Andre Johnson Wants Out of Houston?
The Houston Texans may have to do some damage control. According to reports, star wide receiver Andre Johnson has found the offseason to be “frustrating” and may want out of Houston via a trade.
Johnson has reason to be upset. Going on 33 years old in July, his best years are either behind him or coming to a close, while his team is coming off of a horrid 2-14 season. To add to the torture, the Texans traded away the only semi-competent quarterback on their roster in Matt Schaub, and his replacement options are the shaky Ryan Fitzpatrick and a raw rookie, Tom Savage.
Neither of those quarterbacks are going to do much better than Schaub would have, and Johnson knows it. The veteran could just be venting, but reports suggest his anger is real and that he could potentially demand a trade.
There is the problem of Johnson’s age and monster contract, but considering he put up another 100+ catch season in 2013 and did it with scrub passers throwing him balls, it’s pretty arguable a team trading for him would be landing an impact player that can dramatically improve a passing game.
So, where could Johnson be headed?
If he’s serious about a trade and the Texans cave to his demands, the Cleveland Browns could be the top suitor. Houston wouldn’t be trading inside the division, while it could be an ideal landing spot for Johnson. He’d be familiar with Kyle Shanahan’s offense thanks to their days together in Houston, while he’d probably enjoy playing with Johnny Manziel over the passers the Texans currently have.
Cleveland certainly isn’t the only team that could express interest in the star receiver, but they’re shaping up as the most likely. Need is a big factor, too, as Browns receiver Josh Gordon is expected to face a lengthy suspension due to violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The Browns should be on the lookout for an impact receiver to help Manziel in his first season, while they also have the cap space to take on Johnson’s massive contract.
Whether or not the Browns are Johnson’s new home or if he’ll even get traded remains to be seen. The trade rumors starting now are just another sign that we’re getting closer and closer to the new NFL season, however.
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