Houston Texans Positional Breakdown: Wide Receivers

One of the biggest areas of need for the Houston Texans going into the 2015 NFL regular season is at wide recevier. Although the Texans have a bonafide superstar at the position, the depth chart behind him desperately needs an overhaul and an influx of talent.

Before we discuss how this squad can improve this offseason, let’s take a look back and breakdown last year’s wide recevier group.

2014 Roster: DeAndre Hopkins, Andre Johnson, Damaris Johnson, Keshawn Martin, DeVier Posey, Alan Bonner, Jace Davis, Uzoma Nwachukwu, Travis Labhart

2015 Free Agents: Damaris Johnson

Draft Priority: High

2014 Season Review: It was a breakout sophomore season for Houston Texans’ wide recevier DeAndre Hopkins in 2014, recording 76 receptions on 127 targets, gaining 1,210 yards and six touchdowns. At just 22-years old, Hopkins is a budding superstar the Texans can build upon.

And that fact is great timing, considering their previous star wide out is beginning to fizzle out. At 33-years old, Andre Johnson recorded his lowest totals since 2005, minus one injury plague season in 2011. And Johnson’s price tag of $21 million over the next two years makes him a possible cap causality this offseason unless he takes a pay cut.

Released during final cuts by the Philadelphia Eagles before last season, Damaris Johnson became the Texans third wide out recording 31 catches for 331 yards and one score in 2014. Damaris is a free agent this offseason and it’s  unclear if Houston will elect to bring him back.

Keshawn Martin was primarily used as a punt returner, recording only six receptions on offense for the year. And DeVier Posey continues to disappoint as he was a healthy scratch for most of the season.

Positional Outlook: With Andre Johnson’s play in decline and Damaris Johnson a free agent, the Texans desperately need more recevier talent to pair with Hopkins. Free agency and the NFL Draft should both be viable options to help find that talent.

Free agents receivers like veterans Cecil Shorts, Michael Crabtree, and Randall Cobb all make sense for Houston. In the upcoming draft, highly-touted recevier prospects like Louisville’s DeVante Parker, Arizona State’s Jaelen Strong, and Missouri’s Dorial Green-Beckham should all be available when the Texans draft 16th overall in the first round.

If things go to plan, I believe Houston’s receiver corps should look very different in 2015.

Here’s today’s poll question: Should The Houston Texans Re-Sign Damaris Johnson?

Submit your answer in the poll below and feel free to explain your choice in our comment section.

Next: McShay's Mock Draft 3.0: Texans Beef Up

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