After the first round, the Houston Texans often select wideouts who are a huge catch in terms of talent, excitement, and potential. Then, those receivers are never as good as advertised…at least not in Houston.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can now see the red flags that should have alerted us to the possibility that those players wouldn’t live up to the promise. Things that pointed to future greatness were present even if they went abroad and became professional bowlers.
Can he mesh with C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ new quarterback, and Bobby Slowik, their new offensive coordinator? He may be able to learn the route tree. Does he intend to put up the effort required to be the “best teammate he can be?” Will he justify the faith shown in him by third-round pick GM Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans, who picked him with the 69th overall pick?
It’s wonderful to think about Dell twice a year tormenting the Indianapolis Colts’ secondary, humiliating the Tennessee Titans’ defensive backs, and giving the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defenders friction burns.
However, Houston’s experience with lower-round receivers over the years suggests otherwise.
I’m hoping Dell is the outlier here. This is the guy who shows how different the DeMeco Ryans era is. The face of the revitalized Houston Texans. A winning squad that does it spectacularly.
Thankfully, we’re still in the off-season. Tank Dell impersonating Flash on NFL fields is a possibility we may choose to entertain. Forget the DeVier Posey miscues, the Jalen Strong drug charges, and the game-ending fumbles by Jacoby Jones.
We need not open our eyes to see Tank Dell’s electric wheels illuminating NRG Stadium as he scores touchdown after touchdown.
Fantasy Impact
Even though the AAC isn’t on the same level as the SEC, Tank’s impressive stats (lots of receptions, yards, and touchdowns) give a glimpse of the type of player he could be in the future. Despite the fact that his stature suggests he should play in the slot, he proved to be an asset for Houston in a variety of positions. Excellent route runner with the ability to quickly alter directions and throw off defenders. Simple partitioning along most paths. Excellent with the ball at his feet; he can fool opponents even in a… phone booth?
