Houston Texans: Does Safety Landon Collins Still Makes Sense?
The Houston Texans upgraded their safety position this offseason signing free agent veteran Rahim Moore from the Denver Broncos. When Moore signed the three-year, $12 million contract, he was inked on the depth chart as the Texans’ starting free safety.
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But does that move change Houston’s plans in the NFL Draft? Especially concerning Alabama safety prospect Landon Collins?
Collins is considered the top safety in this year’s NFL Draft class. Although he played both free and strong safety in college, the 6-0, 228 pound prospect projects as a better strong.
The Texans’ current strong safety is third-year veteran D.J. Swearinger. Last season, Swearinger recorded 74 tackles. three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack.
But according to Pro Football Focus, Swearinger ranked #172 out of a total 181 safeties in overall play last season. PFF says he was one of the four worst safeties when it came to run defense in 2014.
With the addition of Moore, who is better in pass coverage than stopping the run, the Texans need to pair him with a safety more of his opposite. Swearinger is certainly a big hitter, but the numbers say he’s a liability against the run. That makes him a mismatch with Moore.
That’s where Collins fits into the picture. The Alabama alum is a downhill attacker who is at his best reading and reacting to the run. If Collins still available when the Texans are on the clock in the first round, Houston’s draft war room should certainly be tossing around his name.