Houston Texans Positional Breakdown: Wide Receiver

Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Keith Mumphery (25) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Baylor Bears in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Keith Mumphery 6′, 215 Pounds, 22 Years Old

After selecting Strong in the third round and bringing in both Washington and Shorts, this pick made littler sense to me when Houston grabbed the Michigan State kid in the fifth round of the recent 2015 NFL Draft.

Some Background Info;

Keith Mumphery was not a highly scouted player coming out of college and not only did NFL.com project him to be undrafted, but their draft profile on the young receiver mentions making a team will be a challenge for the rookie.

"Mumphery is a hardworking leader and the kind of guy every college coach wants on his team, but his lack of athleticism and overall speed will make him a long shot to find a home on an NFL roster."

It’s easy to see why there was concerns if he were to be drafted after he recorded only 26 catches for 495 yards and three scores his senior season. He did add another 85 yards and a score rushing on six carries.

What To Expect This Year;

Just weeks ago I felt like the fifth round receiver was not going to make the final roster, but apparently the team seems something in Mumphery that I have not yet seen. Mike Griffin of MLive.com talks about how the Texans envision using Mumphery, and how they value his versatility.

"“Mumphery, first of all, we’re going to start him out as a wide receiver, probably on the outside, maybe see on Sunday what we can do on the inside,” Houston coach Bill O’Brien said on Friday. “But we do know that what he showed us on tape and kind of his background at Michigan State that he was able to do other things. I don’t think you’ll see him at running back this weekend, but we know he does have that skill set in his background, so maybe in the future we’ll see. Let’s see if he can learn the formation and where to line up today.”"

Griffin also points out that Houston was the only team to work out the MSU kid and says how all it takes is one team to like you, and Houston seems to really like Keith Mumphery.

Even with that being said, he will have an uphill climb to make a real impact on this team as he would appear to be behind Hopkins, Shorts, Washington and Strong for sure, while still having to beat out guys like Damaris Johnson. I would expect minimal numbers for the kid for this season, assuming the team stays high on him and he is on the final roster.

Next: A Veteran On The Bubble