Texans, WR Nico Collins Agree to Three-Year, $72.75M Extension

The Houston Texans and wide receiver Nico Collins have agreed to a three-year, $72.75 million extension that includes $52 million guaranteed, agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha, and Jason Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The contract has a maximum value of $75 million.

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins posted career-high numbers in the 2023 NFL season

Collins, 25, is coming off a career-best season in which he recorded 80 receptions (ranked 23rd in the NFL last season) for 1,297 yards (ranked eighth) and eight touchdowns (tied for eighth) in 15 games.

Collins, selected 89th overall by Houston in the third round of the 2021 draft, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. In three seasons, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound wideout has 150 catches for 2,224 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Texans signing WR Nico Collins to three-year, $72M extension. (via @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/DZ46jjfuYf

— NFL (@NFL) May 28, 2024

Additionally, in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18, Collins caught all nine of his targets for a career-high 195 yards and a career-long 75-yard touchdown in a 23-19 win. The victory helped Houston clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2019.

In 15 games (10 starts) last season, Collins was targeted a career-high 109 times, and the Michigan standout finished with a career-best 53 first downs. His catch percentage was a career-best 73.4% as well.

Houston added former Buffalo Bills wideout Stefon Diggs in April

Moreover, Houston had already strengthened its receiving crops prior to Collins' extension. In early April, the Texans traded a 2025 second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for wide receiver Stefon Diggs and two draft picks.

Diggs is set to become a free agent following this season after the Texans voided the final three years on his contract while giving him a $3.5 million raise, increasing his 2024 base salary to $22.52 million.

“We want to put defenses in binds, and I think with those three guys it allows us to do that because they are so different, and they can all do different things,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.

“But at the end of the day, they are all explosive finishers with the football, and that is what makes those guys great players. They can win on third down and they can finish and get in the end zone, and that's what we look for at all skill positions on offense.”

In Houston's 45-14 blowout win over the Cleveland Browns in last season's AFC Wild-Card round, Collins made six receptions for 96 yards and finished with one touchdown reception.