Getty ImagesOne of the standout wide receivers of his generation is set to leave Houston.
According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans are allowing Andre Johnson to seek a trade. If Johnson is not dealt, he will be released, the Chronicle reported.
According to the Chronicle, the Texans told Johnson he would have a lesser role in 2015, which led him to ask for his departure from Houston.
Johnson is slated to make $10 million in salary in 2015, per NFLPA data.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 draft, Johnson has played his entire 12-season career with Houston, catching 1,012 passes for 13,597 yards and 64 TDs. He has made seven Pro Bowls.
While Johnson turns 34 in July, he should nonetheless appeal to clubs looking to add a proven veteran presence to their receiving corps. He caught 85 passes for 936 yards and three TDs in 2014.
A Miami (Fla.) product, Johnson quietly starred on a string of mediocre-to-poor Texans teams early in his career. Houston finally made the playoffs in 2011, his ninth NFL campaign.
If Johnson’s Texans career is indeed at an end, he will leave having caught 10 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in his final game with the club, a 23-17 victory over Jacksonville in December. Though the Texans took care of business in the season finale, they fell just short of the playoffs. In many ways, it was an apt end to Johnson’s run in Houston — the star wide receiver doing his job well while the team fell just short in the end.
With Johnson likely gone, third-year wideout DeAndre Hopkins will become the Texans’ go-to receiver, a role he’s probably ready to assume.
Nevertheless, it will be jarring to see Andre Johnson, one of the Texans’ all-time greats now and forever, playing for someone else.
With the right team, AJ could see a later career rebound like Steve Smith experienced in Baltimore last year. If the price is right, I’d love to see him with the Ravens.
Mr. Johnson, we have the Chiefs on line 1 and the Panthers on line 2, who first?
Glad to see he won’t be going the Larry Fitzgerald route: being stuck on a team with a terrible QB
Good for him
It’s been real Andre…I could tell he wasn’t happy here last season. Left a lasting impression on the fan base (in a bad way). I could care less if he gets a ring, or not. Just don’t let the door hit you…well, u know.
Hey Andre, welcome to Cleveland!
Not too bad numbers last year. Somebody will give him a nice little deal. Im thinking Patriots.
I am sure the Patriots, Eagles, 49ers will all be interested.
For once in his career he will finally have a chance to play with a real NFL QB… Who will it be?
With this headline, nice leverage Texans.
Wow I hope he doesn’t end up with the pats phinsup Miami all day. How’s the snow treating you guys? 😂😂😂😂🌴☀️🌴☀️🌴
Seems like yesterday he was just drafted.
When everyone knows you need to make a deal, you’re screwed.
Brady must be licking his lips.
So his agent will shoot down any trade offers so he can sign with the Pats after he gets cut.
Luck to Johnson sounds pretty good
Class act and an iconic Houston sports figure like Campbell, Olajawon or Biggio. Disappointing that he never got to experience a championship…..
Ravens, Seahawks, or Patriots. All the other good teams are ok at WR and the rest of the league he shouldn’t waste his time with. Go get a ring Andre
Welcome to Foxboro. What’s your ring size Dre?
I hope Reggie McKenzie sleeps through this news and saves his draft picks.
The guy never got in trouble, was a beast on the field and did a ton of stuff in the community, but he left a bad lasting impression? Am I missing something here?
Wonder if the Vikes will take a shot??
ballin99999 says: Mar 2, 2015 9:04 PM
The guy never got in trouble, was a beast on the field and did a ton of stuff in the community, but he left a bad lasting impression? Am I missing something here?
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Na. Just ignore him. Speaking as a Texans fan, I can assure you that many fans will miss him dearly. It was evident he lost a step last season, but the man can still play. Just more of a possession receiver. I wish something could of been worked out but due to the money/cap hit, many feared it was going to come down to this. I wish nothing but luck to Andre and wins a ring wherever he goes. Not like Houston had any shot next season anyway.
Patriots would love to have him, sure, but he’d have to take a *very* friendly deal with the intent of playing with Brady and hopefully getting a ring. They just don’t appear to have the cap space for him this year.
