Free Agent WRs
 

I think we can all agree that upgrading WR2 is a priority this offseason. IMO it is the biggest need by a lot. We were largely impotent when AJ went down this year and lets be honest...he's not getting any younger. We've toyed with the idea in another thread with using Mario as leverage to trade up in the draft for a dynamic rookie talent in Blackmon, but in perusing the pending free agent WR's I'm not so sure we aren't better off filling that need through free agency, keep Mario and use the 27th pick to get the best big ugly available.

Below are some of the available WR's:

Wes Welker 31
Dwayne Bowe 27
Mike Wallace (Restricted) 26
Marques Colston 29
Vincent Jackson 29
Steve Johnson 26
DeSean Jackson 25
Reggie Wayne 33
Brandon Lloyd 31
Laurent Robinson 27

In keeping with the preference for youth a guy like DeSean Jackson jumps off the page...instant upgrade at two positions and JJ can try somewhere else. Steve Johnson also could be a nice target. I realize Jackson was a baby in philly this year but if it gets him a ticket outta town I think I'd have to overlook that if he can convince the brass he wants to win a few superbowls here. For the first time we can use serious championship contender as a legitimate sales pitch.

I leave it up to the pro's to work the cap...I feel pretty sure that you drop JJ, sign MW to a back heavy cap friendly contract and tweek or drop a few other contracts you can get the one dynamic WR2 in free agency, keep MW and make Arian happy with a nice extension.

Personally think we have enough pieces in the secondary to go to battle and everything else is really just depth...just what the draft is for.

Even though he's been a bit of a problem-child at Philly (none of it off-field I don't think ?), Jackson would be a blockbuster addition for our offense with him and Andre being an awesome combination. And WR FAs don't command that much money in FA do they, not like corners or edge-rushers or blind-side blockers ?
I wonder if there's any chance that the Texans would go for broke in this years Draft a la the move the ATL Falcons pulled off in the 2011-Draft to get their stud WR, Julio Jones ? It's never been the Texans style to make a dramatic Draft move like that, except perhaps with the previous regime with the Jason Babin pick. Maybe Big Bob & Rick will be feeling frisky in April and stun us all with a move way up in position to get Blackmon, the outstanding OK State WR ?

If they sign Mario, Arian, Myers, and Briesel (their "reported" priority order), then that is thier FA. The rest will be 1 yr. deals for stop gap type players.

Just my opinion, but I don't see us being real active outside of our own guys. Economics just aren't there, especially with Mario's nugget.

Now, if they can't re-sign Mario, then yep, they should/likely will have some of these targets in mind. We won't know till March.

I think Marios gonna walk. Sure they'd like to keep him, but IMO he's not worth matching the price he'd get on the open-market/FA to the Texans and it's just too problematic for them to tag him and then work out a trade with another team. And this leads me back to my theory that they go big in FA or maybe the Draft for a young WR to combo with AJ now and eventually become the teams #1.

If the Texans are left with enough money to sign one big money free agent, and they have a need at both WR2 and CB2, generally I'd prefer to get the veteran at CB and leave WR to the draft. Short-term, that would probably provide the better results.

Of these guys, the priority skill I'd want in a receiver is someone to stretch the field. Andre Johnson is turning into more of an underneath receiver as he gets older. Since most guys slow down as they age, I think anyone 29 and over is off my wish list.

Wallace is the most appealing, but I imagine there is no chance he really becomes available. I'm skeptical that DeSean is either available or affordable, but he would be attractive. I think the most realistic option listed is Steve Jackson. Buffalo is cheap, and Stevie loves the deep ball. Sign him up.

While there's no question that as a deep threat and a punt returner, Desean would be a huge upgrade, I would be hesitant with him. As I think Barrett has pointed out, there's just not a lot of balls for the No. 2 receiver in our offense. Not sure how he would react to primarily being a decoy but his history does not make me optimistic. Considering the money he apparently wants, I think I would pass.

I suspect the Texans will go mid-level. For deep threats, someone like Robert Meachum, Harry Douglas, or even Pierre Garcon. Could also see getting an older short-term rental like Reggie Wayne if the price is right. Also, maybe Danny Amendola for slot receiver/punter returner.

Finally, I agree with WMH, I think they concentrate on their own free agents. If we can get Mario, Arian, and Myers signed, it will be an enormously successful offseason.

One thing DeSean Jackson does that the others don't is he *commands* coverage, meaning d-coords will have to account for both he and AJ at *all* times because of his home run potential. But the maturity issues scare me, the same as with Steve Johnson. Knowing McNair's reputation for boy scouts, I don't think Jackson will fit in unless AJ sits on the lad to keep his head straight.

Colston would be my preferred choice here. He is used to being in an offense where the ball gets spread around and is a low-ego guy. He also catches the ball in traffic and runs great routes But Colston is probably a replacement for Walter, not JJ and you JJ-haters are going to be upset if/when that happens. We'd still need JJ as a stretch-the-field option.

Wallace would be a great add but he's restricted so I wouldn't get anyone's hopes raised. Bowe drops too many passes and some of the others are either too slow or are head cases.

I agree %100. Of this list I would want Colston. He is big and physical and gives us the kind of body/blocker we look for in a #2, but with far superior receiving skills. He is also a replacement as a #1 if injury again demands it.

Like Bob said though, he is not at all a JJ replacement. But for salary reasons I would just as soon see JJ AND walter released. I think Walter could be cut and brought back on the cheap (or even brought back later in a DA situation, I just don't think he would be as valuable to anyone else as he is to us due to blocking).

But JJ could be easily replaced in the draft. In the age of the spread offense there are a million guys who are great in the slot and return kicks. Maybe there is even another WR/PR/DB/KR/ST guy playing QB for some mid-major and available late in the draft like an Eddleman.

Colston is 29 and is damaged goods. Too much risk for my taste.

The only thing JJ is is a fumble about to happen.

The fly in that ointment is that the reason there hasn't been enough balls for anyone except AJ, is probably because there was no other logical choice other than AJ. Walter can't get consistant separation, and JJ can't be counted on to run his route correctly, much less catch the ball. A viable 2nd threat at WR would open up a whole lot of options for the the passing gamethat have not been there before.

If we aren't going to resign Mario anyway, the best thing would be to franchise him so we can trade him for high draft choices, or another veteran, preferably a stud WR/CB.

Matt schaub led the NFL in passing with those options. We could use an upgrade, but the reason we don't throw more isn't that we can't. It's that the number of times we run the ball directly corresponds to our chances to win. Trying to open up the passing game is the opposite of what you want to do when you run and defend like we do.

We'll have to agree to disagree here as I do not think a CB2 is a priority...and I don't think the front office or coaching staff thinks it is either. To me the one clear deficiency on this team is WR2 and unfortunately this year more often than not it was WR1 and WR2 (due to injuries to AJ). And DJax has never been a 100 reception type of receiver...he's a 60-65 catch stretch the field speed guy that would instantly make AJ and the TE's even better. Too often our offense got stuck in the mud this year and I think we were that one piece away.

I don't buy for one minute that the Texans can't work the cap magic to get all 4 of our priority free agents signed and still have room for one solid piece to finish off a legitimate championship contender. A little restructuring here, a little cutting there some creative salary spreading and you're done. That's what Rick gets paid the big bucks for.

I will be shocked if we go to camp next year with KW/JJ as WR2/3

I won't be shocked if Mario goes but if he wants to be part of our championship runs I feel confident they can work out a lucrative deal for him that fits under the cap.

While we could upgrade CB2 I do actually think KJ showed significant improvement this year with a little coaching, J Allen was not bad and they have a 2nd rounder from last year that has had a year of practice that can hopefully contribute next year. Heck we had the 2nd best secondary in the league this year...helps getting a little pressure on QB. I think D needs nothing but draft depth which is shocking to say. Getting Mario back would be like signing a superstar FA to a 2nd ranked D.

What we need is more consistency on offense and I think the trickle down affect of another playmaker to spread the field is just the ticket.

Since David Anderson left, the team doesn't have a "water bug" anymore. A quick little guy that can go over the middle (if needed) and get good YAC.

I always thought JJ was a little too lanky for a punt returner though you can't debate he's had some success at it....

I would look at a couple of my Razorback guys that are graduating: Jarius Wright (5'10", 180, 4.34) and Joe Adams (5'11", 190, 4.38). Both are projected 4th/5th rounders.... They may be a little "smurfy" but Adams is a punt returner and a good one. He had a crazy punt return this year that ESPN had some fun with using some computer graphics to trace his route to the endzone.....

Also, the Texans still have Lestar Jean in layaway.... I think he's more of a possession receiver and not a burner, though...

Here's my take on this.... Get a WR2 in the first rd and forget about free agent WRs. Signing Mario Williams has to be a priority despite having the success we had without him. Injuries are part of the game and are unpredictable. Heaven forbid but what happens if we lose Barwin or Brooks Reed to season ending injuries next year? What if JJ Watt suffers a season ending injury? Mario Williams is the type of player that can make the switch to 3-4 DE and be just as disruptive as Antonio Smith... hell maybe even better. It's imperative that we do everything we can to keep Mario.

I don't think there's any chance whatsoever the Texans spend big in FA this year unless they jettison Mario's cap figure and have Schaub renegotiate. In fact, I think the first news we hear this offseason will be about Schaub renegotiating to a long-term deal. The question will be where the "savings" will go. Mario, Foster, Meyers, a combo of those, an FA?

