The 2015 free agency period continues to surprise and that is exactly what the Houston Texans did again when they signed wide receiver Nate Washington to a one-year deal.

Washington is a consummate professional, entering his eleventh season in the NFL and he has a proven track record since arriving as an undrafted free agent from Tiffin University in 2005.

Four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and six with the Tennessee Titans, Washington has a chance to be a sleeper signing for the Texans in the second wave of free agency.

His best season came in 2011 where he had 74 receptions for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns. He has averaged over 15.5 yards a reception for all but two seasons since 2006.

Washington’s 2014 season saw him play in 16 games with11 starts, catching passes from Jake Locker, Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jordan Palmer. With 40 receptions and 647 yards, Washington was still able to average 16.2 yards a reception.

The Rundown

What He Brings

The veteran wide receiver brings a deep threat that can keep a secondary honest from stepping into the box and concentrating on the run and taking away underneath routes.

Washington has the ability to play both the the outside and slot receiver positions. He rarely makes mistakes in his route running and understands how to read defenses. One can tell with how he plays on the field, Washington thinks on the run and manipulate defenders in mid-route to get open.

With 10 years of NFL experience, it is clear he has a good feel for the game.

Route Running

Washington has the ability to run by defenders, but he reads them well and knows when to break or cut off of their movements. His best asset is understanding that defenses know he can get vertical in a hurry and he creates good lanes for quarterbacks to make plays for him in intermediate routes.

Hands

With only four drops in 71 targets, Washington has above average hands for his position. He has demonstrated the ability to make tough catches and can make acrobatic diving catches when needed.

Creating Yards After the Catch

There is not much creating for Washington after coming down with the football, but he can get tough yards when he needs to. With only 139 yards after the catch in 2014, Washington clearly picks his battles on when to fight for more yards.

Injury History

Nate Washington as been a reliable starter for the Titans, appearing in all 96 games since 2009 and 144 straight games since 2006. He has missed no time and his durability from season to season is impressive.

Final Thoughts

If Washington can make the roster he could be the outside threat needed to help the Texans offense out. His skill set allows him to help in the slot if needed and how the team will use him is yet to be determined. With his contract including only $30k guaranteed, Washington looks to be assured little and will be put on the spot to win a roster spot when training camp and the preseason arrives.

The Texans are making sure they are covering up as many holes as they can before entering the draft and Washington was a low risk signing that could pay nice dividends if he can lock down a roster spot.

Despite his age (31,) Washington can still stretch the field and has added speed to a wide receiver depth chart that has needed an upgrade for some time.

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