The Houston Texans are set to enter the offseason with more than $56 million in salary cap space that could put them into position as one of the more active teams in the open market.
With that in mind, Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made a public pitch via social media to five-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, who will be a free agent in a few weeks after completing the final year of his four-year, $40 million deal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfBmcCPjkNE/?taken-by=deandrehopkins
Although Graham's production has tailed off in his first three years with the Seattle Seahawks, he is still a highly imposing factor in the passing game. He is coming off a productive campaign where he hauled in 57 catches for 520 receiving yards with 10 touchdown receptions, which marked the fourth time that he has tallied 10 or more touchdown catches.
Article Continues BelowGraham was also tied for second in touchdown receptions, which was the most by a tight end in franchise history while ranking first in catches (170), receiving yards (2,048) and touchdown catches (18).
The 31-year-old should fetch a lucrative multi-year deal on the open market if he desires to play elsewhere this upcoming offseason. The Texans could be in the picture due to the fact that they have lacked a true game-changer at the position for the last several seasons. His addition would help give the Texans a more formidable passing attack alongside Hopkins for second-year quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The change of scenery could be in order for Graham to be more involved in the offense a greater degree in similar fashion to his time with New Orleans Saints where he recorded more than 80 catches and 850 receiving yards in four straight seasons. The Texans could provide him that opportunity to recapture that form that helped earn him the reputation as being one of the game's elite players at his position.