Houston Texans: 2016 NFL mock draft

Round 4: Michigan State wide receiver Aaron Burbridge

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is an absolute stud. There is no other way to put it.

Through 13 games this season, Hopkins has hauled in 89 receptions for 1,221 yards, ranking fourth in the NFL in both categories. His 10 touchdowns rank sixth in the league, and as crazy as it seems, he is rapidly making football fans in Houston forget about the departure of future Hall-of-Fame wideout Andre Johnson.

The problem with Houston’s passing game is that the team has no legitimate receiving threat besides Hopkins.

This is where Michigan State senior Aaron Burbridge comes into play.

Burbridge was rather quiet during his first three years with the Spartans. But the 6-foot-1, 208 lb wide-out has experienced a breakout senior season, compiling 80 receptions for 1,219 yards and seven touchdowns, while serving as the go-to receiver on a team that will be playing for a shot at next month’s national championship.

"“A lot of college offenses try to make it as simple as possible — just go get open. Simplistic route trees,” CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler told the Detroit Free Press. “For teams like Michigan State and, really, a lot of Big Ten teams, those receivers are asked to run more diverse routes, combo routes, where they have to know what’s going on with the rest of the offense. They have to know what other receivers are running. They have to recognize pressures.”"

This ability to recognize opposing defenses is an aspect of Burbridge’s game that gives him a significant advantage over players who may be more athletic and physically imposing, such as Mississippi State’s De’Runnya Wilson.

For a Texans team that is on the cusp of becoming a true contender, a player like Burbridge that is capable of making an immediate impact in the passing game has the potential to become a solid No. 2 receiving option alongside Hopkins for years to come.

Next: Round 5: Utah State outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell