Do the Texans Need to Find a WR This Offseason, and If So, What kind?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

What WRs suffered a drastic fall-off and when did the fall-off occur? This is a serious question and I don't have an answer off the top of my head in either direction. It seems to me at first thought that most WRs stay effective into their mid to late 30s (Wayne was well ahead of AJ at miami and is still a stud). I know some big bodied guys have flamed out earlier (David Boston) and AJ is a big bodied type. But it seems that AJ has a game built on route running and precision that would age well.

Texans receiver Andre Johnson missed several games earlier this season with a right hamstring injury. He now has an injury to his left hamstring.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...string-injury/
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OH how 'bout one Andre Johnson in 2011, the year he turned 30 ? Inexplicable he had a very injury free season this past year IMS, but I'm fearful that the next couple seasons will be more like 2011 than 2012 ? Hey, but maybe we'll get lucky and he'll compete at or near the highest level until he's 35 ? But on the other hand smart NFL GMs & HCs like astute investors don't leave their fate to good luck, but instead hedge their bets, right ? In the case of Smith & Kubiak that means buying insurance/hedging in the Draft and/or FA.
But of course you are right about Reggie Wayne, he had a very good year and he's like 2 years Andre's senior.

[HPF Bob]

When I think of Walter, I am thinking of someone whose job is to run short patterns, sit in the zone and catch balls in traffic. ANY wide receiver in the NFL should block, particularly in this offense where Foster can break one off at any time. Swope has more speed than Walter but is a little smaller.

[Keith]

Split this off from the Defense vs. Elite QB thread since this had nothing to do with that topic.

As for WRs... I feel like pass rush wins championships, so I do NOT want to see the first round pick go to a WR. I know Andre is injury-prone, but the Texans have guys to catch the short and intermediate routes. They need a Torrey Smith-type to run those deep routes. Jacoby Jones did that... not that he was any good at it, but this offense needs a better deep threat.

And yes, any WR on this roster has to be able to block.