Slim pickings
The Texans wanted a No. 2 draft choice for Will Fuller, but a mid-round pick was the best offer.
Wide receiver Will Fuller posted aGIF on social media Tuesday afternoon of the character Spanky from “The Little Rascals” waiting and impatiently tapping his fingers.
Hours later, Fuller got his answer. He remains with the Texans, as the NFL trade deadline came and went with the team not making any additional deals.
The Texans and the Green Bay Packers held extensive trade conversations about Fuller, a former first-round draft pick from Notre Dame, and couldn’t agree on draft compensation. The Texans wanted a second-round pick in exchange for him, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The Packers declined to meet that asking price, instead offering middle-round compensation and also wanting the Texans to pay a portion of Fuller’s remaining $10.162 million fifth-year club option.
Fuller was the most popular trade target on the Texans roster for teams seeking a dangerous deep threat.
There simply wasn’t an offer attractive enough to entice the Texans to move on from Fuller. The Texans were considered unlikely to trade Fuller even for a third-round pick because they could net that as a compensatory draft selection if he leaves in free agency after the season and signs a lucrative deal with a new team. The Texans would ideally like to have Fuller back as a top downfield option for quarterback Deshaun Watson if he remains healthy and productive.
Additional obstacles to striking trades around the league during a relatively quiet deadline: low compensation offers for players, with draft picks valued highly as cheaper labor with a projected $175 million salary cap in 2021 due to a shortfall because of the coronavirus pandemic; and the five-day requirement to get a player practicing and playing because of COVID-19 testing protocols.
Despite the Texans’ uncompetitive status and 1-6 record, they weren’t inclined to have a fire sale because they’re hoping to build around core players for next season once they hire a new general manager and head coach. They’re being run by interim general manager Jack Easterby and interim coach Romeo
Crennel.
Texans chairman and chief operating officer Cal McNair had predicted that no big moves would be made.
The Texans finalized a trade Monday that sent reserve defensive tackle Eli Ankou to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round draft pick. The deal was agreed to in principle Friday.
“We will trade, but I’m not trading for peanuts,” Crennel said. “If they want to make a substantial offer, then we will consider it.”
The fastest player on their roster, Fuller has a close relationship and good chemistry with Watson. The Texans already traded All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this year, much to Watson’s frustration.
Fuller has caught 31 passes for 490 yards and five touchdowns this season. He played at Notre Dame when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was the Fighting Irish’s quarterbacks coach, a background that led to major interest from Green Bay.
Other Texans receivers were the subject of trade speculation, but nothing developed.
Acquired for a second-round draft pick from the Rams during the offseason, wide receiver Brandin Cooks wasn’t available for a trade.
While Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was interested in a potential reunion with Randall
Cobb, the veteran wide receiver’s three-year, $27 million contract was amajor obstacle to any possible trade. Plus, Cobb hasn’t dropped a pass all season and has given the Texans a reliable presence in the slot.
Kenny Stills, used sparingly in the offense as the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart, was considered difficult to move because of his $6.975 million base salary in the final year of his contract.
Veteran defensive end J. J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is among the playerswhowere unavailable for trades, according to sources.
The Seattle Seahawks were among teams making inquiries about other players, including outside linebacker Jacob Martin, according to sources. Nothing rose to a level where it was considered a serious discussion.
Veteran safety Justin Reid is another defensive player that teams expressed interest in, but he wasn’t available.
Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus is playing under a fouryear, $54 million contract and has recorded just three sacks through seven games. He’s due a $10.5 million guaranteed base salary in 2021, which left NFL teams not wanting to take on that level of financial commitment.