The Houston Texans have signed all five of their 2020 NFL Draft choices, which means the rookies will be able to hit the ground running when training camp begins. Here is a look at the newcomers.
2nd round, 40th overall, DL Ross Blacklock, TCU
The first thing that comes to mind with the Blacklock pick is he is a replacement for defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who left the Texans in free agency to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. While Blacklock may take over that role at some point in his tenure with Houston, the former Elkins Fort Bend product will play a little as a defensive end in new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s 3-4.
“He brings a football intelligence,” coach Bill O’Brien said on April 24 after drafting Blacklock. “He’s a humble, he’s a hungry guy. I think he falls into that category of dependable, tough, and smart.”
Texans rookie draft class' four-year contracts:
2nd: Ross Blacklock: $7.947M, $4.921M gtd, $3.339M bonus
3rd: Jon Greenard: $4.475M, $893,980 bonus
4th: Charlie Heck: $4.005M, $710,704 bonus
4th: John Reid $3.789M, $494,400 bonus
5th: Isaiah Coulter $3.587M, $292,956 bonus— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 22, 2020
3rd round, 90th overall, OLB Jonathan Greenard, Florida
The former Louisville Cardinals, who transferred for his senior season to play at Florida in the SEC East, brings versatility as an edge defender. Weaver expects to use the 6-3, 263-pound outside linebacker as a pass-rusher and also in coverage.
“Jon Greenard was a guy that you could see doing a bunch of things for us, and I think position flexibility, particularly in the defense we’re trying to institute, adds a tremendous amount of value,” Weaver said on May 13. “He’s a guy that can rush off the edge, can rush inside, can drop into coverage, and when you can wear that many hates, that poses a lot of potential problems for an offense.”
4th round, 126th overall, OT Charlie Heck, North Carolina
The 6-8, 318-pound offensive tackle isn’t taking Laremy Tunsil or Tytus Howard’s jobs, and he will be in a battle with Roderick Johnson, Kyle Murphy, Rick Leonard, Elijah Nkansah, and David Steinmetz for a roster spot. Any other rookie would have a challenging time in this unprecedented training camp and preseason that will feature zero games. However, Heck is the son of Kansas City Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck. Charlie knows what the coaches are looking for.
“Great guy. Really smart, works hard,” O’Brien said on April 25. “Obviously his dad is a coach. We were thrilled to be able to go up there and get him. We made a couple of moves [day three of the draft] that we were happy with and that was one. We were able to go up there and get a guy that we really targeted and we liked at that spot.”
4th round, 141st overall, CB John Reid, Penn State
Reid will probably be the last connection from the Bill O’Brien era at Penn State that the Texans will ever make. O’Brien knew the character of Reid when he was still at Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, tracked him as a Nittany Lion, and knew he would be the right type of fit in Houston.
“His ability to follow directions, his intensity, his seriousness,” O’Brien said April 25. “He’s a good guy, we’re glad we are able to have him. He went through some adversity there at Penn State, injuries and different things, but he came out last year and was highly recommended by James Franklin and did a good job last year at Penn State. We were glad to be able to get him.”
Reid is expected to have versatility both as an inside and outside cornerback.
5th round, WR Isaiah Coulter, Rhode Island
The Texans are already stacked at receiver with Brandin Cooks, Will Fuller, Randall Cobb, and Kenny Stills. However, the 6-3, 190-pound former Rhode Island Ram can still battle for a spot on the roster, or sneak onto the club’s practice squad. Coulter will have tough competition with Keke Coutee, Steven Mitchell, DeAndre Carter, Chad Hansen, Isaac Whitney, and undrafted free agent Tyler Simmons all vying for the same openings.
Though O’Brien didn’t make specific comments about Coulter on April 25, the third day of the NFL Draft, he did group him in with Charlie Heck and John Reid as what the Texans were looking for in a rookie.
“You’re talking about mature guys, guys that have overcome adversity in their lives, guys that understand work ethic, guys that understand how important practice is, guys that understand what it means to be a good teammate and be hungry and humble,” said O’Brien. “I think we got those type of guys with all these guys.”
Vyncint Smith was able to distinguish himself as an undrafted rookie from Limestone College in 2018. Coulter has just as much talent to do the same.
