Texans' acquisition of Brandin Cooks, an addition that further saturated what was already a crowded Houston pass-catching corps, is sure to bring consequences. That collateral damage has yet to be realized (if we know anything about trade-happy GM Bill O'Brien, it's that his finger is never far from the trigger), though when that next domino falls, Kenny Stills will likely be impacted.
Per beat reporter Aaron Reiss of The Athletic, Stills, who joined the Texans last summer in a trade that netted the Dolphins a slew of early-round picks (Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil was also included in the swap), could soon be headed elsewhere. With Cooks, injury-prone field-stretcher Will Fuller and slot maven Randall Cobb entrenched as starters, Stills seems destined to be the "odd man out" in Houston's remade receiving corps. Changing addresses is nothing new for Stills, who is on his third NFL team since arriving as a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2013. Reiss outlined Philadelphia, Minnesota and Washington as potential landing spots for the well-traveled 27-year-old.
Underutilized throughout his career, the eighth-year deep artist has shown a knack for big plays, stamping his end-zone ticket an impressive 36 times over 107 NFL appearances. Given his similarities to the more established likes of Cooks and Fuller, players both known for their vertical leanings, the Texans rightly view Stills as expendable. With Stills likely a goner after this year anyway (his contract is up at the end of the season), why delay the inevitable? Underachieving slot receiver Keke Coutee, a healthy scratch for much of last season, appears to be on similarly shaky ground with Reiss viewing him as a potential cut candidate heading into training camp.
There's an argument for keeping Stills over Fuller, who is also heading into a contract year and has proven extremely brittle, appearing in just 42 of a possible 64 games since the Texans drafted him with the 21st pick in 2016. However, Fuller is younger than Stills (he turns 26 tomorrow) and has averaged a commanding 65.2 receiving yards per game over his last two seasons, giving him a significantly higher ceiling.
Stills' speed (4.38 forty time) would play well in Philadelphia, where the Eagles are seeking an overhaul at wide receiver. Virtually all mock drafts have the Eagles selecting a wideout with their first-round pick (21st overall) with LSU's Justin Jefferson, Jalen Reagor of TCU and Baylor alum Denzel Mims among the many receivers likely to be available at that juncture. Philadelphia can't afford to squander Carson Wentz's prime with another season of subpar receiver play from disgruntled veteran Alshon Jeffery and aging downfield threat DeSean Jackson. Greg Ward performed admirably in the slot after Nelson Agholor was lost to injury in 2019, though Philadelphia shouldn't be hinging its future on an undrafted college quarterback.
Given their lack of leverage—Stills' inevitable departure is an open secret among NFL GMs—the former Saints and Dolphins receiver can likely be had for a late-round pick. O'Brien will surely set his initial asking price much higher (potentially a third or fourth-rounder), though that would probably be a non-starter, even for receiver-needy clubs like the Vikings, who are reportedly targeting Odell Beckham as a replacement for trade casualty Stefon Diggs. The draft is a week away and the Texans have a surplus of wideouts (though none as accomplished as the franchise icon they gave up for what's left of David Johnson's broken career). Something has to give.
