HOUSTON – Texans wide receiver Nico Collins’ three-year, $75 million maximum value deal includes a $17 million signing bonus, according to a league source.
The deal has a base value of $72.75 million with $52 million guaranteed and an average of $24.25 million.
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The deal, negotiated by agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha and Jason Rosenhaus,
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.
Collins’ deal makes him the seventh-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL, according to average compensation per year, behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million), the Detroit Lions’ Amon Ra-St. Brown ($30.002 million), the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill ($30 million), the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams ($28 million), the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp ($26.7 million) and the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeVonta Smith ($25 million) and above the Seattle Seahawks’ D.K Metcalf ($24 million) ‚the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel ($23.85 million) and the Indianapolis Colts’ Michael Pittman ($23.33 million).
The Texans recognized the advanced improvement from the imposing wide receiver from Michigan.
And they planned ahead for a future that involves their top downfield threat, something that Collins recently told KPRC 2 he would embrace: an early contract extension now that he’s eligible having complete three years on his rookie deal.
“You really look at your team in sort of two-year increments, so whatever you don’t do this year, that money is going to be used in future years,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said at the NFL scouting combine. “I’m sure I’ll get a question here very soon about Nico Collins. That’s coming. That could be a player that maybe he’s a part of the future. You’re dealing with the present. You’re focused on the short-term, but part of our responsibility is to kind of think ahead a little bit and just try to make good sound decisions for the team and the organization.”
In the wake of an epic season, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound former All-Big Ten Conference selection from Michigan 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. Under NFL rules, Collins was eligible for an early contract extension after completing three accredited seasons.
“It means a lot,” Collins told KPRC 2 in May when asked about being earmarked for a potential early deal. “That’s everybody’s dream. To hear that from Nick, man, it means a lot. For me, I just got to continue to keep my head down. Continue to work on my game, continue to improve every day and continue to chase my end goal.
“Whatever man, I’m down for whatever. I’m not saying no to no money. I feel like I keep my head and just keep working and everything is going to come.”
When Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. 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 newly-acquired four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz as well as Joe Mixon out of the backfield.
“Oh yeah, it’s going to be dangerous, real dangerous, man,” Collins said during his youth football camp at Houston Christian High School. “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.”
Having Diggs as part of the offense injects a proven threat to an offense that was already loaded even before he was added in a trade from the Buffalo Bills.
Collins played with Diggs in J.J. Watt’s charity softball game and they’re already building chemistry.
“He’s cool,” Collins said. “I met him for the first time when he came in and signed and stuff, but cool peoples. Can’t wait to get on the field with him and share the field with him. It’s a blessing to share the room with him. I can’t wait to join him and get back in this offense and show the world what we’re about.”
“Man, it’s nice, 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.”
Collins separated routinely from pass coverage, accelerating behind cornerbacks for touchdown catches during best season.
SEE ALSO ‘Big-time playmaker’ Nico Collins climbs to new ground for Texans’ passing game in win over Broncos
Wide receiver salaries are skyrocketing, especially for ones with rare traits like Collins.
Collins has run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
And he’s coming off a career breakthrough season during which he caught 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 regular season games. 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 quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco 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.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.