EDIT: As for FA WR, if they do anything I think it will be for a mid-level to cheap-veteran WR. I think Meachum would fit in nicely, but I'd prefer Garcon for his PR ability. If they do spend big, I'd go all out and target Jackson. I wouldn't be concerned at all about his pouting last year. I think this team is solid enough to set him straight if that happened.

Agree wholeheartedly. While the defense played great, I'm no way convinced that we are now the Steelers and will have no problem casting aside our better players when they want a big payday because we already have enough depth or can just go get someone in the draft. I hope we can do these things, but one season doesn't convince me of that. I'm reminded of the words that the Wolf told Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson's characters in Pulp Fiction when they got a little ahead of themselves.

Like you also said, I think Mario provides a great deal of flexibility. I can certainly imagine some third and long defenses of Mario, Smith and Watt as the 3 down linemen, with Barwin and Reed coming off the edges. I also think Mario, despite his enormous physical gifts is not a natural born leader, yet people expected this because of his talent and draft status. In fact, I think he is probably more naturally a follower (kinda reminds me of Lebron in this way). But now this defense has some leaders who have the right attitude and Mario doesn't have to be that guy. Further, I do think he is the type of guy who will fall in line and buy in to it so I expect to see a very motivated Mario next year.

Finally, if we're jettisoning players because of salary cap concerns, why are we talking about Mario rather than Demeco? I'd much rather pay a guy who plays a premiere position and gets 15 sacks a year $15 million that a solid tackling, but rarely game changing inside linebacker $8 million.

Schaub, and the gameplan, called for the second look to be the TEs. Walter only caught 39 balls and JJ only 31 all year. Hardly #2 numbers, wouldn't you say?

Fonz and Joshua, Mario himself has had to be put on IR the last two years. Get the #2 WR in the Draft, but try to sign and trade Mario for a good veteran CB.

Mario played in all 16 games his first 4 years. In his fifth year, he played in 13 games and then went on IR because the team sucked and the season was effectively over, but I seem to recall the Texans indicating that he could have played out the string if the games had meant something (haven't looked for this but that is my recollection). Last year, he did miss 11 games after a freak pectoral injury. In short, last year is the only year he absolutely had to be shut down. If you think 1 non-knee/leg injury in 6 six years is enough to write him off, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

And to take your argument further, are you in favor of ditching AJ? He's 30 years old and missed 7 games in 2007, 3 games in 2010 (just like Mario) and 9 games in 2011 (2 less than Mario). Plus, his recent injuries have been leg-related and are much more likely to reoccur than Mario's.

Mario is a very good defensive football player, but AJ will be the first Houston Texan to become a member of the NFL HOF and is clearly the best football player this franchise has had to date. So you are comparing apples and oranges. However there will probably come a time when the Texans need to approach Andre about restructuring his contract. And BTW, you are absolutely right about Mario's durability - he's been very dependable up until this past season.

That is true, but NBT appears to be suggesting that Mario is too much of an injury concern to keep. On that basis alone, AJ is much more of a concern. He injured both hamstrings this year in separate non-contact incidents. To me, this suggests that AJ is much more likely to miss time going forward than Mario. But, you are right that to compare players, you need to take into account not only their propensity for injury but also the caliber of player they are. AJ clearly is at the top of the heap in this regard.

This is one reason why when anyone suggests that the team go find a #2 receiver I keep thinking, Well, how about trying to find a #1 receiver? I fully realize that there are only so many people on the planet who have the basket of skills that Andre has but I would hope the team is looking for someone in the draft who will be a monster for years to come rather than a marginally less stupid version of Jacoby Jones.

This is my point...AJ is a premier WR1 when healthy but his health has begun to fade. I don't by any means want to get rid of him, but we must start looking for a WR1b that can step in when required.

I have no desire to lose Mario either...he provides premier depth at the OLB position...we need a 3-man rotation there. I'm clearly in the minority but I don't see the secondary as a need position this year. The two balls caught against KJ in BAL were exceptionally well covered but good throws and excellent catches. He has improved dramatically this year with some good coaching and I think he and Allen make a pretty good CB2 going forward with a developing rookie in Harris (and Carmichael) waiting in the wings.

So obvous thing is draft 2 WR fairly early this year.

Sign a guy like Early Doucet or Eddie Royal to be WR2 and draft another WR to compete with 'em and Walter. We don't have money for one of those top FAs anyway.

Not necessarily opposed to this idea...but I'd say we should start drafting for WR3 replacement who could grow into WR2 role but drafting WR is very inexact science...moreso than most positions. For once we are real close and could be that one player away we've always dreamed of...I trust they can make the money work if a solid WR1b is available and wants to come collect some rings.

