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Wide receivers Vincent Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, Laurent Robinson, Josh Morgan, Eric Weems and Harry Douglas have found new homes after hitting the NFL's free-agent market.

Franchise tags essentially removed from consideration Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson.

Others, such as Marques Colston, re-signed before free agency.

Teams still searching for help at the position -- that would be pretty much everyone but Seattle in the NFC West -- are left with a picked-over group of free agents.

Jerome Simpson, Burress, Brandon Lloyd, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aromashodu, Roy Williams, Mario Manningham and Early Doucet are the only ones remaining to have played at least half of their team's offensive snaps during the 2011 season.

As the chart shows, Burress was particularly effective in the red zone for the New York Jets. He converted first downs 38 times in 45 receptions for the third-highest percentage among wide receivers with at least 40 receptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Burress is also up there in age. He's among 12 available wideouts already in their 30s: Hines Ward (36), Burress (34), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (34), Kevin Curtis (33), Patrick Crayton (32), Deion Branch (32), Rashied Davis (32), Donte Stallworth (31), Jerheme Urban (31), Bryant Johnson (31), Lloyd (30) and Williams (30).

Of them, Lloyd has visited the San Francisco 49ers.

Nine more are 29 years old: Greg Camarillo, Keary Colbert, Mark Clayton, Jerricho Cotchery, Roscoe Parrish, Michael Clayton, Courtney Roby, Michael Spurlock and Braylon Edwards.

Still interested?

OK, let's check out 18 others, all younger than 29: David Anderson, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aroshamodu, Donnie Avery, Anthony Gonzalez, Maurice Stovall, Derek Hagan, Mike Sims-Walker, Ted Ginn Jr., Andre Caldwell, Steve Smith, Doucet, Brett Swain, Chaz Schilens, Simpson, Manningham, Devin Thomas and Kevin Ogletree.

Schilens visited Arizona and San Francisco. Manningham visited the 49ers and the St. Louis Rams.

I've also broken down the available wideouts by drafted round:

• First: Williams, Burress, Ginn, Stallworth, both Claytons, Johnson, Gonzalez and Edwards
• Second: Avery, Thomas, Simpson, Smith, Parrish, Branch, Colbert
• Third: Roby, Doucet, Hagan, Stovall, Manningham, Caldwell, Curtis, Sims-Walker, Ward
• Fourth: Cotchery, Lloyd
• Fifth: Legedu Naanee
• Sixth: none
• Seventh: Houshmandzadeh, Crayton, Schilens, Aromashodu, Anderson, Swain
• Undrafted: Davis, Urban, Camarillo, Spurlock, Ogletree

Only a handful of the available receivers project as starters. None would qualify as an outright game-breaker.

The Rams in particular need playmakers, but in looking at what is available, how many would qualify as dramatically better than what they already have? Austin Pettis, Brandon Gibson, Danario Alexander, Dominique Curry, Greg Salas and restricted free agent Danny Amendola are their current wideouts.

Early thoughts on the Texans scheduled to become unrestricted free agents come March 13, with thanks to Mac’s Football Blog, where you can find complete team-by-team lists that include exclusive rights and restricted free agents.

Running back Derrick Ward -- A third-stringer who has good experience and could be important if Arian Foster is lured away with an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.

Tight end Joel Dreessen -- Though largely underrated from the outside, he’s been a nice contributor and certainly has value for the Texans.

OG Mike Brisiel -- A solid starter they’d surely like to keep in order for their very good offensive line to remain intact.

C Chris Myers -- A very valuable cog in the machine and a great system fit, he may have been the best center in the NFL in 2011.

Wide receiver Bryant Johnson -- He was a non-factor as the team’s fourth receiver and they need to upgrade the spot.

Linebacker Tim Dobbins -- Played well when he got on the field, but may find better opportunity elsewhere.

Outside linebacker/defensive end Mario Williams -- If the Texans can’t lock him up before March 13, he will become the biggest prize of the free-agent class. It would be a huge accomplishment to find a way to re-sign him.

Cornerback Jason Allen -- He’s been a virtual “co-starter” with Kareem Jackson and has typically outplayed him. But based on this list, he’s not close to a priority.

Kicker Neil Rackers -- Rackers has been a steady guy for the Texans, who surely would like to keep him rather than shopping for a replacement.

Also UFAs:

• QB Jake Delhomme
• QB Jeff Garcia
• OG Kasey Studdard
• DT Tim Bulman
• S Dominique Barber
• P Matt Turk

HOUSTON -- The Texans sought to restore order and momentum in their season finale, while avoiding any more of the injury misfortune that’s beset them all season long.

