Former Pitt Wide Receiver Signs With Houston Texans

Wayne signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent on May 11 of last year, signing with the practice squad last September and he signed a reserve/future contract in January.

He was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2023 CFL Draft, which could be an option if Wayne eventually wants to head back north.

Wayne played in a couple of preseason game for the Texans last summer but hasn’t had much of an opportunity since. He’s a big, physical wideout, measured at the 2023 Pitt Pro Day at a lean 6-foot-2 (and 6/8ths) and 209 pounds, with 9 and 6/8th-inch hands, 33 and 1/8th-inch arms and a long 79 and 5/8th-inch wingspan.

He jumped out of the gym with his 41.5-inch vertical, complementing it with a 10-foot-7-inch broad jump, and while he didn’t hit his fastest time in the 40-yard dash, he showcased solid speed.

He racked up a career-high 60 receptions for 1,063 yards (17.7 yards per reception) and six touchdowns during his final season in often serving as the sole threat through the air for Pitt.

He knows the kind of player he is. He’s confident in the kind of player he is, regardless of whether that led to being drafted or not.

“My body of work speaks for itself,” Wayne said last year. “I put up the numbers, 1,000-yard receiver. I’ve showed that I’m versatile, can play inside and outside. I show off good hands, yards after the catch, explosives.

“It speaks for itself, so I’m very confident in the player I am and know the player that I am, so at the end of the day, if my name’s called, that’s a huge bonus. If not, we’re still working, nothing changes.”

It remains to be seen just how far Wayne will advance within the Texans’ system, but he’s a professional wideout who has another opportunity.