Houston Texans Rookie Review: Justin Reid

Houston Texans third-round draft pick safety Justin Reid was a great get in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Houston Texans found a starter on defense with safety Justin Reid early in the third round. Texans general manager Brian Gaine was without his first or second round draft choices after they were traded the season prior to trade up and draft quarterback Deshaun Watson and dump Brock Osweiler’s contract to the Cleveland Browns.

Head coach Bill O’Brien and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel rarely give rookies a long leash in their first season in the league, but Reid was forced into a more prominent role than expected due to the injuries that struck the secondary. He made a seamless transition into the NFL and proved to be a great fit in his first year with the team.

His ability to play both on defense and special teams was an underrated factor in his development in his rookie season. According to Pro Football Reference, Reid played in 906 defensive snaps which accounted for 84.75% of the snaps on defense and 235 snaps on special teams for 50.43% of the total special team’s snaps.

Reid played in all 16 sixteen games in the regular season and started in 12 of them. He had 88 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, ten pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, seven special teams tackles, and three interceptions.

His three interceptions were tied for most on the defense and had an impressive 101-yard interception returned for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. His intelligence, instincts, and willingness as a tackler put him in a position to thrive in his first season in the NFL.