Despite suffering a 23-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Reliant Stadium, the team seemed to achieve those goals and is now ready to turn to its first postseason. As the No. 3 seed, the Texans will host the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Nobody’s disappointed,” said receiver Andre Johnson, who estimated he played 15 snaps as he worked back from a hamstring injury. “Of course we wanted to win the game. We didn’t come out on top, but there is next week. Some teams don’t have next week. We have next week.”

“Those first couple drives, we kind of had that swagger back a little bit,” said quarterback T.J. Yates, who left the game with a bruise of his non-throwing shoulder in the first quarter. “Everybody was aggressive, flying around, very talkative on the sideline. It felt like we were back to normal out there.”

A postseason appearance is definitely not normal for the Texans. Houston has an NFL playoff game for the first time since 1993.

Here are some things we learned along the way on Week 17’s game between the division’s two best teams:

Texans fullback James Casey remains a weapon: He’s not your standard fullback. The converted tight end started the Texans' first five games, then missed a couple with a chest injury and never got back ahead of the more traditional Lawrence Vickers.

But Casey’s really more of a pass-catcher than a blocker by nature, and the Titans did poorly in figuring out how to stop him from getting free for seven receptions on seven targets for a team-high 91 yards.

Casey helped get the Texans in range for one of Neil Rackers’ field goals with a brilliant catch, keeping the ball in the air with a left-handed tip before diving to collect it.

“We were lining up in different formations with different personnel, and as a defense it’s kind of hard to understand exactly what we’re going to do,” Casey said. “Because we’re not just doing base things. We’re motioning all over the place. They don’t know if I’m fullback or tight end. It’s tough sometimes for them to set their blitzes or their coverage. Hopefully you can get guys out of spots, out of gaps in the run game and out of their zones in the pass game and try to take advantage of that.”

Next week, with Johnson playing full time and Owen Daniels and Arian Foster back in the lineup, odds are Casey qualifies as only the fourth- or fifth-best receiving option when he’s on the field.

“James has some crazy hands,” Johnson said. “He’s probably the guy I’ve seen make the most one-handed catches. His hands are very, very good, I think he has the best hands on this team. I don’t know who has the best in the league, but I think he’s right up there.”

The Texans are quite deep: Typically a team that scratches key starters like Foster, Daniels and cornerback Johnathan Joseph for a game that doesn’t have great meaning, is willing to yield some. Especially if it doesn’t jump out to a lead.

And the Texans have proven all season they have quality depth, as they’ve replaced defensive end Mario Williams, quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, punter Brett Hartmann and linebacker Daryl Sharpton, and played stretches without Johnson, safety Danieal Manning and guard Mike Brisiel.

Sunday as they rested some guys and pulled others early, they called on even more depth.

Beyond Casey, the Texans got solid contributions from a lot of role players like receiver Bryant Johnson, running back Derrick Ward and linebackers Tim Dobbins and Bryan Braman, along with quarterback Jake Delhomme.

“It says we have quality players all across this locker room,” Foster said. “We have guys that can play.”

Said Titans receiver Nate Washington: “This is a new Texans team that they take pride in. Even their backups come in there and they are playing hard. They’re going to make plays. We have to find a better way to close out those games.”

One piece of depth they were missing: a center behind Chris Myers who could make a quality shotgun snap in the clutch. The Texans could have won it with a 2-point conversion at the end, but guard Thomas Austin put the shotgun snap over Delhomme’s head at the end of the game. Kubiak said Austin had snapped enough that it shouldn’t have been an issue.

Kubiak understands a “meaningless” game: He’s never been a playoff head coach before, but he’s been part of a lot of good teams. That’s why he didn’t hesitate after Bryant Johnson’s 5-yard touchdown reception with 14 second left to keep his offense on the field for a 2-point try.

Even after Joel Dreessen’s false start, Kubiak stuck with it.

He wanted a win, sure, but he wanted overtime even less.

It was a smart call and the right call, even if Tennessee defensive end Derrick Morgan didn’t agree.

“I understand they want to get the game over with, but after they false started and they still went for 2, I was like, ‘Wow,’” he said. “That’s a slap in the face. But they botched the snap, so whatever.”

Let’s stop this before the volume gets too high.

Many Titans fans are pouting this morning, suggesting that their team should have traded for receiver Derrick Mason, who was acquired by the Texans last night in a trade with the Jets that could send a seventh-round draft pick to New York.

The Titans signed Donnie Avery after Kenny Britt went down and have used him very little so far.

Look, these are different teams with different needs who sought different things.

The Titans lost Britt for the year. Their intention was to move their young players up, so they can finally get a verdict on Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins. They were looking for a fourth guy who might challenge for time after he got comfortable, and a guy with speed.

