The Houston Texans have had tremendous turnover on their roster, and even their defense reflects that with the switch from the 3-4 to the Tampa 2 scheme.
However, the more things change, the more they stay the same, and one consistent element from the change in defensive philosophies under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is the presence of safety Justin Reid.
General manager Nick Caserio joined “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] Monday to talk about the prognosis for the team as they enter the dead period before training camp kicks off July 27.
“We’re excited about having Justin on the roster, and the offseason he’s had to this point,” Caserio said. “I’m hopeful he’s excited about the opportunity that’s in front of him.”
Reid is entering the final year of his contract after the Texans drafted him in the third round in 2018 from Stanford. The younger brother of Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid has become a back end entity in his own right with 249 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, two sacks, five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 19 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery through 44 games, only four of which he did not start in his rookie season.
Caserio is conscious to balance to meeting of the short-term need at safety with a consistent player such as Reid while also staying mindful of how it affects long-term resources to acquire complementary talent.
Said Caserio: “Like everything, we’ll try to do what we feel is best, both short and long-term, in the best interest of our team. So, that’s what I would say about that situation.”
As of April 23, Reid said he had not talked with the Texans about a contract extension. Reid has been focused on letting his play speak for itself and not rush into any decisions, even though he loves Houston.
