The Houston Texans have a bevy of positions that need bolstering after their disastrous 4-12 finish in 2020.
Although one could most certainly add quarterback to the mix, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah still thinks the Texans should keep an eye on a Big 12 cornerback if he is available at No. 67 overall when Houston makes their first selection of the draft in Round 3.
Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles, believes the Texans ought to take former Texas Tech cornerback Zech McPhearson if he is still on the board in the third round.
“Zech McPhearson from Texas Tech, who’s somebody that’s probably going to end up being a nickel but has played outside, he’s a really good football player who’s got a lot of ball production, instincts and just a real physical kid,” Jeremiah said on a conference call Wednesday. “To me he kind of fits that profile of what the Patriots used to love when [general manager] Nick (Caserio) was there and would fit them, as well.”
Caserio told Houston reporters on April 16 that the club is looking for players with a particular knack culture wise.
“There’s physical attributes that are important, physical components that are important and there are some non-tangible, I would say, more football trait-related things that are just as important that we can’t look past because ultimately some of those things are going to determine how good or not the player is going to be,” Caserio said.
McPhearson at Texas Tech collected 104 combined tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The Texans would need that type of playmaking and consistency from their cornerback group in 2021 as they transition from a 3-4 defense to a Tampa-2 with a 4-3 front.