That’s Avery.

The Texans lost Andre Johnson, probably for three games, and decided they could use an additional veteran presence.

While the Titans have young guys they like and want to give a chance, the Texans started off thin at receiver. They don't have guys who've been waiting who they think have promise.

They know exactly what they do have in Kevin Walter (a reliable guy who can’t always separate), Jacoby Jones (an unreliable guy who can separate), Bryant Johnson (a late addition who's not a big answer) and David Anderson (a guy they were willing to part with at cut time.)

Adding Mason makes a lot more sense for the Texans than for the Titans.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. says Mason and Avery “couldn’t be any more extreme” in the possession versus speed regard.

“Mason is very reliable, but only a short-to-intermediate player,” he said. “Avery is extremely hit or miss, but when he hits, he hits big with blazing speed.”

The Titans want to be younger and faster. Mason wouldn’t have helped in either regard. They are riding with their kids and hoping they ultimately get more hit than miss with Avery.

The Texans need depth, and they got a reliable veteran.

With Andre Johnson expected to miss three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against the Steelers, will the balance of power shift atop the AFC South?

The three-game stretch the Texans will play without him would be tough even with him: against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, at the Baltimore Ravens Oct. 16 and at the Tennessee Titans Oct. 23.

Houston has weapons even without the top receiver in the game. But defenses are likely to devote more resources to stopping running back Arian Foster. Jacoby Jones needs to be the big-play threat. Kevin Walter is the other starter, while Bryant Johnson will be third.

The primary threat in the passing game should be tight end Owen Daniels. Fullback James Casey, a tight end at heart, and tight end Joel Dreessen are also threats in the passing game.

So quarterback Matt Schaub will have plenty of options. It’s just that none of them bring the combination of size, speed and strength of Johnson, who went down untouched against the Steelers, clutching the back of his leg.

If the Texans could have picked a three-game stretch to be without Johnson, this wouldn’t be it.

How many games do you think they’ll win without him?

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson will have an MRI Sunday night, but the tone of the Houston Texans after their win over the Steelers seemed to be one of relief.

“All I can tell you right now is we think it’s hamstring-related,” coach Gary Kubiak said of the non-contact injury suffered in the second quarter. “It’s in the lower leg. We will go and get an MRI and stuff this evening… Obviously we have to find out what’s going on with Andre.”

Kubiak said the way Johnson went down scared him.

If the Texans are without Johnson for a time, the guy in the locker room echoed the message of their coach: Everyone else will have to do a bit more.

“We lost the big guy right now, hopefully he’ll be back soon,” right tackle Eric Winston said. “But things don’t change. We run the ball, we play-action pass, we go put up points and that’s all that matters.”

The Texans have Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter as their top wide receiver options after Johnson, and veteran Bryant Johnson is likely to become involved in the rotation.

“Bryant Johnson, there is a reason we brought him in here,” Winston said. “He looks the part, he’s played the part a little bit when he’s gotten in and now’s the time for him to step up…

"Obviously we’re going to see some bigger fronts, more eight-man fronts [to stop Arian Foster]. But that’s all right. That’s going to give Jacoby Jones some more chances to make big plays down the field. Everyone’s got to do a little bit more now.”

The Texans have played 13 games without Johnson since he was their first-round draft pick in 2003. They are 5-8 without him.

HOUSTON -- Andre Johnson went down untouched after a second-quarter reception for the Texans against the Steelers, writhing in pain and holding the back of his right knee.

After trainers attended to him, he got up and left the field under his own power.

He paused briefly in the bench area, then walked with team personnel to the locker room, moving slowly and with the injured leg staying stiff.

Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter are now working as the top two Texans’ receivers and Houston throws a bunch to tight end Owen Daniels.

Bryant Johnson is the only other active wide receiver. David Anderson was a pregame scratch.

The Texans have a 10-0 lead on Pittsburgh.

Click here for a complete list of Houston Texans’ roster moves.

Surprise moves: After cutting rookie punter Brett Hartmann last week, the team cut veteran Brad Maynard. The Texans do not have a punter. One fan quickly joked that a high-powered offense doesn’t intend to punt. But the Texans clearly have their eye on someone and will be adding a punter in the next couple of days. They've left a roster spot open for him. Fifth-round safety Shiloh Keo, a Wade Phillips favorite who was supposed to be a special teams demon, didn’t make it. Raw, undrafted outside linebacker Bryan Braman did make it.

No-brainers: Deciding Steve Slaton was one of their best 53 players and keeping four running backs seemed prudent to me. Deciding Trindon Holliday wasn’t going to help as a return man or receiver makes sense too.

