The Houston Texans may look at an Andre Johnson trade this offseason and he could be released if that doesn't work out and this comes as the team needs a quarterback and names like Mike Glennon, Kirk Cousins or Jay Cutler could be options in trades, while Brian Hoyer, Mark Sanchez, Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker are the top free agent players in 2015.
The Texans are coming into the offseason with the quarterback position as the biggest question and they may look at the free agent market for answers. Josh McCown was considered a potential target, but he now has signed with the Browns. Mallett was with the team last year after getting traded and he has said that he hopes to return to the Texans. The signing of McCown makes Brian Hoyer an option and he could be a target along with Jake Locker and Mark Sanchez for Bill O'Brien.
The Texans are also looking at making a move with wide receiver Andre Johnson, as the Houston Chronicle reports that Johnson has been given permission to look for a trade this offseason. According to John McClain on Twitter, the Texans may look at releasing Johnson if a trade doesn't happen, as they want him to take a pay cut and so far it appears he is unwilling to do that. Johnson is 34 years old and the talk about trade comes after heavy rumors last year when he stayed away from team activities in the summer.
Johnson is making over $10 million for next season and his age the team is hoping to get that number down for him to return. Johnson looks like he will be on his way out no matter what, as the team reportedly will release him if a trade or a pay cut doesn't happen. Johnson is one of the best WRs of all-time and while he is now into his mid-30s, he has performed like a younger receiver over the past couple years. Last season he was under 1000 yards for the first time since 2011, but he had 85 catches in 15 games.
Johnson has been very productive over the last decade and now the franchise face could be moving on. In the previous two season before 2014, Johnson had at least 109 catches and 1400 yards in back to back seasons, but the Texans feel his production will continue to drop off and that makes his high salary unworkable on the cap. Johnson also has $11 million coming to him in each of the final two years of his deal and if they move Johnson, nearly $9 million in cap space gets freed up for the Texans. DeAndre Hopkins would become the top receiver for the Texans and they need some consistent targets if they bring in a new quarterback.
Jay Cutler has been mentioned in trade rumors, but his contract is likely too big for the Texans. The Buccaneers are reportedly ready to draft Jameis Winston and that could make Mike Glennon available for a deal. Sam Bradford and Kirk Cousins have also come up as potential