The Houston Texans have an issue with the performance of their linebackers in pass coverage. The Texans desperately need to find a linebacker who can cover in today’s NFL. With the 2020 NFL Draft a little over two months away, here are a few linebackers that fit this mold. Keep in mind, the Texans don’t have a first-round pick, and won’t have a chance to address the issue until No. 57th overall in the second round.
Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
The Draft Network is pretty high on Davis-Gaither’s athleticism and length:
Akeem has very good reactive athleticism for the position. He shows his versatility by aligning as a stacked backer, as an OLB in an odd front scheme, walked out over a WR in sub packages and even aligned in the box. He’s an undersized LB but is extremely physical, contact seeking LB against the run. He has good length and very good lateraled agility for the position. Easily gets through trash and to the football in the run game. He’s a contact seeker and shows good explosion in his hips as a tackler. He also has good coverage upside on RBs and TE’s. Has excellent range for the Linebacker position. His skill set suggests he is ideally suited to play WLB in an even front scheme and projects to be a core special teamer, as well.
Davis-Gaither might be one of the most athletically gifted linebackers in this year’s draft. He also had the stats to back up his playing tallying 101 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception, and eight passes defensed during his junior year. He would be a great fit with Zach Cunningham and even Benardrick McKinney to provide some versatility at the ILB position.
Justin Strnad, Wake Forest
The Draft Network likes his natural gifts, but indicates that he still has room to grow:
Justin Strnad projects favorably as a next level linebacker thanks to his range and explosiveness. Strnad took notable steps forward in his final season with the Deacs, showing more confidence in his reads and more trust in his eyes to break on action quickly. Strnad can continue to increase his productivity with continued focus on stacking blocks and keeping his frame clean, but there’s plus skills to work in space as is. Can be a starter in an even front as the WILL linebacker playing in space.
Like Davis-Gaither, Strnad also has the stats to backup his athletically ability. He suffered a torn bicep in 2019, which limited him to just seven games. However, Strnad was productive in that limited action with 69 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an interception, and four pass breakups. Scouts note he has a dynamic first step and is great in zone coverage.
Logan Wilson, Wyoming
The Draft Network really appreciates the mental side to Wilson’s game:
As a former defensive back, Wilson is a smart, experienced leader in the middle of a Wyoming defense that led the country in takeaways in 2017. Mental processing is top notch. Wilson is able to recognize what offenses and what receiver assignments are doing in pre-snap as to anticipate movement well and position himself in the right spots to make throws and reads difficult for quarterbacks. Understands that zone spacing at a high level. Motor is always running hot. His feet are constantly moving. Always looking to get a jump on where the ball is going. Very solid stats as a four-year contributor — is closing in on 400 career tackles.
Wilson would be a great asset for the Texans in 2020. He came to Wyoming as a safety but quickly moved to linebacker. Wilson has insane production on the field finishing his college career with 34.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 10 interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles.