What’s next: The team has only Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones and newcomer Bryant Johnson at receiver and could be looking for a fifth option, thought their pass catching tight ends ease the concern. Houston is thin on the offensive line, too.

We could pretend a lot of things about the Texans during Thursday night’s 28-0 preseason loss in Minnesota.

Like, for example, that Christian Ponder's eight carries for 61 yards indicates some deficiency in Houston’s ability to defend a running quarterback.

But who are we kidding? Of the 22 starters listed in the NFL’s official game book, none should be in the starting lineup on Sept. 11 against the Colts.

On a night when everyone in the division played, no one put less into it than the Texans.

There is little to interpret here, except maybe jostling by guys looking to solidify backup roles and late impressions by third-stringers on the fringe.

It was good that Matt Leinart had an efficient outing, though Matt Schaub's backup was with backups against backups. Three completions to newly added receiver Bryant Johnson were nice, as he looks like he could upgrade the team at No. 4 receiver.

Other than that, let’s say the Texans had a very impressive three-game preseason and a nice night off for their starters.

The big storyline or two for the AFC South preseason finales, all of which will be played tonight…

Colts at Bengals

It would be silly for Kerry Collins not to start, and Jim Caldwell has said the new quarterback will play “a lot.” They should give him a reasonable amount of time with the starting line and the weapons he needs to sync up with if he’s starting on Sept. 11 in Houston. That would stray from the typical philosophy in the fourth game, but the change of circumstances dictates a change in approach. Unfortunately, Collins won’t have a chance to work with Austin Collie (foot) or Anthony Gonzalez (hamstring).

Titans at Saints

Depth decisions are the big story for Tennessee at this point. It’s a big night for wideouts Lavelle Hawkins and Kevin Curtis, defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks, offensive tackles Mike Otto, Troy Kropog and Pat McQuistan, linebackers Rennie Curran and Patrick Bailey and safeties Vincent Fuller, Robert Johnson and Anthony Smith. Jake Locker should see significant time and it would be nice to see him cap the preseason with a performance that shows his growth since the starts of camp.

Rams at Jaguars

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew and defensive end Aaron Kampman are both coming back from knee injuries and they will see their first action of the preseason. Odds are we don’t get great reads on either, but it’s a significant thing for them to be involved in a bit of live action. A sack, at any time, by anyone, would really help in dealing with pass rush concerns. David Garrard will only get a series or two. He can do a lot for himself and the team but putting together an effort that helps create confidence.

Texans at Vikings

We’ll see some kids play a lot, a whole game in some instances. Matt Leinart will have a big chance to show why Gary Kubiak is so high on him, and it would be good if he could connect some with newcomer Bryant Johnson. Like the Texans, the Vikings are expected to have a bunch of guys in street clothes. So while I’d like to see guys who’ve shined for Houston in a great preseason -- like Xavier Adibi, Jesse Nading, Troy Nolan -- fare well early in this game, it won't mean much more than them faring well a bit later in previous games.

My plan

From AFC South blog HQ, I expect to watch the first hour of the Colts and the first hour of the Titans and post something on those two games when they are over. The Jaguars and Texans may need to wait until morning depending on how things unfold. Odds are against me seeing all four games start-to-finish by the time I post some thoughts on them. And by "odds are against," I mean it can't happen.

I'm continuing to get my head around the Minnesota Vikings' reported pursuit of quarterback Donovan McNabb, which to this point qualifies as the biggest NFC North development on Day 1 of the 2011 free agent market. We've also discussed issues from Matthew Stafford's swagger to Aaron Rodgers' free agent wish list, and I'm sure there will be much more to come.

For now, let's review in rapid-fire fashion a number of other developments that merit comment but maybe not their own blog post:

Item: Former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks, where he will reunite with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Comment: Someone in the Seahawks' building clearly wants someone else to win the starting job, be it Charlie Whitehurst or Matt Leinart. As much as I respect Jackson as a person, I don't see him as an NFL starter -- and neither do many other people in the league.

Item: The Vikings agreed to terms receiver Devin Aromashodu, formerly of the Chicago Bears, to a one-year contract.
Comment: Aromashodu isn't a possible replacement for Sidney Rice or even Bernard Berrian, should he be released. Aromashodu remains an intriguing big target who had a career game against the Vikings in 2009, catching seven passes for 150 yards and a game-winning touchdown. Opponents don't forget games like that.

Item: Free agent receiver Santana Moss agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins.
Comment: Send your condolences to Bears receiver Devin Hester, who publicly lobbied the team to sign Moss.

