The Texans have a new wide receiver, and their current coaching staff knows quite a bit about him.
Pending a physical, Demaryius Thomas is heading to Houston, along with a 2019 seventh round pick, in exchange for a fourth-rounder and seventh-rounder in 2019. Head coach Bill O'Brien, on a conference call with Denver media before the trade happened, was asked about Thomas. O'Brien was very complimentary.
"When I watch him on film, and I've been watching him for a long time, since he was at Georgia Tech and since he's been in the NFL, he has excellent athletic skills, great hands, a really good route runner and a very smooth route runner," O'Brien said. "He's a tough guy to defend."
But O'Brien, General Manager Brian Gaine, and the Texans had more than just film at their disposal when they evaluated Thomas.
The Pro Bowl wideout will find former Broncos teammate Wes Welker employed as an offensive assistant. That duo played together in Denver in 2013 and 2014, combining to catch 325 passes for 4,291 yards and 37 touchdowns from Peyton Manning. That's two years together on the field, and two years together in meeting rooms and the locker room, preparing for opponents.
Also on staff in Houston now is Luke Richesson. The head strength and conditioning coach in Denver from 2012 through 2017, he was there during the peak years of Thomas' career as a Bronco. He's now the Senior Director of Sports Performance for Houston, and three of his assistants—Mike Eubanks, Jason George and Billy Voltaire—were with him in Denver working with Thomas and the Broncos in the weight room and on the field.
The strength staff is an integral part of any football team, and often sees players when they're pushed to their physical limits before and during the season. They have an intimate knowledge of the players physical and mental makeups.
With the intel available from Welker and Richesson and his staff, the Texans went into this deal well-armed with information about the player they'd acquire in Thomas.
Check out some of the best shots from WR Demaryius Thomas' NFL career. Photos via AP Images.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas smiles as he runs on the field during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas reacts after making a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) stretches prior to an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the game in overtime of an NFL wild card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) is hit by Oakland Raiders linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos' Demaryius Thomas (88) catches a pass in front of New York Jets' Darryl Roberts (27) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. Thomas scored a touchdown on the play. The Jets won 34-16. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) scores a touchdown as Los Angeles Rams strong safety John Johnson (43) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts strong safety Matthias Farley (41) and cornerback Quincy Wilson (31) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) in action against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) runs after the catch against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Denver Broncos' Demaryius Thomas (88) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles' Patrick Robinson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller (23) pulls down Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) after the catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
File- This Nov. 12, 2017, file photo shows Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) running after the catch against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver. Thomas isn't really into numbers, but he knows he's 108 yards shy of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season. "Everybody telling me" is how he keeps track, he said. "Last week I knew it was 160 because I found out in the meeting. Of course I'm going to remember. I was never a number guy, but hey, that's a cool thing to know." (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) stretches before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas reacts after hauling in a touchdown pass in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) celebrates with teammate Wes Welker after his second touchdown reception against the San Diego Chargers in a NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) signals first down after the catch against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) lines up against Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) celebrates during an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Denver. (NFL Photos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) pulls in a catch as San Diego Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) stretches over the goal line to score against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