So just to be clear, the Patriots who are 12 million over the cap right now, are not onlt going to restructure Revis, Mayo, and Wilfork to fit Mccourty under the cap. They will also clear room for AJ?
Even if you cut Amendola you only save 2.4 this year so I guess that might get it done.
And of course this is all dependant on Revis taking a discount… which he hasn’t really been to into throughout his career
Too many good, young receivers coming up to justify throwing $10 million at this guy. We’ll see how much of a pay cut he’s willing to take. Sounds like he’s tired of losing and might take less to be with a contender.
What a talent! Colts would welcome Andre, always respected and feared, good Luck.
Patriots
Andre Johnson has been trying to leave Houston since the day he got there. He’s a very good WR but he would have been an alltime great WR on a team with a good QB!
About time. Houston held him hostage for far to long.. Let him go try to win somewhere with a QB.
As a Texans fan I wish him the best. Hope he goes to a team with a great QB, not the crap we’ve been stuck with.
Why not go down the road and join Dez. You have to think Jerry Jones is taking a look.
Welcome to Philadelphia Andre
A few years ago NE would have been interested; at this stage in his career it’d be like OchoCinco Part 2.
He gets a middle of the road contract offer and is likely to have lots of “tire kickers” looking to see if he is interested in their team. He will not get anything close to 10M at this point in his career, but likely would be valuable to any WR starved team, with young talent to develop. Can we think of any like that, right off hand?
Go Hawks!
Houston held him hostage and he’s been trying to leave since the day he got there? Both comments are wrong. If he wanted to leave he wouldn’t have signed extension after extension. Houston wanted to keep him and there was a number that made him want to stay.
As for the Pats, I thought they had a good receiving corp last season, the team got off to a slow start but ended strong. Not to forget that they have no cap space.
I have to laugh when people feel sorry for a player that keeps signing huge contracts with a lising franchise…..its only at the END of thier careers that they are willing to play for less to get to a solid contender. Sonetimes it works but most of the times it doesnt.
I hope he ends up with a championship ring. I’m afraid Kubiak and Peyton have him on speed dial though.
andre, come join the world champs.
#PATSNATION #GRONKSPIKE
Steelers
Best Texan ever..
Thanks for the memories and good luck Dre.
Signed,
All of H-town
join the resurrection of Oakland Andre. Oakland coming up everybody I’m tellin ya! They got the most money to spend too?? smh…watch and see.
Send them Amendola, the pick they got for Mallett, and a ham sandwich.
Miami will drop Wallace, draft devante parker at 14, bring in Johnson to tutor him and Landry and finish up his great career in his home state. Parker, Johnson and Landry along with clay and Sims, with tannehill only getting better…that’s a great crew. The same with gore in the backfield with Miller.
Come to Philly bro!! Pairing him up with Maclin would be a great WR duo. Them and having Matthews in the slot would be awesome. But we all know who will probably get him…. The Patriots lol. They have a knack for getting older receivers and making the best out of them again, sans Randy Moss. #ComeToPhilly
Ughhhh. Texans threw away from him on purpose. They pushed all his money back and did this to him. Feeling real unhappy about the front office right now.
Steelers may be in the market after dropping lance Moore
Jacoby nice second choice after Andre
Johnson to Pats, maybe. Head1994-snow will be gone soon here in New England, looking forward to the Sox making a run before Pats go for 5 rings in the fall-Losing will be in Miami forever!
Big surprise, half the comments are putting him with either the Pats or the Hawks. This site could save certain commenters a lot of trouble if they just added at the end of each article that “player X would be a good fit for either the Pats or the Hawks”.
Would be a good fit for K.C. Possibly even a good place to trade Dwayne Bowe (set to make over 13 mil this year) and reduce the Chiefs cap number. Since the Chiefs wouldn’t be paying him a signing bonus, they could essentially drop or retrade him if necessary without cap consequences.
Welcome to Jax, you can stick it to the Texans twice a year.
A stand up guy who has some still left in the tank. There a quite a few teams that could use a big guy to go up and get the ball. I hope the Bills pick him up.
NO ONE IS GONNA TRADE FOR HIM WHEN THEY CAN GET HIM FOR NOTHING! HES NOT A QB LIKE SCHAUB!
