NFL

Would Jets make a run at Andre Johnson?

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Published July 11, 2014, 4:24 p.m. ET

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It is not every day a player the caliber of Andre Johnson expresses that he wants to be traded. The Houston Texans have given no indication they will deal their star receiver, but if they make him available, there are sure to be plenty of suitors.

Four teams are already interested, according to NFL.com, and it makes sense if three of those teams are the Patriots, Panthers and Browns (who could lose their top receiver, Pro Bowler Josh Gordon, to a season-long suspension). It is unlikely the Jets will have any interest, though they are well-positioned from a financial standpoint — approximately $22 to $24 million under the salary cap — to absorb Johnson’s $10 million salary for 2014. The Giants are only about $6.8 million under the cap.

Johnson turned 33 on Friday. As a franchise fixture who has spent 11 years with the Texans, he is upset the team will not pay him a $1 million workout bonus – even though Johnson did not attend the early portion of the offseason workouts. Johnson reportedly wants to earn back the $1 million with extra workouts, but the Texans have held firm that they will not pay him the bonus money. Johnson, according to NFL.com, now wants to leave the Texans and play for a contender and might not report to Texans’ training camp.

Johnson has lost a step, but he is coming off a season in which he caught 109 passes for 1,407 yards and five touchdowns. He has five 100-reception seasons and seven 1,000-yard seasons in his career.

“Age and time is catching up to Andre Johnson, but we still rated him the league’s fifth best receiver,’’ Dan Shonka, the general manager and a national scout for Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services, told The Post. “He’s 33 years old and may not be the big-time feature receiver that he once was. However his value is a mentor to the younger receivers and a solid number two option. I can’t see the Giants bringing him in, but the Jets may be an option if the price is right. Bottom line: Can’t see the Texans trading him with their quarterback situation. Stranger things have happened, though.’’

The Jets upgraded their receiving corps by signing Eric Decker away from the Broncos. The Jets added Jacoby Ford and took Shaq Evans from UCLA in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. They also bring back Stephen Hill, Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson and Clyde Gates.