The Patriots Aren’t Getting Andre Johnson and They Don’t Need to

Here we go again.

Last May, reports emerged that veteran Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson was planning to hold out in hopes of getting traded from the rebuilding Houston squad to a contender. Some speculated the Patriots could be in on the ensuing bidding war, but none took place: Johnson reported to training camp on July 25, effectively ending the trade saga.

On Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported Johnson asked to be traded or cut after the team told him his role would be reduced next season. And this time, it appears the threat of his departure will come to fruition.

Cue the speculation of Johnson donning a Patriots uniform next season.

On the surface, the move makes sense: even at 33, Johnson is a tremendous talent with a legitimate shot at the Hall of Fame. But he’s not coming to New England.
Any team that trades for Johnson becomes responsible for his base salary, which comes in at $21.5 million for the next two years. And no team is going to assume that much salary for two seasons of a player who only netted 936 yards and three touchdowns last season, regardless of the mitigating factors.

The much more likely scenario is the Texans cut Johnson, eating $7.3 million in dead money before June 1st or about $4.6 million after — cap hits they would also swallow in the unlikely event of a trade.

This leaves free agency, where Johnson will command just a fraction of the salary he’s due as of today. Think along the lines of Steve Smith’s three-year, $11.5-million pact or a little higher, given Johnson’s being a year younger than Smith was when he signed his deal and his coming off a slightly (200 more yards, one less touchdown) more productive season.

Already millions over the 2015 salary cap (though slated to be $14 million under if and when they decline Darrelle Revis’s option), and with pressing needs elsewhere, the Patriots aren’t about to drop $4-5 million per year on an over-the-hill wideout, even one of Johnson’s caliber.

Remember, this is a receiving corps that just helped Tom Brady torch — relatively speaking — the best defense in a decade to the tune of 328 yards and four touchdowns.

Between Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Tim Wright, Danny Amendola and even the seemingly forgotten Aaron Dobson, the Patriots don’t lack for receiving threats. With his $5.7 million cap hit, Amendola is a likely candidate for restructure, but cutting him outright will only save the team $2.1 million before June 1, nowhere near enough to pay Johnson.

The speculation is Johnson wants to play with a contender, and given the Texans’ history, thats understandable. So who better than the reigning champs? Brady would be far and away the best quarterback he’s ever played with, and would likely spark a rebound season or two. But unless Johnson will take a check at dramatically under his market value, that’s simply a pipe dream.


(boston.com)