Item: The Bears have interest in free agent receiver Brad Smith, according to ESPNChicago.com's Michael C. Wright.
Comment: Smith offers a bigger look than the rest of the Bears' receivers and could also return kickoffs following the expected departure of Danieal Manning. Bring him on.

Item: The Bears want free agent linebacker Nick Roach to return as a backup, according to ESPNChicago.com's Jeff Dickerson.
Comment: That means the Bears still need a starter at strong-side linebacker. They are interested in Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Justin Durant, according to ESPNChicago.com.

Item: The Detroit Lions will release receiver Bryant Johnson, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Comment: It wouldn't have made sense to bring Johnson to training camp after drafting Titus Young as the likely No. 3 receiver. That gives a player many of you have asked about, Derrick Williams, a fighting chance to make the team as a No. 4 receiver.

Item: The Vikings have told defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy he won't return in 2011, according to Kennedy's Twitter feed.
Comment: Cross off another candidate to start at defensive tackle if free agent Pat Williams signs elsewhere and during Kevin Williams' expected four-game suspension.

Item: The Bears are the only NFC North team to release a list of undrafted free agents they have signed.
Comment: All 26 names are published over at ESPNChicago.com for your enjoyment.

Item: And today will be better than yesterday.
Comment: That's my friend Buster Olney's signature blog sign-off. I like it.

I reached deep into my bag of tricks this week, hitting you with a Have at It on the first day of ESPN.com's conversation template conversion. (Try saying that five times fast.) Reflecting first-day frustrations, Sundevilaw suggested "Divide, Conquer and Confuse" as the most appropriate name for the software. Fortunately, it appears you all have made a slick adjustment since then.

The question at hand: Which NFC North receiver -- Titus Young of the Detroit Lions or Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers -- is headed toward the most productive rookie season? The post also included one of our newfangled SportsNation polls, which for the most part ran 50-50. I guess that's the sign of a good debate.

Each player provides unique attributes, but the biggest discrepancy between the two situations might be the potential for playing time. The Lions have suggested Young is in line for the No. 3 receiver position, a role that would make him a quasi-starter. Cobb, on the other hand, figures as no better than the Packers' No. 4 receiver provided all incumbents are healthy.

"If we are looking at just numbers I see Titus Young putting up better numbers," wrote ispammc. "... The Packers still seem too deep for Cobb to get the number of receptions that Young has a chance for. Don't forget about Jermichael [Finley]!"

TheChainsawNinja, whom I wouldn't want to run into in a dark alley, agreed that Young has a better immediate opportunity on offense: "As a Packer fan I think Titus Young will have better rookie numbers ... just because Cobb will fall down through the Green Bay depth chart. However, Cobb will end up with the better career numbers because he won't be pressured into a role as a starting WR he isn't ready for. Randall Cobb will be given time to develop behind a very talented receiving corps and will start showing his value once Donald Driver is through with the NFL."

Cobb, on the other hand, appears to have a much better opportunity to jump in as a kickoff and punt returner than Young, at least as long as Lions ace returner Stefan Logan remains healthy. Getting Cobb into the special-teams mix is enough for thethiefbarabus, who wrote: "Don't care how many balls Cobb gets, just getting Tramon [Williams] out of PR duties is WELL worth the pick...Seriously, every time I saw him back there fielding a kick I was just holding my breath."

Even so, joeblow501 cautions against assuming anything about Cobb's opportunity as a receiver. Joeblow501 noted that James Jones (47 receptions), Greg Jennings (45) and Jordy Nelson (33) were all productive in the Packers' current offense as rookies and wrote: "There is no reason to think Cobb will be any different."

Indeed, last season the Packers had four wide receivers with at least 40 receptions, although part of that production was the result of Finley's season-ending knee injury. In 2009, their No. 4 receiver had 22 receptions and in 2008, he had 20.

In the end, both dgnfcnorthaz and TDbuddah argued, Young and Cobb will excel in different areas but the sum of their contributions will be about equal.

Wrote dgnfcnorthaz: "If Young gets 40 catches, that doubles the amount the Lions got from all their WRs after Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson. That would be a positive all by itself -- Bryant Johnson caught only 1/3 of the passes thrown his way. Young is also a burner and could create havoc in the open field with his speed and agility. ... Cobb will make the Packers happy if he can get more than 8 yds per PR, and if he can actually hang on to the ball."