COULDNT RESIST- LOVE RM AND THE RAIDER NATION!!!!
Mr. Smith, I have Mr. Belichick on line 1.
Finally! Let him play on a good team with a good QB for once. He deserves it and still has 2 good years left as a solid number 1-2. Look what LaFell did with Brady. AJ could double that
Packers if they lose Cobb, Pats, Seahawks, or Indy with Luck. Don’t waste another minute with a bad QB. He has 900 yards and 4 TDs with Fitzy, Mallett, and the young kid.
Pats need to retain their FAs on the defense more than they need this guy. They have pretty goid receivers already.
Guys, Andre is going to want to sign with a contender. Don’t dissolution yourself with the thought that he will sign in KC, Miami, Baltimore or Pittsburgh. He is more likely to sign with San Fran, Philly or Carolina. He wants to win.
If he’s serious about wanting to win a title I would think New England (assuming they have the cap space and are able to keep guys like Revis and McCourty), Baltimore and Seattle are teams he’d consider.
Ravens!
Alot of Pats fans these days, funny, I didn’t meet many Pats fans in the Steve Grogan,Tony Eason,Hugh Millen,Scott Zolak, Drew Bledsoe eras. I’ve seen more Pats “fans” in the last year than I have the whole 80’s and 90’s combined. Oh, and I hope Andre Johnson can find a team with a good qb.
Ouch, I bet he sticks it to them and goes Colts! They need another receiver now… (not a colt guy btw).
Panthers.
Any pats fan knows we have no money left to pay anyone.
Branch, ayers, revis, mccourty, Casillas all need to come back.
Amendola was money when it counted.
Unless we can park some players on IR at the start of the season I don’t even see how we can bring on rookies.
Colts makes some sense if they lose Reggie to retirement, but it’s trading out one 13-year Miami vet who has lost two steps for a 12-year Miami vet who has lost one. And if Reggie stays, no way. Nothing against the U, but these guys are old(ish).
I could see how the team, Pagano (Miami connections), and Luck would appeal to AJ. If Indy is convinced that he has a LOT in the tank and they’re in win-now mode (neither of which is assured) it could happen. But he’s not a long term solution to anybody’s problems. Maybe (sigh and cue the laugh track) Grigson will trade their first rounder for him.
Sign and trade with Cleveland….makes all the sense in the world…I believe there’s 52 million in cap space to play with this year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Texans manage to find a trade partner despite this report. The Texans managed to find a trade partner with the Raiders for Matt Schaub even though everyone knew the Texans were going to release him, especially after they had just signed Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Gotta love all the new pats fans that know nothing about the salary cap and think they’ll just get every FA to play for free.
$10 mil? Might as well shorten that headline to “Andre Johnson Will Be Released”.
Ravens?
He doesn’t even have any priors.
Unique situation. He can go to pretty much whatever team he wants once he gets released…..
please come too Cleveland
exit josh gordon enter andre johnson 2 year deal with 3rd year option?
#GoBrowns
Hilarious how Patriots fans automatically assume any veteran free agent wants to play for them so badly that they’d take a pay cut just for the privilege.
They have one of the most frugal owners in the league when it comes to spending “actual” dollars paid out. I read they are something like the third or fourth lowest paying teams in terms of real spending. Google it chowdz. Kraft Bobs bottomline and need to save every buck he can is coming to bite once again this offseason. Revis and Mccourty are gone, and they will go back to trying to have an even older Tom Brady win shootouts every weekm. Only to get bumped out of the playoffs by team like Baltimore or Denver.
Good win this year, smart of Krafty Bob to rent-a-Revis. But that was Brady’s curtain call.
Green Bay, sign him!!!
After hearing comments, I knew 80% of people are idiots. And it seems most on here are band-wagon Pats fans. Surprise! Even someone said Steelers. He has 10x more of a chance on the Ravens and I don’t see that happening. And I don’t see anyone making a trade. This draft is deep at WR. He’ll hit the market and a team with cap space will pick him up. Maybe the Colts.
