Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Houston Texans WR Nico Collins Lands on Exclusive List

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By A. Kazmierczak | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 11:35 AM ET

With NFL training camps around the corner, ESPN continued their rankings of the top NFL players at 11 different positions by unveiling the Top 10 wide receivers on Wednesday.

To help with the rankings, the Worldwide Leader surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts. After receiving honorable mention in last year's ranking, Houston Texans star Nico Collins was ranked as the No. 8 wideout heading into 2025.

"Support for Collins has slowly built over the past few years, and he's proved undeniable after his first Pro Bowl campaign in 2024. Though he appeared on slightly below 50% of the ballots, half of his votes were in the top five." ESPN's Jermey Fowler wrote.

Despite missing five games last season, Collins recorded his second-consecutive 1,000-yard season for the Texans. He finished the 2024 campaign with 68 receptions for 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

According to the ESPN's synopsis of the Texans wideout, "Collins is one of three NFL receivers to produce at least three yards per route run in 2024 (minimum of 75 targets). And he averaged 85.3 receiving yards per game over the past two seasons, the fifth-best mark in the NFL."

The 6-foot-5, 222-pound wideouts' vast skillset even impressed one NFL executive enough to issue some very high praise.

"The rare ability to be a legitimate No. 1," an NFL personnel director informed ESPN. "Good balance, skill set, size, speed, agility for his size, very good hands, competes."

"He was once a jump-ball guy, but once he started taking quick throws for big gains with his size and athleticism, that changed his game," an NFL offensive coach said.

The Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase was listed as the No. 1 wide receiver, followed by the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Miami Dolphins speedster Tyreek Hill rounding out the top three. Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb, Philadelphia Eagles' A.J. Brown, Detroit Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown, and New York Giants second-year star Malik Nabers were ranked No. 4-7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans and the New York Jets Garrett Wilson rounded out the top 10.

Collins will enter the 2025 campaign as C.J. Stroud's No. 1 option for the third straight season. With Stefon Diggs gone, and Tank Dell's return doubtful, the Texans' second and third wide receiver spots are seemingly up for grabs. Collins and his teammates begin training camp on July 22nd.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: