Houston Texans Still Need To Address Wide Receiver Early In The Draft

Dec 14, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans receiver

(10) makes an apparent catch over Indianapolis Colts

(21) which was knocked out of his hands during the fourth quarter of their game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Early on in this offseason when the Texans moved on from the Andre Johnson era it was immediately expected that the Texans would have to draft a wide receiver in the first round of the upcoming draft.

Although the organization and realistic fans know that Andre is not the same player, there was still a desire by all for him to finish his career as a Texan.  But as is often is the case, the player is the last to realize he’s not the same and refuses to take the lesser role.

More often than not the team is proved to be right and the player is out of the league in less than two years.  One saying among team executives has long been, it’s better to get rid of a player a year early than a year too late.

But life goes on after Andre and the Texans do still have a #1 WR in DeAndre Hopkins, ranked #11 overall among wide receivers last year by Pro Football Focus.  Beyond Hopkins, there wasn’t much as Keshawn Martin has not shown a lot as a receiver and even less than desired as a kick returner.

The diminutive Damaris Johnson was re-signed to a one-year deal and will be back if he survives the cut.  Although blazing fast, Johnson does not have great hands and had a number of drop in key spots last year.

DeVier Posey is still technically on the roster though he hasn’t really been given much of a shot in live game action, having almost never been active on Sundays last season in part because he doesn’t play special teams.  Obviously Bill O’Brien hasn’t liked something he’s seen in practice, but Posey is the one other receiver that has yet to show on the field that he doesn’t doesn’t belong.

Oct 6, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver

(84) carries the ball as St. Louis Rams cornerback

(22) attempts to tackle during the first quarter at The Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans did however go out and sign two free agents in Cecil Shorts III, who has had a couple productive years with the Jaguars, and Nate Washington, the long time Tennessee Titan.

Shorts who signed for a reasonable $3 million a year for two years, likely takes over the #2 WR spot as Bill O’Brien loves guys that can play both inside and outside.  Washington, who only signed a one-year, $1 million deal, will need to make the team by showing he still has enough left to possibly be the #3.  If not, the Texans can cut him without a salary cap hit, should he be beaten out by any rookies that they may draft.

Even with these signings, I fully expect the Texans to still draft a WR in the first three rounds and perhaps another in a later round.

So who are the wide receivers that the Texans will be looking at in the early rounds?

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