When passes are consistently being thrown behind you, ten feet over your head, and at your feet, you miraculously appear to have “lost a step.”
trigzter says:
Mar 2, 2015 10:24 PM
Guys, Andre is going to want to sign with a contender. Don’t dissolution yourself with the thought that he will sign in KC, Miami, Baltimore or Pittsburgh. He is more likely to sign with San Fran, Philly or Carolina. He wants to win.
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Remind me again if what Philly or Carolina have won. I can’t seem to find anything.
Every single available player is going to the Pats according to PFT commentators…
Seahawks should trade a fourth rounder for him, the one they get for the harvin trade
Jaguer, Jets, Titans, 49ers, Raiders, Chargers, could use Johnson.. and I’m sure couple of them willing to bidding war with him..
Hoping Jets get Johnson.
This smells of Newsome. If a restructure is possible I can see baltimore making a move.
Johnson one one side, Decker on the other, with Harvin in the slot would be lethal (if we had someone to throw them the ball).
jagsfanugh says:
Mar 2, 2015 10:15 PM
Welcome to Jax, you can stick it to the Texans twice a year.
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Jacksonville just called me and i didnt answer.
Andre is a class act…wish the Pats could nab him for a couple years but they are too strapped on cap space… Also the Pats have a really good receiving group as it stands…. I believe TE Wright & WR’s Dobson & Boyce will give the Pats all the insurance & depth they will need…. The key is GRONK staying healthy all year….
I’m more interested is seeing what the Pats do on DEFENCE & keeping their own guys in house than making some big splash in free agency
Good luck Andre no matter where you end up!!
Brilliant strategy “Well, if we cant trade him we are just going to let him walk.” Goodbye trade.
Seattle here he comes!
Go Hawks!
Elway and your old coach on Line 1……welcome to DENVER.
Great player, great career. Congratulations, and thank you. Best of luck for the future, and no need to risk injury next year to establish your place as a great player.
Ozzie is a joke, he has drafted more players with character issues than players without character issues. I still can’t believe he let SF fleece him on the Boldin trade (Ravens only got a 6th rounderer for him).
sorry for assuming that nfl players’ ultimate goal is winning the super bowl……that’s why theres so man pats fans on here because we have the GOAT and he’s only been paired with a really elite outside receiver once (and he broke pretty much every record) so essentially were all salivating at the thought of what could be….now that being said, i felt the same way about vjax this past season and desean jackson in the offseason and larry fits before he resigned with the cards or trading up to draft kevin white or odell green beckham….so who knows what’s gonna end up happening, but if andre takes a one year deal to the pats, he’ll be able to get one last “big payday” after, just like revis might do this year if he chooses to chase bills instead of rings
All your old team mates are still in Philly.
If he gets cut he should come to KC! Johnson Wilson and Jason Avant and we could draft and Avant and Johnson could be mentors!!!
So, from what I gather, Andre Johnson is going to every team in the NFL except the Texans. Okay, understood pft bloggers…
trigzter says: Mar 2, 2015 10:24 PM
Guys, Andre is going to want to sign with a contender. Don’t dissolution yourself with the thought that he will sign in KC, Miami, Baltimore or Pittsburgh. He is more likely to sign with San Fran, Philly or Carolina. He wants to win.
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This is hilarious. LOL!
This has Ozzie Newsome all over it. How about a clean ngata for Andre?
Panthers or the Ravens.
Welcome Home!!! Miami will trade Wallace for Johnson and all is good. A no brainer deal. Wonder if O’Brien would allow the Dolphins this kind of deal being a ex Pat. Great trade for teas and everyone is happy.
Hail to the Redskins
Go get a ring in New England. Brady will make it happen. All you have to do is ball out for one more year, seriously ball out.
He caught 85 passes for 936 yards and three TDs in 2014 while playing with absolute trash at the QB position.
Can he change his contract if he is traded? I think alot of teams would be willing to do something if his cap hit wasnt so high.
Welcome to , Andre! Hahahahaha.
We get it. Everyone would like to see Johnson on their team for the right price.
Welcome to (insert your city here), Andre! Hahahahaha.
We get it. Everyone would like to see Johnson on their team for the right price.
I think most in Houston knew deep down this was coming. His cap number was so high that if he didn’t take a pay cut or restructure it was inevitable. It doesn’t make it feel any better though.
