How Texans’ Nico Collins handles ‘dream’ realized of $75 million contract: ‘I got it, I feel like now it’s motivation

HOUSTON – Nico Collins created separation and a clear passing lane for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud as he delivered a sharp spiral to connect with his top wide receiver on a deep out pattern Thursday morning

It marked a 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 three-year, $75 million maximum value deal that includes a $17 million signing bonus and $52 million total guaranteed.

“This is unexplainable,” Collins said following an organized team activity. “This is something I’ve been wishing for since I was a little kid. I’ve been playing football since I was five or six years old. The dream is to make it to the league and get that second contract. God has blessed me with the opportunity. And, now, I got it. I feel like, now, it’s motivation. I feel like there’s more to be proved.

“I feel like for me it was never about the money. I just love the game of football. So getting money, it’s a good thing. I ain’t saying no to no bread now. but it’s really just a blessing. I just love the game of football. I love what comes with it, man. I love working on my game and I love winning.”

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.

And Collins’ deal makes him the eighth-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 Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle ($28.2 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).

“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 caught a career-high 80 passes for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns and 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.

“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, 25, 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 newly-acquired four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz as well as 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 his best season.

SEE ALSO ‘Big-time playmaker’ Nico Collins climbs to new ground for Texans’ passing game in win over Broncos

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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.”

• Texans wide receiver Nico Collins reflects on fast start: ‘Keep climbing, keep making plays’

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 thoroughly enjoyed holding his football camp, interacting with youngsters at a camp attended by his parents, brother, girlfriend, trainer and friends.

He 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 Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.