The Texans have jumped on a recently released free agent, signing former Titans wide receiver Robert Woods to strengthen the receivers room prior to the opening of free agency, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Woods will provide a veteran presence for an offense that seems intent on moving Brandin Cooks. 
Woods was traded to the Titans from the Rams around a year ago in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. Woods had been in the best stretch of his career with Los Angeles, providing the Rams with season receiving yard totals of 1,219, 1,134, and 936 from 2018-20, respectively. He was delivering his fourth strong season in a row when he suffered an ACL tear in practice, ending his year.
Despite coming off a serious injury, Woods led the Titans in receiving last year with 53 receptions for 527 yards, partly thanks to an injury to rookie wideout Treylon Burks. It wasn’t his strongest season, but it was an encouraging showing for a player coming so recently off of knee surgery.
Unfortunately for Woods, potential cap savings of over $12MM made it a no brainer for Tennessee to execute his release. Woods has solidly bounced back, trekking across the division to sign a two-year deal reportedly worth $15.25MM. Rapoport’s tweet reports that the deal includes $10MM fully guaranteed and can reach a maximum value of $17MM.
Woods joins a Houston receiving corps that’s expected to lose Cooks, Chris Moore, and Phillip Dorsett, the latter two to free agency. Woods should be the centerpiece of the group, supplemented by third-year receiver Nico Collins and second-year wideout John Metchie, who will be playing his first season of NFL ball after sitting out his rookie year while treating leukemia.
Woods will be hoping to have a similar impact with his fourth-career team as he did in Los Angeles. Whether the Texans move forward with Davis Mills or seek help at quarterback, Woods, now a year removed from his knee injury, should be the perfect complement to a young or new passer.
I’d be wanting to keep Cooks now. You’re gonna have a rookie QB coming in for sure who’s highly touted, give him weapons and what he needs to succeed right off the bat. John Metchie, Cooks, and Woods? That’s a solid trio there and Houston is top 5 in cap space. Now go get several veteran lineman on the market and draft more to fill in as they retire. I know Demeco Ryans is defensively focused but they really could give their new rookie QB a great scenario to come into the league with if they kept Cooks.
It’s the Texans.
It’s also a new HC and a new season.
I agree with everything you said
Agreed signing Woods makes me feel like Houston should keep Cooks, can never have enough help for a rookie QB
He’s there to replace cooks. They’ll take a wr high with the qb. A la Joe burrow and tee Higgins.
I don’t see how they would move forward with Davis Mills. The Panthers jumped in front of them but that will leave 3 of the top 4 choices for them.
This is the year they need to decide whether to fish or cut bait on Davis Mills, and you can’t do that by surrounding him with a bunch of practice squad receivers. Although Mills still has two years to go on his rookie deal they don’t want to get into that last year without either having made an extension offer or a decision to go in a different direction. The Daniel Jones rip-off of the Giants should have shown them that.