Garrett Graham

It's a bad situation when a team's starting defensive end has as many receiving touchdowns as its tight ends. But that was the situation last year in Houston as defensive end J.J. Watt caught three touchdown passes while tight ends Graham, Ryan Griffin and C.J. Fiedorowicz each had one. Coach Bill O'Brien came to Houston last year with a reputation of featuring the position in his offenses, but the first-year head coach used the tight end less than any team last season. The Texans' tight end trio had 51 targets - 25 individual tight ends had as many. Graham missed Week 1 with a back injury and then watched his season end Week 13 with a high-ankle sprain. In between, he "led" the team's tight ends with 18 receptions on 28 targets. Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Arian Foster dominated the targets last year, accounting for 68.6 percent of the team's pass attempts. Johnson is gone this season, but his 147 targets likely will be split by free-agent signee Cecil Shorts and rookie Jaelen Strong. Where that leaves Graham is unclear. Uncertainty at quarterback also plays a factor. At 6-3, 243, Graham has red-zone upside - he had 13 red-zone targets and scored three touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line in 2013 - but at this rate, he may never get there again.

Graham posted career highs across the board last season, handling the starting job for the first time in his four-year career after Owen Daniels broke his fibula in Week 5. Daniels left for Baltimore this offseason, leaving Graham as the No. 1 tight end, but his role is a bit uncertain. The Texans have a new look this year with former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as the new head coach. O'Brien plans to use formations with multiple tight ends the way he did in New England, with Graham in the slot and 2014 third-round draft pick C.J. Fiedorowicz as the in-line tight end. Fiedorowicz is noted more for his blocking than as a major receiving threat, but he will still likely poach some of the 89 targets Graham had last year. The 6-5, 265, Fiedorowicz, also might be the preferred option in the red zone. Graham, 6-3, 243, had 13 red-zone targets and scored three touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line last season. The Houston quarterback situation is also unsettled, which adds to the uncertainty.

With James Casey now in Philadelphia, Graham has an opportunity to receive more targets in two-tight end sets but he will still be behind starter Owen Daniels on the depth chart.

With the departure of Joel Dreessen (Denver) in free agency, Graham moves up the depth chart in 2012. And it's not an insignificant move. Even though Owen Daniels is returning to form after a season-and-a-half worth of injuries, the Texans utilize the tight end in their offense and there's room Graham to contribute in the receiving game.

Graham saw a little action in his rookie season, with most of it coming on special teams. He should move up to third on the depth chart if the transition of James Casey from tight end to fullback goes as planned. He was a good receiving tight end at Wisconsin, but any contributions to the Texans' offense this year will be as a blocker and in pass protection.

Graham has to compete with several other rostered tight ends for a depth role at the position. The fact that Houston liked him enough to draft is a positive for him as he dukes it out with Anthony Hill, James Casey and Derek Fine.