Here's how Tdbuddah broke it down:

I guess it depends how you define production. IMO:

Total TDs - Cobb 4 or 5, Young 4 or 5

Total Rec - Cobb 20 or so, Young 55 or so

Return yards - Cobb a lot, Young Not so much

Receiving yards - Cobb 400 or so, Young 600 or so

... My guess is "production-wise" (however you define that) they probably balance out. As for importance to the team (which the Packers excelled in last season) -- getting Jordy off kickoffs and Tramon off punts, I'd have to say Cobb is more important."

My take? While I don't think you can understate Cobb's immediate impact on special teams, I think we should also remember what we discussed earlier this month. If he proves to have the advertised skill set, Young will add a critical explosive element to a Lions offense that was actually pretty horizontal last year.

In hashing through this issue, we can only assume that lineups remain static on both sides. We all know that is rarely the case, but all we can do is offer the usual injury caveats.

In that context, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Young finishes with significantly better receiving numbers than Cobb, a fact that will be important to fantasy players if no one else. There's no doubt Cobb could offer the Packers a valuable service by getting Williams out of the punt-return job, and it'll be an upset if coach Mike McCarthy doesn't carve out some kind of role for him in the offense.

It's easy to envision Young with a 50-catch season. Remember, that's only 3.2 receptions per game over 16 games. Is Cobb going to get 50 balls on an offense with Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Finley and possibly Jones? Unlikely. His best chance to equal Young's contribution will be to routinely improve the Packers' field position via the return game.

I don't mind revealing my initial reaction Saturday when the Detroit Lions drafted Boise State receiver Titus Young with the No. 44 overall selection. Fun for fantasy players, but a luxury for the Lions.

Maybe you thought the same about a team that already counts Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Jahvid Best, Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler among its pass-catchers. The Lions, after all, threw for the 12th-most yardage in the league (3,810) last season. Selecting a wide receiver in the top third of the second round, immediately preceding a six-player run that included two defensive backs and three offensive linemen, seemed confusing at best.

With that said, I don't mind divulging my "upon-further-review" reaction. The Lions needed a receiver like Young more than most of us probably realized.

In reality, despite their previously noted weapons, the Lions had one of the NFL's least explosive passing games in 2010. Their team average of 6.3 yards per attempt was the fourth-worst in the NFL. They ranked in the league's bottom third in total passes of more than 20 and more than 40 yards. ESPN Stats & Information tracked totals of 30-plus yard receptions. The Lions didn't have a receiver among the top 20.

Enter Young, who averaged 17.1 yards per reception last season at Boise State and who has been compared by at least one prominent draft analyst to Philadelphia Eagles playmaker DeSean Jackson. Young isn't quite as fast as Jackson, having run an official 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, but he has a similarly shifty 174-pound frame and natural instincts for getting downfield.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he didn't want to "pigeon-hole" Young as a "field-stretcher," but the Lions clearly believe he brings that dimension.

"[W]e have a very defined role for what he can do for this football team," Schwartz said. "He's an explosive player. By explosive, I mean by 20-yard gains or more. [He is] natural catching the ball. Probably one of the most natural receivers in this draft. [He has] skills to go out and create separation. He fits very well with the other pieces that we have on offense, so we were really excited to get him into this spot."

Many of you might wonder why Johnson hasn't filled that role in recent seasons. After all, he entered the NFL in 2007 with an inhuman combination of a 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame and a 40 time of 4.35 seconds.

Opponents can read that scouting report too, and it's been relatively rare when Johnson hasn't faced some form of a bracket coverage that keeps a safety over the top and discourages deep passes to him.

Under offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, the Lions have focused more on getting the ball in his hands -- wherever the defense will allow it -- rather than forcing low-percentage deep shots. As a result, Johnson has caught 144 passes in 29 games over that span, but only seven of them have gone for more than 40 yards.

The receivers the Lions have paired him with since 2009, Bryant Johnson and Burleson, are both intermediate-range targets at this point in their careers. As you can see in the chart, Lions wide receivers combined for eight receptions of 30 or more yards in 2010. For context, consider that the Green Bay Packers' Greg Jennings finished tied for the league lead with 15 on his own.

Bryant Johnson might not return in 2011, but the Lions envision Young stepping in as their No. 3 receiver and going places that neither Calvin Johnson nor Burleson has taken them.

"The guy is an explosive playmaker," general manager Martin Mayhew said. "He's a stick of dynamite. He's got speed. He's got great hands. ... He's got a role on offense right now. He's probably going to have the opportunity to step in as our third guy. We haven't had great production from that spot in the last couple of years and we feel that Titus is the guy that can step in and solve that problem for us."

That's a role Jackson filled to perfection when the Eagles drafted him in 2008, and in three seasons no receiver with at least 100 receptions has averaged more than Jackson's 18.3 yards per catch. With anywhere close to that kind of impact, the Lions' offense would progress from dangerous to feared. It's nice to be able to drive the ball downfield, but all really good offenses have the ability to score quickly and from any point on the field.

