Houston Texans 2019 NFL Draft: 3 cornerback targets for the second round
![PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Justin Hobbs #29 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane cannot make the catch against Rock Ya-Sin #6 of the Temple Owls in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 20, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Temple defeated Tulsa 31-17. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 20: Justin Hobbs #29 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane cannot make the catch against Rock Ya-Sin #6 of the Temple Owls in the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on September 20, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Temple defeated Tulsa 31-17. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Ftorotimes-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1036975900-850x560-e431bb36700dd9c0b3c8366ce7ecc8efc5d757b236ec01e95a4e49a9cde602a4.jpg)
3. Julian Love, Notre Dame
The Houston Texans could look at the play of Julian Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and have an opportunity to select him in the second round with one of their back-to-back selections at either 54th or 55th overall and feel they have made the right choice.
A CBSSports.com Sports Draft Scouting Report says the following on Love:
"“Lacking slightly in the size and length department but should instantly translates to a multi-faceted role at the next level.”"
In 2018 Love’s lone interception came against Virginia Tech in the sixth game of the season. While at Notre Dame the past three seasons, Love played in a total of 38 games, tallying 176 tackles (126 solo) with six tackles for loss, five interceptions (three as a sophomore in 2017), scored two touchdowns and had a totaled of 39 passes defensed. Not to forget, the cornerback also forced two fumbles in three seasons and recovered four fumbles.
While at the NFL combine, Love ran a 40-yard dash of 4.54 and had a three-cone time of 6.72. The Texans need to have some speed in their defensive backfield to keep pace with offenses like the Indianapolis Colts, who the Texans struggled to defend last season, especially when it came to stopping the duo of Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton.
Love — who stands at 5-11 and weighs 193 pounds — brings the ability a starter in the NFL and is said by many outlets, including The Draft Network, who said Love will succeed best in “bump and run coverage,” and that teams would be “wise to leave him in man.”
Houston needs to get younger and more athletic with their cornerbacks, and Love could be the answer with one of the second round picks in late April. Love wouldn’t be a bad pick at all and would most likely show how talented he is early in his NFL career.