NFL Exec: Texans “Could Make Five Trades If They Wanted To” Before Deadline

Jason La Canfora writes the Texans remain busy fielding calls ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline and could make a number of moves. 

“They could make five trades if they wanted to,” one executive who has spoken with the team said. “I’m not sure how far they’ll go with it.”

One player who almost assuredly won’t be moved is DE J.J. Watt, who is a favorite of ownership and carries too high a price tag for other teams to make a serious run at. 

However, Houston appears open to dealing OLB Whitney Mercilus to a pass rush-needy team and La Canfora notes numerous contending teams have reached out to the Texans about Mercilus. 

The Texans also have a number of receivers who could draw trade interest, including Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills. La Canfora notes Fuller has drawn the most interest, while the contracts for Cobb and Stills have caused teams to shy away from them. 

La Canfora adds the sense around the league remains that the Texans will trade at least one receiver before the deadline. 

The Texans could also trade veteran TE Darren Fells or RB Duke Johnson. La Canfora says Fells has drawn interest and Johnson is available. 

Houston has been the subject of a lot of trade speculation the past couple of weeks given they’re seen by the rest of the league as a team that could be truly motivated to trade away players. The Texans have a poor record and need to regain draft and financial flexibility in the coming years after the tenure of HC/GM Bill O’Brien.

So far, the only move the Texans have made is to trade DT Eli Ankou to the Cowboys for a seventh-round pick. 

We’ll have more on the Texans as the news is available.