Texans’ Trade Pitch Lands $90 Million All-Pro Super Bowl Champion

Aside from Nico Collins, C.J. Stroud’s playmakers are either aging, inexperienced, have extensive injury histories, or some combination of those, which could make the Houston Texans a team to monitor for a potential blockbuster trade.

Stroud and the Texans are chasing a third straight AFC South crown, and Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams showed they have some issues to work through.

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin suggests going after Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill.

Texans Floated as Trade Destination for Tyreek Hill

Benjamin noted the plethora of weapons Stroud already has, but also how Hill – an eight-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, and 2019 Super Bowl champion – could help, and that the Texans are not afraid of taking on a risky player in a trade, having done so this offseason.

“Nico Collins is a bona fide No. 1 for C.J. Stroud, and the Texans also added both Christian Kirk and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel this year,” Benjamin wrote on September 11. “But Kirk is banged up and Stroud is still trying to right the ship as a passer. Hill would instantly offer the Texans a field-stretching upgrade, ensuring Houston has an even greater chance at swiping the open AFC South. And we know coach DeMeco Ryans and Co. are willing to take chances on more mercurial characters, such as new safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.”

This Heavy Sports Texans trade proposal would bring Hill to the Texans:

Texans get:

Tyreek Hill

Dolphins get:

2026 fifth-round pick
2027 sixth-round pick

Hill, 31, is in Year 4 with the Dolphins after they acquired him in a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He was voted the No. 1 player by his peers entering 2024.

Tyreek Hill Trade Rumors ‘Worth Watching’

However, Hill rubbed some teammates the wrong way after last season, saying he wanted a trade, which could help the Texans now. He has worked to repair his relationship with his teammates, but the Dolphins opened the season with a 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Hill is on a three-year, $90 million contract that expires after the 2026 season, but trade speculation has already surfaced.

“Trade rumors around Tyreek Hill will be worth watching,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote

on September 10. “My understanding is that Miami received calls on Hill but did not show interest in trading him. If the losing persists, perhaps those phone lines open. The Dolphins already exercised Hill’s $15.85 million option bonus, leaving a $10 million base salary and $1.8 million in per-game bonuses.”

Over The Cap has the Texans with $9.8 million in space, so they would have to move some money around, either by parting with a player in the deal or after, or reworking Hill’s contract.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on September 8 that the “clock is already ticking on a potential Hill trade. However, Florio also noted a significant complicating matter of Hill’s latest domestic violence issue stemming from his divorce from his ex-wife, Keeta Vaccaro.

Tyreek Hill Comes With Major Red Flags

Per TMZ on September 8, Vaccaro alleges Hill “began to get violent with her” two months after their marriage in January 2024, citing eight separate incidents.

Hill’s camp has vehemently denied the claims, calling the matter an attempted “shakedown.”

“Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill faces a potential problem far more serious than his current on-field struggles,” Florio wrote

on September 8. “Hill faces no criminal allegations. However, the claims made by Vaccaro could be enough to spark a Personal Conduct Policy investigation.”

The Texans acquired running back Joe Mixon, who has navigated legal and personal conduct concerns dating back to his time in college at Oklahoma, from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.

Texans safety Jimmie Ward is currently on the Commissioner’s Exempt List for his DV case.

The Texans may have a strong infrastructure, led by Ryans as head coach. However, whether or not adding a volatile option like Hill, who has a history of such incidents and is under review by the NFL, is the remedy for what appears to ail the Texans is the key question.

Three players to keep an eye on at the Lightning prospect showcase

It’s that time of year! Time to get overly excited or wildly depressed over the performance of players who won’t suit up for the Tampa Bay Lightning at any point in the season. Yup, it’s

prospect showcase season. The Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators will spend the weekend in a sparsely attended practice rink watching their future stars battle it out.

What was once a chance to see how young players have improved over the summer has become a fairly big deal, and acts as a kick-off for the upcoming season as many teams roll straight into training camp following the action on the weekend. What was once a shaky, one-camera, no-announcers stream is getting the full boar treatment as the games will be broadcast on WXPX-TV and the Lightning’s website.

It’s always fun to watch the youngsters, especially the ones we haven’t seen before take to the ice against actual opponents. While every player is worth watching (these are the types of tournaments we take into consideration when doing things like

ranking prospects) there are a few that we here at Raw Charge are really going to keep an eye on for the next few days.

All three are familiar names with different goals for this season. One is adjusting to a new position, one is looking to earn a spot on the NHL roster, and one is looking for a positive experience before heading back to junior hockey. Despite the differing needs, a positive showcase showing for any or all of them will boost the Lightning’s future.

Max Groshev

One thing we will keep an eye on from Groshev is if he actually passes the puck out of his own zone at some point. Watching his run as a defenseman at the end of the season with the Crunch, his desire to carry the puck out was very noticeable. Not only was it noticeable, it was effective. The kid has wheels and isn’t afraid to cruise from end to end with the puck.

It’s not easy to make the switch from forward to defense (you usually see players go the opposite way), especially at the professional level, but Groshev seemed to take to it naturally last season. This showcase will be a good test for him as he goes up against some skilled forwards.

Should it pan out, he gives the Lightning something that they don’t really have – a mobile defenseman. Victor Hedman can still slide his way down the ice with style and grace, but he is hitting the backside of his career and the speed has gone down a bit. While there are some decent puck-movers in the system, no one skates as naturally as Groshev.

Dylan Duke

At first glance there doesn’t seem to be a spot for a rookie on the Lightning’s offense as camp gets underway. The top line is set. The second line is mostly set, and there are more than enough veterans to fill out the bottom-six. That doesn’t mean one of the youngsters can’t claw their way into the conversation.

Right now, they can roll out a third line with Connor Geekie, Nick Paul, and Gage Goncalves. That leaves Zemgus Girgensons, Yanni Gourde, and Mitchell Chaffee as a pretty decent fourth line. It’s not a line without its flaws. Girgensons in particular could see his spot in jeopardy. He flat out did not look great in his first season with the Bolts, and while he’ll probably get a chance due to having two years left on his contract, the Lightning have cut ties with underperforming veterans in the past.

If there is any player in camp that can claw his way into that spot, it’s Dylan Duke. He is the definition of a hard-nosed, grinding forward, and he’s worked himself into a prominent role everywhere he’s gone, from Michigan to the Crunch. He’s not going to get outworked on the ice, and that type of energy could be a boon for the Lightning.

His style of play would fit in nicely on the fourth line as well. He makes his home in front of the net, can battle along the boards, and is responsible in his own zone. His play would match will with Gourde, another feisty forward that is difficult to play against. Add in an ability to find the back of the net, and he gives that bottom line something that they just didn’t have last year – offense.

Ethan Czata

The Lightning’s top pick from the most recent draft generated a lot of buzz in the development camp, and this tournament will be the first chance to see how he does at 5-on-5 action. He plays physical and is already drawing comparisons to Anthony Cirelli. While he won’t be wearing the Lightning uniform anytime soon, a strong performance at the showcase can improve his stock in the organization.

He’ll be up among his peers in this showcase so he should have a good showing.

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