Cecil Shorts to Texans: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Wide receiver Cecil Shorts will be playing for a new NFL team in 2015, fleeing Jacksonville as a free agent in favor of the Houston Texans. 

Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo reported the news and confirmed it's a two-year deal worth $6 million. His signing should help add a boost to the receiver position after Houston cut ties with longtime Texan Andre Johnson.

Houston later confirmed the signing.

The Jaguars provided a statement on Wednesday, via Tad Dickman of the team's official website:

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Shorts, 27, was a fourth-round pick out of Mount Union in the 2011 NFL draft, but injuries have prevented him from reaching his full potential. Despite a perpetually unsavory quarterback situation, though, Shorts shone with the Jaguars when fully healthy.

Houston's investment in Shorts is a calculated risk that he'll return to the form he flashed in 2012, when he racked up 979 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.

Hamstring problems plagued Shorts in 2014, and his overall durability is suspect, so he couldn't command a ton of money on the open market. However, he is now getting a fresh start with the Texans to kick off the next phase of his career.

Prior to the regular-season finale last year, Shorts reflected on 2014 and hinted at the growth he underwent amid an adverse 3-13 campaign, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco:

"

It's been a very, you could say frustrating, year, but I'm not going to be down about it. I'm excited for the younger guys that we've got on this squad. We're a very young team...There's a lot of good things that happened this year. I learned a lot about myself this year, and I'm just ready for this last game and go out there and have some good times.

"

Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski weighed in on Shorts' value before he hit free agency:

Shorts is capable of playing outside or in the slot, is a sound route-runner and has good ball skills. If he can stay healthy and regain some of his explosiveness, Houston will have landed the 27-year-old at quite a bargain, and he should pair nicely opposite DeAndre Hopkins.

Even though his absence from the lineup and sometimes lackluster play due to nagging injuries hurt the Jaguars at times, they will miss Shorts this year and beyond.

Young quarterback Blake Bortles could have used someone like Shorts to serve as a reliable target and mentor, as Bortles and his young playmakers commence learning a new offense.

Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson are all entering their second year. Former first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon is working his way back onto the gridiron after off-field issues had him suspended for all of 2014.

Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell has done a nice job of surrounding Bortles with promising pieces. The objective moving forward has to be adding a savvy veteran to ensure the receiving corps and Bortles make big strides this coming season.     

Such a development will be necessary for the current Jacksonville regime to retain some semblance of job security.