INDIANAPOLIS -- Nico Collins never broke stride, hauling in a classic over-the-top high arcing spiral from C.J. Stroud that served notice about the potency of the Texans’ passing game.
As the imposing wide receiver accelerated past Indianapolis Colts cornerback JuJu Brents on a 75-yard bomb from Stroud, the huge moment on the first play of the Texans’ pivotal AFC South division title clinching victory reinforced the talent of Collins as he dominated an overmatched secondary.
The chemistry between Stroud and Collins was on full display. There was no greater example than how they dismantled the Colts’ overwhelmed secondary during a 23-19 victory that punched the Texans’ ticket to the playoffs.
Collins caught nine passes for a career-high 195 yards on nine targets against the Colts despite commanding a lot of attention from the defense.
Collins scorched Brents on the Texans’ first play from scrimmage. The football traveled 59.2 air yards, according to NextGen Stats, for the longest of Stroud and Collins’ careers.
Now, Collins and the Texans return to Indianapolis for a road season opener at Lucas Oil Stadium. Rewarded with a three-year, $75 million maximum value deal this offseason, Collins is a vital part of an ultra-talented Texans receiving corps headlined by him, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. While the Texans have upgraded, the Colts’ secondary hasn’t changed much heading into this game.
“For Nico, that’s who he’s been,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said of Collins, who caught seven passes for 146 yards and one touchdown against the Colts in the second game of the regular season last year at NRG Stadium. “Nico is a playmaker. Every time I see him, he’s a true playmaker. So, you just have to get Nico the ball in any way, shape, or fashion. Just find a way to get him the ball and just to see how explosive and how dynamic he is when he touches the football. He made some big plays for us last year, expecting the same this year.”
The big play marked continuation of how Collins and Stroud built a strong passing connection last season, and another example of how Collins is aggressively putting a stamp on justifying why the Texans rewarded his breakthrough season with a deal hat includes a $17 million signing bonus and $52 million total guaranteed.
“When I catch the ball, that first dude is not tackling me,” said Collins, one of the bigger wide receivers in the NFL at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. “I feel like that’s my mindset. I’m going to go score. I know I’m a bigger body, bigger frame. I’ve got to use it. Be physical. I feel like if you play full speed all the time, it’s going to be hard to come down. So, I feel like, for me, just catch a ball and just run. Run through whoever you see. Go score, go put points on the board. I feel like you do that over and over and over, that shows the team that you want it. It puts fear in opposing defenses like, ‘Yeah, they’re not quitting.’
“Especially you keep going all four quarters just head down, just on a mission. And I feel like that’s what I’m doing just always finding room for improvement on my game no matter what it is. Release at the line of scrimmage, attacking the ball, trying to make my routes look the same because I am a bigger target.”
During the breakthrough season Collins manufactured, it doesn’t come as a surprise to Stroud, the strong-armed NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year from Ohio State who has benefited greatly from his connection with a Michigan man.
“I think he just stamped who he is,” Stroud said. “I told him our first time ever working out together. I said, you’re a superstar. I never even snapped the ball in the league, but I just know good receivers. I played where we have tremendous receivers.
“I told him, my goal is to make you look as best as you can, to make you look like you. I appreciate him just being just a consistent, great friend to me, somebody who I can just let my hair down with, and I think our chemistry shows on the field. Our friendship shows on the field. I’m super proud of that dude, man. It’s just the beginning for him.”
For Collins, it was a series of stellar performances. After dealing with multiple injuries during his first two NFL seasons, including foot, calf, groin and shoulder issues, he has remained largely healthy after spending his offseason haunting the Texans’ weight room, upgrading his diet and taking up hot yoga and other body work.
He caught a career-high 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. He became the third wide receiver in franchise history to surpass 1,200 receiving yards, joining Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins.
Collins is determined to continue to grow as a player and reinforce why the Texans felt so confident investing in him.
The deal, negotiated by Texans general manager Nick Caserio and Collins’ agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha and Jason Rosenhaus, has an average annual compensation of $24.25 million. The deal includes base salaries of $1.616 million (guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap) in 2024, $13.5 million (guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap) in 2025, $20 million in 2026 ($10 million guaranteed for skill, injury, salary cap on fifth day of 2025 league year, $10 million more fully guaranteed fifth day of 2026 league year and $21.25 million nonguaranteed in 2027.
