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Houston Texans sign Randall Cobb: Grade, reaction and more

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Randall Cobb #18 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Redskins in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 29: Randall Cobb #18 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Cole Holcomb #55 of the Washington Redskins in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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The defending AFC South champions just sent their best wide receiver to the desert. So what can veteran Randall Cobb bring to the Houston Texans?

The first day of “legal tampering” in preparation featured a trade that some may deem illegal. Bill O’Brien sent prolific wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round draft choice to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a second-round pick and a fourth-round choice as well.

The reaction to the trade was one of stunning disbelief on many parts and understandably so, considering the performance of Hopkins as of late and how well he and quarterback Deshaun Watson have fared together.

But what to do about finding a suitable replacement, if at all possible? Late Monday night, the Texans swung a deal to get a productive wideout who was coming off his first season with a new team. All told, Randall Cobb enjoyed a respectable year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2019 and finished with 55 receptions, good for 828 yards and three scores in his first season with the club. Now the veteran receiver will be suiting up for a third different employer in as many years after agreeing to a contract with the reigning AFC South champions.

Contract Details

Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL Network analyst James Jones reports that Cobb will ink a three-year, $27 million deal with O’Brien’s Texans.

National Reaction

https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/123975970129592729

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Simply put, the Texans have to fill the void left by a performer who played in all but two games for the club since being selected in the first round back in 2013. In each of his last six seasons, DeAndre Hopkins totaled at least 75 receptions and over that stretch reached the century mark three times. Since 2017 (most of that with Watson behind center), he’s amassed 315 grabs for 4,115 yards and 31 scores.

As for Cobb, the nine-year pro hasn’t played in all 16 games in each of the past four years. A Pro Bowler in 2014 when he caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and a dozen touchdowns, he hasn’t come close to those numbers since. As was the case in Dallas with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, Cobb will likely be the third wideout with Kenny Stills and Will Fuller. It’s a solid but unspectacular addition to an offense that is losing a lot.

Grade: B-

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