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Houston Texans sign WR Cecil Shorts III to a two-year contract

By Andrew Ross

Dec 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts (84) catches the game winning pass in the end zone while being defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) in the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts (84) catches the game winning pass in the end zone while being defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) in the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cecil Shorts III has decided to leave the Jacksonville Jaguars – the team who drafted him – for another team in the same division.

The Houston Texans are having a busy day.

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Houston added defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to their already strong defense earlier today, and now they have addressed the offensive side of the ball by adding former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts III.

It is reported to be a two-year deal worth $6 million with $2.5 million guaranteed.

Shorts was drafted by the Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2011 draft and was a consistent starter and contributor for them after his rookie year. The only negative of Shorts’ career in Jacksonville was the fact that he was never able to stay healthy. Shorts missed a total of 14 games over four years and never played a full season. Over the last three years, Shorts racked up a total of 174 catches for 2,313 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Texans recently released long-time star receiver Andre Johnson after the two sides over stayed  their welcome with each other, and they are hoping Shorts will be able to make up for some of his production. Obviously Shorts isn’t even close to Johnson’s level, but the team has big hopes for their young receiver DeAndre Hopkins and will only need Shorts to be a solid number two receiver in a run-first offense.

The rest of wide receiver free agent market is pretty weak right now, so Houston could definitely argue that they got the best talent available – and a young talent at that since Shorts is only 27 years old.

There weren’t any reports of bad blood between the Jaguars and Shorts, but it is interesting that he decided to stay in the division to face his former team two times a year.

Houston barely missed the playoffs last year at 9-7, and they are hoping these offseason moves can push them over the hump.

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