We aren't exactly in cap hell...challenging but doable

I'm not understanding all this garbage about getting rid of Mario. The kid plays through pain, and while looking only marginally comfortable (if even that) standing up, he still registered 5 sacks in 17 quarters. Get him comfortable, and he's got the potential to be sackmaster the likes of which the league has never seen. His cap number in 2011 was over $15 mil. and the cap is expected to jump around $10 mil. A backloaded deal isn't anywhere near prohibitively expensive. Besides, he came to a 2-14 football team and watched us grow up from the sidelines. You don't think a deep run into the playoffs is something he wants to be a part of, when it's something he's helped build from the ground up? I just can't see a scenario where we don't have everyone back next year. My gut says it won't happen. Angry Dre literally cried in public over the amount of money McNair gave him. I'm pretty sure he'd be willing to give a little back if it meant keeping Arian or Mario around and happy.

As for the actual point of this thread, I'd love a DeSean Jackson (if he can get some big boy pants), or Stevie Johnson, but I think a guy like Robert Meacham is gonna me more our speed. I've got a feeling Jason Allen walks, so we're gonna have to replace him, though Brice McCain did make strides in the second half.

Seems as I watch these playoff games a lot of WR drop catchable balls.

On DeSean Jackson
After the Eagles' season finale on Sunday, Jackson said he wanted to return to the team, and apologized for letting uncertainty about his contract affect his play this season. He had 58 receptions for 961 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

Jackson was benched one game after missing a team meeting and sidelined late in another for dropping several passes.

This year Jackson had 58 catches with 4 TD, some big plays.

Last year he had 47 catches.

In 4 years he fumbled 12 times.

He was drafted 49th in second round.

He is 5 ft 10 inch, 175 lbs.

He wants a new contract at 10 mil a year.

Just me , think I'd try draft and save the money.

I know this thread is technically FA WR but was wondering.

Assuming we do a trade to get into the top 5 how much would we technically have to give up draft picks wise and whatever this amount is would it be worth it for Blackmon? The one thing I like about drafting from here on out is that they affect a team's cap a lot less after the way they handled it in the CBA. So it might as well be a hell of a lot more beneficial that we find out next stud WR through the draft. Just wondering.

Here's the closest measuring stick... The Falcons moved up 21 spots to #6 last year to select Julio Jones. To do so, they gave up their 2011 #1, #2, #4, and their 2012 #1 and #4. IMO, we'd have to go higher than that to get Blackmon. That is a steep price to pay and I don't think there's any way the Texans would do it, nor should they.

Just as an FYI, Torrey Smith was taken at pick 26 in the 2nd round and who wouldn't love to have him right now...?? You don't have to give up your draft to find a good player.

To clarify my above statement re:Smith, I didn't mean we should have taken Smith over Reed. What I'm saying is who wouldn't rather have Smith with pick #58 as opposed to giving up all those picks ATL did to get Jones. Comparing the 2 WRs and the price, ATL paid an insane amount of picks to move up. It also proves we can potentially find a good WR with our current picks that fits in perfectly with what we need (someone like Smith).

The draft is such a crapshoot (just pull up any year and look at all the 1st round flameouts from supposedly can't miss prospects). As a general proposition, the only scenario I can really see trading away a bunch of picks to move up is to take a perceived franchise QB. That's about the only situation I would consider doing it.

Julio Jones is pretty good but come on.

Blackmon is going to be an NFL stud and perennial Pro Bowler but we will have to give up alot more than ATL did and I don't see that happening.

JOSHUA, don't put words in my mouth. 1) Mario has been hurt, but I am interested in exploring what might be available if we franchise him, and see what kind of offers we might get. 2) He wants a huge contract, I think. 3) We now have 3 young pass rushers in Barwin, Reed, & Watt to put on the heat. 4) We have to give Foster a new very significant contract.

Try to stick to things I did say. To make your point by alluding to things I might have said about AJ will get you absolutely nowhere!

I don't think I was putting words in your mouth. To "stick to the things you did say," the post I was responding to said "Fonz and Joshua, Mario himself has had to be put on IR the last two years. Get the #2 WR in the Draft, but try to sign and trade Mario for a good veteran CB." I read this to mean that you think Mario is too injury prone to be worth keeping. Is this putting words in your mouth? Really not sure how this post could be taken any other way.

As for AJ, where did I suggest you said something about him? I asked you a question. If you are hesitant to keep Mario because of injury concerns, do you have the same concerns for AJ, considering he has been more injury prone than Mario, as well as older and suffering injuries more likely to reoccur in the future. It was nothing more than a simple question.

As for your other points, I agree Mario will want a huge contract and reasonable minds can differ over whether the Texans should give it to him. I happen to think they should if they can make it work, but if you don't, I can certainly understand that. Reed did fill in well with Mario out but I don't think we've seen enough from him yet to confidently say we can let our best pass rusher walk.