Houston Texans Receiver Nico Collins Named to PFF All-Improved Team

Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins is named to Pro Football Focus' All-Improved Team

The Houston Texans will be without receiver Tank Dell for the remainder of the season, as the star rookie suffered a fractured fibula in a 22-17 win over the Denver Broncos. However, quarterback C.J. Stroud and the upstart Texans still have another excellent young receiver to lean on in Nico Collins. 

Nico Collins (left) and C.J. Stroud have helped the Houston Texans to a magical 2023 season.  / USA Today

To that end, Pro Football Focus recently unveiled their "All-Improved Team," and Collins was one of two receivers picked, along with Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers. Collins has improved from a 72.4 PFF grade in 2022, to 87.7 in 2023. 

"Collins is a true big-play threat," PFF wrote. "His 16.8 yards per reception mark ranks fifth among all NFL receivers, and his nine receptions of 20-plus yards rank 10th. But he’s doing everything efficiently, not just winning on deep routes. Only Keenan Allen has more third-down catches than Collins’ 26." 

The 24-year-old Collins was a third-round pick out of Michigan 2021, totaling 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns across his first two NFL seasons. But with Stroud in at quarterback and Bobby Slowik taking over as offensive coordinator, Collins has exploded in his third season, catching 59 passes for 991 yards and six touchdowns. 

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Obviously, with Dell now out, Collins becomes that much more important for Stroud and the Texans. Tight end Dalton Schultz and receivers Noah Brown and Robert Woods have all delivered some production this season, but with Dell out of the picture, Collins is the only remaining player on the Texans with over 500 receiving yards this season. 

Regardless of how the remainder of the season plays out for the Texans, the seven wins they already have represent more than anyone would have predicted prior to the season. And you wonder as Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio try to build a sustained winner, if signing Collins -- who has one remaining year on his rookie contract -- to an extension will be on the offseason to-do list.