Houston Texans mid to late round draft picks of note
Due to a pair of trades with the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans do not own a draft pick in the first two rounds of April’s draft. The Texans have selected several players of note in the later rounds of the draft. Here is a list of some notable individuals selected in the third round or later.
Owen Daniels
Houston selected Owen Daniels in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. Daniels spent eight seasons in Houston. Hauling in 385 passes for 4,617 yards and 29 touchdowns. A two-time Pro-Bowl selection, Daniels was an integral part of the passing game during two Texans playoff runs. Daniels finished his career with one season stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
Glover Quin
Glover Quin was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Initially a cornerback, Quin transitioned to the safety position during his final two years in Houston. During his four seasons with the Texans Quin ended up with five interceptions and 36 pass defenses. Unfortunately for Houston Quin grew as a player after he joined the Detroit Lions and has been a key contributor for their defense.
C.J. Fiedorowicz
The third round of the 2014 NFL Draft brought tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz to Houston. Fiedorowicz has caught 89 passes for 881 yards and six touchdowns over three seasons. The talent is there with Fiedorowicz however the larger concern is injuries. Fiedorowicz suffered three concussions in 2017 which leaves his NFL future in doubt.
Andre Hal
A seventh round selection from 2014, Andre Hal has been the Texans starting safety since 2015. Like former Houston safety Glover Quin, Hal started his career off as a cornerback. The transition to safety has been a wise decision as Hal has been more than capable of playing in the back end of the secondary.
D.J. Reader
The 2016 draft brought the Texans their current starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader. A fifth round selection, Reader spent half a season as Vince Wilfork’s backup before taking on the starting role. Reader fits the Texans 3-4 defensive scheme perfectly as large body who can take up blockers to allow others to make plays.
D’Onta Foreman
Although just a rookie last seasons, Foreman was able to provide a sizable contribution to the Texans running game. The third round pick rushed for 327 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games. A healthy 4.2 yards per carry is a good sign for the future. Unfortunately Foreman ruptured his Achilles tendon and missed the remainder of the season.
History shows the Texans can find value
These are just the notable players selected in later rounds by the Texans. This ability by Houston to find contributors in later rounds is essential to building a team. The best teams in the NFL consistently find players in rounds three or later. This trend that Houston has shown in recent years should bode well for the future of the Texans.