Houston moved up one spot in the 2016 first round for…
Houston moved up one spot in the 2016 first round for receiver Will Fuller, giving Washington pick 22 plus a 2017 sixth-rounder. Fuller became a dangerous vertical threat and produced five productive Texans seasons when healthy. Washington selected Josh Doctson at No. 22 and later Robert Davis with the extra pick; neither matched Fuller's impact. Houston clearly won despite Fuller's recurring injuries limiting the ceiling of the move.
Houston Texans Received
- pick 2016 1st round pick (21st overall, Will Fuller)
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 2016 1st round pick (22nd overall, Josh Doctson)
- pick 2017 6th round pick (209th overall, Robert Davis)
Trade Analysis
Houston wanted more speed around DeAndre Hopkins and moved one spot ahead of Washington in the 2016 first round to secure Notre Dame receiver Will Fuller. The Texans sent the 22nd pick and a 2017 sixth-round selection for No. 21. Washington remained in position to take a receiver and selected TCU's Josh Doctson, making the trade an unusually direct comparison between two players at the same position.
Fuller's Texans career was repeatedly interrupted by injuries, but his healthy stretches demonstrated why Houston moved up. He averaged more than 14 yards per reception in each of his five seasons, became one of the league's more dangerous deep threats and produced a career-best 879 receiving yards in only 11 games in 2020. His speed changed coverage structures and created space for Hopkins and, later, Deshaun Watson. Durability prevented him from becoming a full-season star, but the performance was clearly meaningful.
Doctson never reached the same level in Washington. He missed most of his rookie year, then posted 502 and 532 receiving yards in his next two seasons before the team declined his fifth-year option. The extra 2017 sixth-round pick became Robert Davis, who spent time on the roster but contributed little as a receiver. Washington therefore gained an additional selection but lost the direct player comparison badly.
Houston earns a B+ because Fuller provided several seasons of genuine big-play value, with injuries keeping the move from an A. Washington receives a D+ because Doctson and Davis combined for far less impact despite the club staying only one pick lower. The corrected package confirms that the extra compensation was a 2017 sixth-rounder, not a fifth, and the Texans are the clear historical winner.