If the Houston Texans want to get younger at cornerback and are willing to use a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, then TCU’s Jeff Gladney has to be on their radar.
While Pro Football Focus lists Gladney as 33rd overall on their draft board, there is a chance he falls to the Texans. Consider that not every team is going to pick the best player available; some will draft according to need, which pushes talent down the board.
Gladney appears to be a solution to stopping deep balls.
Gladney has serious speed to burn and it showed up when opposing quarterbacks tried to test him downfield. On targets 20-plus yards downfield the past two seasons, Gladney has allowed only 10-46 receiving for 333 yards. That target number was considerably higher than any other cornerback on this list, as it’s often trial by fire in the Big-12. The fact that he only allowed 690 yards on 130 targets over the past two seasons is a massive difference from your average corner in the Big-12.
One question mark surrounding Gladney, and one that will be answered at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, is how the former Horned Frog can move with additional weight. Currently, Gladney is listed at 6-0, 183 pounds. By comparison, Bradley Roby was 194 pounds, but of comparable height. Houston may not need to have him play at that weight given their other starter, Johnathan Joseph, was listed at 185 pounds.
Houston will get a better idea of how to build improve their roster when they get a chance to scout the 2020 class along with meeting with their current players’ agents at the combine. If the Texans want to get younger, Gladney could be the solution. If he is available at No. 57 overall, deep in the second round where the Texans pick, Houston will have to think hard about taking the TCU product.
