The Houston Texans have needs at offensive line and cornerback that need addressing in the 2019 NFL draft, but that isn’t stopping the club from performing its due diligence on the best players available.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans met with former Texas Longhorns linebacker Gary Johnson at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
“Me and the Texans spoke and their scheme seems pretty similar,” Johnson said. “Saw me as a three-down guy. I saw myself as not coming off the field and playing special teams.”
The Texans do need some reinforcements at linebacker with Brennan Scarlett a restricted free agent and Brian Peters an unrestricted free agent. When Scarlett and Peters aren’t anchoring special teams, they play inside linebacker for Houston in their 3-4 scheme.
The move to Johnson would allow the Texans to get younger at the position while also having speed for special teams. Johnson’s 4.43 time in the 40-yard dash was second among linebackers only to LSU’s Devin White.
“I like to run and hit,” said Johnson, who stands at 6-0, 226 pounds.
Johnson says that he looks up to former Longhorns linebacker Derrick Johnson, who spent last season with the Oakland Raiders after 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after being taken by them in the first-round in 2005.
Said Johnson: “That’s my role model. I look up to him. I try to play just like him. I chat with him a lot and try to take things and put them in my game. Fighting off blocks, being relentless to the ball and having a nose for the ball. I try to make as many tackles as possible just like he did.”
If the Texans are looking for a younger option at linebacker, Johnson would be a good fit. They may not need his talent within the top-100, but if Johnson makes it until the fifth round, Houston ought to start considering him as an option.
