The deal, negotiated by agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha, and Jason Rosenhaus, includes base salaries of $1.616 million (guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap) in 2024, $13.5 million (guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap) in 2025, $20 million in 2026 ($10 million guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap on the fifth day of the 2025 league year, $10 million more fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2026 league year), and $21.25 million nonguaranteed in 2027.
Collins has annual $625,005 per-game active roster bonuses and annual $750,000 incentives from 2025 to 2027: $250,000 for a Pro Bowl selection, $250,000 for 95 catches, and $250,000 for 1,460 receiving yards.
Collins’ deal makes him the seventh-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL based on average compensation per year, trailing behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million), the Detroit Lions’ Amon Ra-St. Brown ($30.002 million), the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill ($30 million), the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams ($28 million), the Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp ($26.7 million), and the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeVonta Smith ($25 million), but above the Seattle Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf ($24 million), the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel ($23.85 million), and the Indianapolis Colts’ Michael Pittman ($23.33 million). The Texans recognized the significant improvement from the imposing wide receiver from Michigan and planned ahead for a future involving their top downfield threat, which Collins recently expressed he would embrace, as he is now eligible for an early contract extension after completing three years on his rookie deal.
“You really look at your team in sort of two-year increments, so whatever you don’t do this year, that money is going to be used in future years,” Texans General Manager Nick Caserio said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I’m sure I’ll get a question here very soon about Nico Collins. That’s coming. That could be a player that maybe he’s a part of the future. You’re dealing with the present. You’re focused on the short-term, but part of our responsibility is to kind of think ahead a little bit and just try to make good sound decisions for the team and the organization.”
Following an impressive season, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound former All-Big Ten Conference selection from Michigan was entering the final year of a four-year, $4.852 million rookie contract that included a $902,990 signing bonus and a base salary of $1.324 million this year. Under NFL rules, Collins was eligible for an early contract extension after completing three accredited seasons.
“It means a lot,” Collins told KPRC 2 in May when asked about being earmarked for a potential early deal. “That’s everybody’s dream. To hear that from Nick, man, it means a lot. For me, I just got to continue to keep my head down, continue to work on my game, continue to improve every day and continue to chase my end goal. Whatever man, I’m down for whatever. I’m not saying no to no money. I feel like if I keep my head down and just keep working, everything is going to come.”
When Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud breaks the huddle and scans the field, he’ll have a diverse group of options. Stroud can throw downfield to Collins, his go-to wide receiver last season, along with newly-acquired four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Dalton Schultz, as well as Joe Mixon out of the backfield.
“Oh yeah, it’s going to be dangerous, real dangerous, man,” Collins said during his youth football camp at Houston Christian High School. “Adding Diggs to the room, it’s going to be a lot of weapons. There’s going to be great opportunities for everybody. It’s only adding more depth, more weapons to the offense, more weapons to the team. Man, it’s nice. I feel like the offense is a lot of weapons. Everybody has got a chance. When the ball is in their hands, an explosive play is coming. I feel like, for us, we need to continue to work on the details, continue to be us, continue to have fun and show the world what we can do. I can’t wait for it.”
Having Diggs as part of the offense injects a proven threat into an already loaded unit. Collins played with Diggs in J.J. Watt’s charity softball game and they’re already building chemistry.
“He’s cool,” Collins said. “I met him for the first time when he came in and signed and stuff, but cool peoples. Can’t wait to get on the field with him and share the field with him. It’s a blessing to share the room with him. I can’t wait to join him and get back in this offense and show the world what we’re about.”
Collins routinely separated from pass coverage, accelerating behind cornerbacks for touchdown catches during his best season.