Along the way, I think Lions fans are going to enjoy getting to know Young -- who wanted no part of suggestions that he will be a "poor-man's DeSean Jackson."

"I've never been another man's nothing," Young told Detroit-area reporters. "I've always known that I've been Titus Young from Day 1. My mother named me Titus Demetrius Young. She didn't name me nothing else and I know what I was. I know who I am and I know as people are going to compare you to people but God made me to be me and he made me to be Titus Demetrius Young. You can compare me all you want to, but I'm no man's poor man.

"My initials my whole life has been T.D. Young; so it's been Titus Demetrius Young -- 'Touchdown' Young. So I just feel like football is just me ever since I was born and now I can go play some more football with Detroit."

Most teams would love a speedy downfield threat. The Lions, as it turns out, needed one.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: biggest team needs.

Chicago Bears

It's no secret that the Bears patched together a serviceable offensive line last season, one born of trial, error and desperation. But with an entire offseason to prepare, they will need a better Week 1 plan. The Bears need help across the line, and you could make an argument for any of the five positions as their top need. Center Olin Kreutz could relieve the situation by re-signing when the free-agent market opens, but otherwise the Bears don't have a single position with an established starter. It's not clear where incumbents Frank Omiyale, Chris Williams, Roberto Garza or J'Marcus Webb will play in 2011. Meanwhile, the release of defensive tackle Tommie Harris highlighted the Bears' need for an upgraded interior pass rush. The Bears would benefit from a pass-rushing defensive tackle as well as some depth behind defensive ends Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije.

Detroit Lions

The Lions have only two experienced cornerbacks under contract, Nate Vasher and Alphonso Smith. They offered 2010 starter Chris Houston a contract tender, but he is likely to be made an unrestricted free agent when the market opens. The Lions would like him to return but the situation's uncertain. In either event, cornerback is the Lions' top need this offseason. Running a close second is outside linebacker after the Lions released one starter, Julian Peterson, and issued a qualifying tender for another, Zack Follett, whose 2010 neck injury could preclude his return. There has been some discussion about moving middle linebacker DeAndre Levy to the outside, but that probably would still leave the Lions in search of two new starters. Finally, the Lions want more production from their No. 3 receiver after Bryant Johnson and Derrick Williams combined for 21 receptions last season. Good depth at tight end mitigates the urgency of this need, but the Lions are one injury away from a shortage at receiver.

Green Bay Packers

The Super Bowl XLV champions will get an internal boost at several positions from the 15 players who finished last season on injured reserve. As a result, this roster doesn't have many obvious shortcomings. But at the top of a short list is outside linebacker, where the Packers rotated three players opposite Clay Matthews last season. The Packers also must continue crafting their succession plan for longtime offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. Last year's No. 1 pick, Bryan Bulaga, replaced Tauscher in Week 5. Bulaga could stay at right tackle, or he could ultimately take over for Clifton. In either case, the Packers eventually will need further reinforcements. The same is true at receiver, where veteran Donald Driver is 36 and No. 3/4 receiver James Jones could sign elsewhere as a free agent. Jordy Nelson remains under contract, but Driver's age and Jones' uncertain status make receiver a secondary area of need for the Packers.

Minnesota Vikings

As we've been discussing for months, the Vikings need to acquire at least one and perhaps two new quarterbacks. Their dream scenario is to draft one who is ready to start right away, but that might be difficult if they stay in the No. 12 overall slot. Short of that eventuality, the Vikings might be forced to draft a future starter and sign or trade for a short-term answer. The Vikings are also looking to replace two starters on their defensive line, left end Ray Edwards and nose tackle Pat Williams, and could have three starting positions in their secondary up for grabs. Only cornerback Antoine Winfield seems guaranteed of a starting spot. The receiver position could need an overhaul if they lose Sidney Rice to free agency and Bernard Berrian is ultimately released, as has been speculated.

Something has been missing from my life, and perhaps yours as well. Our extended postseason run and an unusual start to the offseason has delayed a follow-up I've been meaning to write for some time. So while we have a moment, let's finally restore order around here.

One of our primary themes for the 2010 season was the NFC North's response to its precedent-setting passing numbers in 2009. In a pre-training camp post, we suggested the division race would turn on the degree to which each team's pass defense could catch up to our passing offenses.

