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Texans plan 'multidimensional' role for Braxton Miller

The Houston Texans used this offseason to add speed and new weaponry to a passing offense now led by quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Instead of asking Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins to do it all by himself again, the Texans drafted a first-round deep threat in Will Fuller and picked up former Ohio State star Braxton Miller two rounds later.

Fuller's speed alone guarantees an ample rookie role, but how do the Texans plan to employ Miller, the hyper-athletic former quarterback who transitioned to wideout as a senior?

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported the club envisions a "multidimensional" role for Miller, who has proven to be, per Wilson, a "determined, quick study" during his first NFL offseason.

"(He's) just a versatile player, explosive player," Texans general manager Rick Smith said. "Trying to impact our football team, adding players who can add dimensions to our football team who can make plays with the ball in their hands, and certainly he can do that."

Texans receivers coach Sean Ryan added: "The thing with him is he works at it; he wants to pick things up. He wants to be good. I think he's got a little chip on his shoulder understanding that there were some people out there that thought there would be this large learning curve for him and weren't sure about him being a receiver. ... He wants to learn and he's smart enough to learn and those are the two biggest factors to me."

Miller is already one of the league's most intriguing rookie stories. He doesn't lack for confidence, either, telling the Chronicle: "I like having the ball in my hands and making people miss. ... I'm available no matter what they want me to do."

The Texans exited last season in disastrous fashion, with then-starter Brian Hoyer tossing four picks in a blowout postseason loss to the Chiefs. Six months later, coach Bill O'Brien's attack has been fortified with a rash of newfound talent.

Rookie receivers often need time to take off, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Miller make his share of plays in Year One.

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