2016 NFL Draft: Texans trade up to grab WR Will Fuller at No. 21
Will Fuller is headed from South Bend to Houston.
By
John Breech
•
2 min read
The Texans were in need of a speedy receiver and that's exactly what they got on Thursday when they drafted Notre Dame's Will Fuller in the first round with the 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft.
The Texans actually jumped up a spot in the draft to grab Fuller. Houston made a trade with Washington to move up from No. 22 to No. 21. The Texans sent a 2017 sixth-round pick to the Redskins to make the deal.
Fuller, the former Fighting Irish receiver, showed off his speed at the NFL combine in February when he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, which was the fastest time among receivers and the second-fastest time overall.
CBS Sports senior NFL writer Pete Prisco loves speed, so he didn't hate the Texans' pick.
B Grade for Fuller. Why? He can fly. They needed to get faster.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 29, 2016
Despite leaving Notre Dame with a year of eligibility left, Fuller was still there long enough to leave a mark on the school's record book. In only three seasons, Fuller tallied 2,512 receiving yards and 30 touchdown catches. The touchdown mark is second all time in school history, while the yardage mark is tied for the fourth-highest total in school history.
The scouting report on Fuller is that NFL corners are going to have a tough time covering him, thanks to his speed.
The guys over at NFLDraftScout.com describe Fuller as a "dynamic deep threat, who has the uncanny ability to create separation late in his route, using an extra gear when the ball is in the air, a burst that most cornerbacks can't match."
The Notre Dame wide receiver should fit in well with the Texans, where he won't be asked to be the No. 1 wide receiver, which should work out perfectly for him. If teams decided to double-team DeAndre Hopkins, that will likely leave Fuller in man-to-man coverage, where he can show off his speed.
The combo of Hopkins and Fuller could be a lethal one if Brock Osweiler can get them the ball.
The newest Texans receiver will be able to earn almost $10.2 million in his rookie contract.
The maximum Will Fuller will get in his 4-year rookie deal is $10,164,319, which includes a signing bonus of no more than $5,592,232.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) April 29, 2016
Fuller is the first Notre Dame wide receiver to be taken this high since 2012, when Michael Floyd went 13th overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Fuller joins Floyd and Golden Tate as the only Irish receivers to be taken in the top two rounds over the past 19 years.
