The Houston Texans made significant progress in 2014, jumping from a dismal two wins in 2013 to narrowing missing the AFC Playoffs with a 9-7 mark. However, in order for Houston to take the next step, the Texans' front office will have to address key questions at quarterback, nose tackle, and with Andre Johnson's departure, wide receiver.
With that being said, the 2015 NFL free agency market has plenty of talent for the Texans to choose from. However, there are also some 'square peg, round hole' options that Houston would be better served steering away from. Here are 3 free agents the Texans should avoid this offseason.
QB Brian Hoyer
It says a lot about the quarterbacks in the 2015 free-agent class that Brian Hoyer is at or near the top of the talent pool. The soon-to-be former Cleveland Browns signal caller was mediocre at best in his first extended stint as a starting quarterback in 2014, completing just 55.3% of his passes for 3,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Texans are reportedly making their interest known in the 29-year-old, but buyer beware -- Hoyer seems likely to muddle the Texans' already murky quarterback situation if signed rather than provide a clear-cut solution.
WR Michael Crabtree
Someone’s going to overpay Crabtree this offseason, and it shouldn’t be the Texans. Whether it was his attitude issues or a lack of communication with former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, Crabtree looked physically pained while being relegated to a 3rd WR role by the Bay in 2014. Apologists will point to Crabtree’s impressive 2010-12 run, and while there’s talent there to be sure, there’s also a very good chance that the former 1st rounder doesn’t have the right intangibles to be a consistently elite wideout at the NFL level.
NT Vince Wilfork 
The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots declined Wilfork's option in 2015 as a cap space manuever, and the veteran nose tackle will likely have plenty of suitors when free agency begins on March 10th. However, his advanced age for a tackle (34 in November) likely means diminishing returns for a guy who used to be one of the more feared run-stuffers around. Houston should look at younger options (Arizona's Dan Williams, Cleveland's Ahtyba Rubin) instead.
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