He has annual $625,005 in per game active roster bonuses. The deal includes annual $750,000 incentives from 2025 to 2027: $250,000 for Pro Bowl selection, $250,000 for 95 catches, $250,000 for 1,460 receiving yards.
“Man, Nico, one thing about him, he’s a very hard worker,” Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon said. “I’ve seen him and, obviously, you see the physical traits. And you see certain things, you know, usually jump off the charts. His size in terms of the way he’s built and he’s about 6-4 and he actually can run, too. He’s a very hard worker. And I think that from what I see personally and, you know, firsthand, I think that he deserves every bit of what he got.
Collins had five 100-yard receiving performances last season for the reigning AFC South champions.
At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and polished route running skills, Collins represents the prototypical go-to downfield target.
Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
“For me, it’s all about working on my game, becoming a better person, teammate and route runner,” Collins said. “You can never get comfortable in your game. I feel like, just because I got this, this isn’t the end. It is only the beginning.”
Collins dealt with nagging injuries during his first two NFL seasons after being drafted by Caserio in the third round out of the University of Michigan. He has overcome those durability issues, emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL during his first season playing for coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
“It is important to have consistency,” Collins said. “Having the same coach, the same offense, the same unit from last year and adding another year to it builds energy and confidence all around the building.
“Having this second year in this offense, it’s going to be great for everyone to make plays, have fun and put some points on the scoreboard. To reach our end game, and that’s winning the Super Bowl.”
Collins can cash in again when his contract expires. He’ll be 29 years old.
“It’s a blessing,” Collins said. “I know if I continue to be myself and work the way I want to work, everything will fall in place. For me, I have to focus on this season. Go out there and have fun. Everything else will fall in place.”
The Texans recognized the advanced improvement from the imposing wide receiver and Birmingham, Ala., native.
And they planned ahead for a future that involved Collins as soon as he was eligible to be signed to an extension.
In the wake of an epic season, Collins was entering the final year of a four-year, $4.852 million rookie contract that included a $902,990 signing bonus and a base salary of $1.324 million this year.
When Stroud breaks the huddle and scans the field, he’ll have an ultra-diverse group of options. Stroud can throw downfield to Collins, his go-to wide receiver last season, along with Diggs, Dell, Dalton Schultz as well as Mixon out of the backfield.
“Oh yeah, it’s going to be dangerous, real dangerous, man,” Collins said. “Adding Diggs to the room, it’s going to be a lot of weapons. There’s going to be great opportunities for everybody. It’s only adding more depth, more weapons to the offense, more weapons to the team.
“Man, it’s nice. I feel like the offense is a lot of weapons. Everybody has got a chance. When the ball is in their hands, an explosive play is coming. I feel like, for us, we need to continue to work on the details, continue to be us, continue to have fun and show the world what we can do. I can’t wait for it.”
In two playoff games, Collins caught 11 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown with nine first downs on 17 targets.
Collins provided a strong downfield presence for a resurgent Texans team led by Stroud and Ryans as they went from 3-13-1 a year ago to 11-8 overall and winning the AFC South division title.
What’s next?
“Oh yeah, that’s the only way is up,” Collins said. “Can’t go down, can’t backtrack. Got to elevate. That’s my mindset right now.”
Between Collins, Diggs and Dell, the Texans have one of the most dangerous wide receiver corps in the NFL.
Each could conceivably carry the passing game from week to week. Each could wind up exceeding 1,000 receiving yards.
“As a receiver room. we’ve got the pieces we need,” Collins said. “And I feel like it’s going to be hard for defenses. I feel like for us it’s getting everybody else opportunities to shine and win.
“I feel like we know our mission. We’re trying to win the Super Bowl. So not being selfish, can’t be selfish. You got to be a team player. You got to have joy for your brother. Out there making plays. As a unit, man. that’s what we’re doing. Building that chemistry, building that bond, man, building that bond is unbreakable.”
Collins maintains a tight inner circle.
“I feel like just having the people in your circle to push you every day to tell you to keep going when times get hard, that shoulder to lean on, that shoulder to cry on. I feel like it’s good to have your parents, your girl, your sister, your wife Anybody in your circle because that’s all you’ve got.
“At the long days, that’s what you go back to: family. And they’re going to help you continue to grow as a person. I feel like just having that in your circle is very important. I’m blessed for that, because a lot of people don’t get that. I’m blessed to have that support system to continue to keep going and be myself.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.