If the Houston Texans decide to chase Antonio Brown before training camp begins, franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson certainly won’t stand in his way. In response to a Chad Johnson tweet proclaiming that Texans should go after Brown, Watson did not hesitate to voice his opinion on a possible new No. 1 receiver.
The Texans’ main office, and head coach / general manager Bill O’Brien, have not discussed any interest in signing Brown, but Watson’s actions speak volumes. Houston changed Watson’s previous number one goal at DeAndre Hopkins and took over David Johnson’s albatross contract (still one of the weirdest moves in recent seasons). The Texans went out of their way to replenish the wide receiver position, adding Randall Cobb in free agency and acquiring Brandin Cooks in an exchange with the Los Angeles Rams.
Currently, Houston’s top four catchers are Cobb, Cooks, Kenny Stills, Will Fuller, and Keke Coutee. The group is legitimate, but could use a No. 1 presence to lift Houston to the top of the AFC.
This is where Brown comes in.
Before joining the New England Patriots for his only game in 2019, Brown averaged 114 sacks between 2013 and 2018, leading the NFL in receptions twice. He totaled 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns, averaging 13.3 yards per catch during that span. Brown had the most catches (690), touchdowns (68) and the second-most receiving yards (9,201) in the past seven seasons. In spite of playing just one game last year.
Bottom line: Offense for either team improves greatly by adding Brown this summer. Part of the package comes with a controversy that has yet to be resolved.
Brown was recently sentenced to a two-year probationary period after not filing a dispute in his moving truck driver battery case earlier this year, the only off-field news he’s made in recent months when he tries to return. to the NFL. He is still under investigation by the league after his inclusion in a 2019 civil lawsuit by a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct and rape. Part of the reason Brown remains a free agent is because he will likely be included in the commissioner’s exempt list if any team signs him.
If Texans want to add Brown, they will have competition for his services. Brown posted a video of himself catching passes from Russell Wilson earlier in the week, indicating that the Seattle Seahawks might be interested in adding it.
With Watson’s influence, Texans may enter the giveaway.
