Big Targets, Bigger Plays: How Jayden Higgins Fits Alongside Nico Collins

When I think of some of the most intriguing receiver duos in NFL history, I remember the towering presence of Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas in Denver, Vincent Jackson teaming up with Mike Evans in Tampa Bay, and a slew of other 6’4”+ pass catchers. There’s also Keyshawn Johnson and Joe Jurevicius with the Buccaneers, Brandon Marshall alongside Alshon Jeffery in Chicago, and Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer with the New York Giants. If the Texans were to pair Nico Collins with Jayden Higgins, they’d form one of the most physically imposing duos in today’s NFL—both standing at 6’4” and around 220 pounds. Not only are they solid route runners, but their versatility would force opposing defenses into nightmare matchups. With Nick Caley revitalizing the run game, Collins and Higgins could become lethal weapons in play-action, making Houston’s offense more dangerous than ever before.

The Athletic Edge: Why Jayden Higgins Will Elevate the Texans' Offense

Jayden Higgins was one of the most impressive athletes at the combine. Standing a legitimate 6'4" with 33-inch arms, there are few corners capable of positioning themselves to win a jump ball against him. However, what truly sets Higgins apart is his unique explosion. His 1.53-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash highlights his elite speed and acceleration for a player of his size, a trait that’s evident on tape. Whether closing on off-coverage or pulling away after a sharp release against press coverage, Higgins showcases his ability to eat up ground quickly and gain separation. His explosiveness is further proven by his 39-inch vertical leap and 10'8" broad jump. On tape, he’s shown a natural ability to track and make plays on the ball in the air. Combined with his impressive combine numbers, it's clear Higgins has the potential to thrive as an X receiver. However, with a proven talent like Nico Collins, having Higgins line up as a Z receiver creates a unique pairing that makes Collins even more versatile. The combination of two elite-sized, explosive receivers is a rare asset for both C.J. Stroud and Nick Caley, offering a dynamic, multi-faceted threat for the Texans’ offense.

Complementary Strengths: How Collins and Higgins Elevate Each Other

Nico Collins has firmly established himself as a top-10 receiver in the NFL. His game is reminiscent of old-school physical receivers who dominated on the outside—players like Marques Colston and Plaxico Burress. However, what makes Collins even more dangerous is his ability after the catch, making him a serious weapon in the screen game. Adding another big receiver who can consistently win off the line of scrimmage would allow the Texans to manufacture more touches for Collins and utilize him as a true move piece—something that wasn’t always possible due to the lack of versatility from Houston’s other receivers, largely because of their size.

When Collins is at his usual X position, Higgins brings a different but equally stressful challenge for defenses as Tank Dell. While Dell won vertically with elite quickness, Higgins presents a size-weight-speed mismatch that can punish single coverage with minimal safety help, much like Dell did in C.J. Stroud’s rookie year. And with Nick Caley at the helm, the Texans should look to force more single-high coverage by establishing a more consistently successful run game. Higgins has been a reliable deep threat throughout his college career, never averaging fewer than 13 yards per catch, including an eye-popping 18.5 yards per reception in his junior season. He’s capable of winning at all levels of the field, whether stretching defenses vertically or making tough contested catches.

With both Collins and Higgins, Caley wouldn’t need to overcomplicate things—he could simply line them up outside and let them go to work. But their versatility also gives him the freedom to be creative, using formations and motions to create confusion and stress for opposing defenses. By complementing Collins’ refined route-running and physicality with Higgins’ explosive athleticism and deep-threat ability, the Texans would unlock an entirely new dimension in their passing attack.

A Blueprint for Offensive Dominance

The Texans have tried the more conventional receiver trio—pairing a big-bodied X receiver, a route-running slot receiver like Diggs, and Tank Dell as the field-stretching Z. However, it ultimately crashed and burned during C.J. Stroud’s sophomore slump. Now, it’s time to get creative and zig while the league is zagging. Why not pair two hulking receivers like Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins and give Stroud the type of targets he’s thrived with in the past—players like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Collins himself?

The mismatches this duo could create, along with the versatility they’d provide, would make life much easier for Stroud. These two Alphas on the outside could feast on one-on-one coverage, opening up easy reads for Stroud in both play-action and non-play-action situations. As defenses are forced to respect the run game, they’ll have no choice but to leave these dynamic receivers in single coverage, where Stroud can take shots downfield. Combine that with the innovative play-action concepts Nick Caley’s staff could cook up, and it’s clear this duo has the potential to transform the Texans’ offense.

I believe the pairing of Collins and Higgins can be a juggernaut, forcing defensive coordinators to adjust and opening up better matchups for every other pass catcher on the roster. With these two as the centerpiece, Stroud can return to his true form and elevate the Texans to new heights.