Texans should target Jimmy Graham in free agency
The situation at tight end for the Houston Texans is not pretty. C.J. Fiedorowicz experienced an injury-riddled season which has led to some to speculate on his future. Ryan Griffin and Stephen Anderson are complimentary players at best. Rather than rely on this trio of players, there is a solution in free agency, Jimmy Graham.
Returning to Seattle does not appear to be in the cards for Graham. Instead he appears willing to take his services elsewhere. Graham never quite fit in with the Seahawks. The run-oriented scheme is not friendly to the skill set of Graham. Graham’s career peaked in New Orleans with the pass happy Saints. While Graham experienced an uptick in production scoring 10 touchdowns this season, the most since his last season in New Orleans. The talent is clearly still there, he just needs to be part of a scheme that uses him properly. That scheme can be in Houston with the Texans.
Houston already has two dynamic receiving targets in DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. The addition of Graham would make the Texans passing attack lethal. Hopkins is a true number one receiver, Fuller can take the top off the defense and Graham can work the middle of the field. This would be an offensive group that few defenses would want to face. This trio of receiving targets would strike fear into their opponents and allow Deshaun Watson to be even more effective.
The offensive system was very dependent on the balance between the playmaking of Watson rather than the running backs. While Lamar Miller and D’Onta Foreman were able to contribute it is quite clear the Texans want to pass the ball frequently. The potential addition of Graham would allow this pass-first philosophy to truly thrive.
The Texans were able to show some flashes of the direction they want to head in offensively when Watson was healthy. Bringing in Graham to round out the receiving corps will only make the offense that much more effective. Houston has the cap room to sign Graham, the only left to do is offer him a contract.