Would the Chicago Bears' acquisition of defensive end Julius Peppers pay off? How much better would the Detroit Lions' pass rush be with their retooled defensive line, one that now included a former Pro Bowl defensive end (Kyle Vanden Bosch) and the No. 2 overall pick of the draft (defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh)? Would the Minnesota Vikings sustain their historic passing efficiency of 2009 while improving their own pass defense? Could the Green Bay Packers straighten out the personnel shortage that led to an epic collapse in the wild-card playoffs?

Our theory: The most effective response would clinch the division and, perhaps more. And although there were a few exceptions here and there, the end result proved illuminating.


As the charts show, the Bears won the NFC North after making a 24-spot jump in the NFL's rankings for defensive passer rating. The Packers, who fielded the league's best pass defense and No. 3 passing offense based on quarterback rating, won Super Bowl XLV. The Vikings improved their pass defense, but the collapse of their passing offense was the single biggest factor in their 6-10 record. Finally, the Lions' progression in both categories mirrored their four-victory improvement from 2009.

Sorry, run-and-run-defense enthusiasts. Success in today's NFL requires efficient passing and pass defense. Passer rating isn't a perfect common evaluator, but I like it better than the NFL's traditional measure using total yards. And as Kerry Byrne of Football Facts points out, defensive passer rating is one of the most reliable indicators of championship-caliber teams.

"This game is made for offensive players, I think," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said recently. "The rules are, and all that kind of stuff."

In turn, any team that can take either special advantage of those rules and make headway against them on defense -- or both -- figures to be in the playoff conversation. So let's take this quiet moment in the NFL offseason to measure each NFC North team through the passing lens. Where are they and how can they improve?

Chicago Bears

Quarterback Jay Cutler threw 10 fewer interceptions in 2010 after getting assimilated into Mike Martz's offense, and the entire team figures to benefit from its familiarity with Martz's system. With that said, I see two pass-related areas the Bears should focus on this year: Pass protection and interior pass rush.

The Bears gave up an NFL-high 56 sacks last season, a figure that doesn't directly apply to passer rating but assuredly affects a quarterback's accuracy and decision-making over time. In a recent interview with the Bears' website, coach Lovie Smith noted "the number of hits Jay took this past season." On many levels, the Bears need to enter 2011 with a better Week 1 plan for their offensive line.

Meanwhile, the release of defensive tackle Tommie Harris reminds us the Bears don't have an established interior pass-rusher who has typically defined their defense. Matt Toeaina, who replaced Harris in the starting lineup last season, was credited with two sacks.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are hoping that Vanden Bosch returns at full strength following neck surgery. If so, their biggest pass-related need this offseason is continuing to rebuild their cornerback position. They did not re-sign starter Chris Houston before last week's deadline, but it's possible he could return to the team after testing the free-agent market. At the moment, however, the Lions have only two established cornerbacks under contract: Alphonso Smith and Nate Vasher.

Meanwhile, the Lions have acknowledged the need to improve at their No. 3 receiver position. Although they can mitigate this issue with the smart use of tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler, the Lions' offense would take a substantial hit if either Calvin Johnson or Nate Burleson were forced from the lineup for an extended period. Bryant Johnson and Derrick Williams combined for a substandard 21 receptions last season.

Green Bay Packers

Thompson will need to sort out his receiver depth in anticipation of James Jones' pending free agency. Jones said Monday he wants to be a starter, an indication that he will look to sign elsewhere when the market opens. The Packers could use Jordy Nelson as their unquestioned No. 3 receiver and seek further depth in the draft, a reasonable path that could make Jones' departure inevitable.

The Packers' other big challenge will be replacing defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who led their linemen with seven sacks despite missing five games because of injury. Jenkins is a pending free agent and appears set to move on. Rising second-year players Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson could vie for that job. Reviews on both players have been good, but are they seven-sack good? Another possibility is veteran Johnny Jolly, who has applied for reinstatement after a one-year suspension.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings might have more passing-game work ahead of them than the rest of the NFC North combined.

At the top of the list is finding short- and long-term answers at quarterback, a job that could require multiple acquisitions. Former Pro Bowl receiver Sidney Rice is a pending free agent and wants to test his value on the market, and last season ended with high-priced veteran Bernard Berrian as an afterthought. A significant rebuild of the receiving corps could be on the horizon.

Defensively, the Vikings probably are looking for two new starters on their defensive line. Left end Ray Edwards, who recorded 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons, appears set to move on in free agency. (Backup Brian Robison signed a new contract last week.) Nose tackle Pat Williams also isn't expected back.

Finally, the Vikings enter the offseason certain of only one starter in their secondary: cornerback Antoine Winfield. The health of fellow cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) is uncertain, and at the very least, safeties Madieu Williams and Husain Abdullah will have to earn their starting jobs in training camp.