Houston Texans add another weapon to their loaded wide receiver corps

The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, according to a report by Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. Cephus (6-foot-1, 208 pounds) was a fifth-round pick by the Lions in the 2020 NFL draft after playing his college ball at Wisconsin, where he put up nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Cephus has not been as productive at the next level, though. As a rookie he totaled 20 catches, 349 yards and two scores and he put up another 15 catches, 204 yards and two touchdowns the following year. In 2022 he only appeared in four games due to injury and last season Cephus was suspended the entire year for a gambling violation.

Without much experience on special teams, Cephus should be joining the group for a part-time role as a depth option at wide receiver. He may not see a whole lot of playing time though, because Houston's top 1-2-3 at this position (Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell) is arguably as good as any in the NFL. ESPN analyst Mike Clay has the Texans wide receiver room ranked No. 1 in the league, for one.

Signing Cephus when they were already stacked at receiver is another example of the team reinforcing their roster strengths going into the season. Their last signing was bringing back defensive end Jerry Hughes, who re-joins a remade edge rotation that is now one of the best in the game with Danielle Hunter at the top and Will Anderson Jr. on the other side.

This particular move probably won't move the needle much at the top of the AFC race, but doubling down on what you do well is what smart teams do. Another feather for general manager Nick Caserio, who probably should have won Executive of the Year in 2023 and has followed it up with a very aggressive 2024 offseason.