It’s a sad day for this franchise. We’re losing not only the face of the franchise but also its first HOFer and greatest player in its history.
I wish Dre all the luck in the world, he will be sorely missed in Houston. I will become an instant fan of wherever he ends up signing.
Although I don’t think anyone will trade for him, I think it’s a tad ridiculous that people are saying “at this point in his career” or “he’s not what he used to be”. I mean 1 “bad year” (by Johnson standards) with maybe the worst QBs in football and people are already writing him off as done? How soon people forget that just 15 games ago he was coming off a 1400 yard, 109 reception year. Give him a stable QB and I’d be confident he gets back to 90+ receptions and 1200+ yards.
I mean he did have 85 and 936 with nobodies.
If Johnson is really such a great WR, shouldn’t he have averaged more than 5 TDs a year for his career? I know they have had some QB issues in Houston, but come on.
First, the Texans did not hold him hostage throughout his career. The team has been very good to Andre, allowing him to sign a big deal after his rookie contract, and then tear that midway through so he could receive an even larger contract to keep him happy. Bob Mcnair has been incredibly focused on keeping Andre happy throughout his career, and has gone above and beyond to do that.
Secondly, the Texans had no real ‘leverage’ in trading Andre Johnson at any point. He is due to make an exorbitant amount of money in 2015, with commitments in 2016 and 2017. No team worth their salt was going to commit that kind of money to a guy who is on the downslope of his career. A trade for him was far-fetched in the first place. More likely for him to be cut and sign a 1 or 2-year deal somewhere (I’m guessing he’s going to New England).
In the end, he has been an all-time great for my Texans. I loved him coming out of college from the U, and I’m sad that he wasn’t able to finish his career. But at this point, it was time for the Texans to develop Deandre further as a number 1 guy, meaning that if Andre viewed himself as a number 1 that he’d have to do that somewhere else. Makes sense for both sides, and I wish him all the best as he finishes out his career.
Reggie McKenzie needs to get on the phone ASAP with Andre Johnson. Make him a Raider Reggie!!!!
Andre Johnson’s QBs while in Houston:
David Carr
Tony Banks
Dave Ragone
Matt Schaub
Sage Rosenfels
T.J. Yates
Matt Leinart
Case Keenum
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Ryan Mallett
the guy has mostly had backup QBs throwing to him all his career.
Wallace for Johnson. There two crybabies can start a’new.
Play for less with vikings.
An obvious candidate for Denver. Reunite with Kubiak & pair with DT on the outside and put Sanders in the slot.
SAINTS SAINTS SAINTS.
Doesn’t this just essentially force the release?
I mean, who’s going to trade for him when they can just get him for free in a couple weeks?
finsrule2222 says: Mar 3, 2015 9:57 AM
Although I don’t think anyone will trade for him, I think it’s a tad ridiculous that people are saying “at this point in his career” or “he’s not what he used to be”. I mean 1 “bad year” (by Johnson standards) with maybe the worst QBs in football and people are already writing him off as done? How soon people forget that just 15 games ago he was coming off a 1400 yard, 109 reception year. Give him a stable QB and I’d be confident he gets back to 90+ receptions and 1200+ yards.
I mean he did have 85 and 936 with nobodies.
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Andre used to dominate games with garbage like Tony Banks and Rosenfels at QB. I would know, having watched him his whole career. As I mentioned in my earlier post, he’s lost a step as hard as that is to admit. He no longer has the explosion off the LOS, acceleration and long speed in general he used to have. It’s understandable, the guy is about to turn 34. Can’t stay young forever. He used to run by DB’s and create separation with ease. I do agree though that his numbers last year would of been better with an actual QB but again, goes back to the point that it didn’t matter before who that QB was. Being such a huge fan of his, I wish he would stay, but it is garbage that apparently O’Brien told him he would have a reduced role when he can still more than play and still be a valuable piece of the offense. Feels like a ploy more than anything knowing he wouldn’t accept that so the team can go in a different direction.
He’s going to the Colts…Pats don’t have the cap space. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Pats offense look pretty good this year? They’ve got plenty of weapons. I mean I’m sure he’s still got something left in the tank, but it’s far more important to lock up McCourty and Revis.